Eleport and Kaunas Akropolis Launched the Largest Charging Hub in The Baltics
Eleport, a developer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, has opened the largest charging hub in the Baltics. The 20 charging stations installed during the first phase of the project, which allow charging up to 40 electric vehicles at a time, were launched in the very centre of Kaunas, in front of the Akropolis shopping centre. As part of the introduction process with modern equipment, charging services will be free of charge for the first two weeks, until 17 May, at Akropolis Kaunas. Eleport plans to install 20 more charging stations, for a total investment of nearly €1 million.
“The new charging park is notable for its size, but considering the traffic flows, the occupancy of the Kaunas Akropolis parking lot and the dynamics of the growth in the number of electric vehicles, it is foreseeable that even this capacity will not be sufficient for more than five or six years. That’s why we are planning ahead for further expansion – we want to ensure that both Kaunas residents and visitors can enjoy the new charging park with convenience. We want the new charging park to become an infrastructure benchmark and one of the most frequented places for EV drivers in the country, thanks to the highest quality of service, convenient charging without queues and worrying about vacancies,” comments Kazys Pupinis, Head of Eleport in Lithuania and the Baltic States.
Until now, there has been a lack of public charging stations in and around Kaunas city centre. The installation of 20 slow and fast charging stations at the Kaunas Akropolis parking lot by an Estonian company has significantly expanded the choice for EV drivers. The first phase of the expansion included 12 DC and 8 AC charging stations, with a further 20 chargers planned for the second phase of the expansion. Once the second phase is completed, up to 80 EVs can be charged here at the same time.
“With the rapid growth of electric vehicles, we are working to meet this demand. Convenient electric vehicle infrastructure is becoming increasingly important for our visitors, and at the same time contributes to more sustainable transport with less pollution and noise. Being an attraction in a very convenient central location, close to one of the main transport arteries of the city, Kaunas Akropolis is the ideal place for this ambitious project, which will undoubtedly contribute to the green transformation not only in Kaunas, but also in Lithuania,” says Brigita Kuodytė, Manager of Kaunas Akropolis.
Plans to double charging capacity
The first phase of the project involved the installation of charging stations in four different locations on the Kaunas Akropolis site. Four fast charging stations were installed in front of the Church of the Holy Cross, with an additional number installed between the ground-floor entrances and the rest on the second floor of the multi-storey car park. The total capacity of the stations in operation is 1 552 kW, with the majority of the capacity – 1 200 kW – being dedicated to fast charging equipment. After the second phase, the total capacity of the charging stations will exceed 3 megawatts (MW).
All brands of electric cars can be charged at the Akropolis Kaunas parking lot. The fast-charging stations use CHAdeMO and CCS connectors, while the medium-speed chargers use Type2 connectors. Depending on the ambient temperature and the model of the electric vehicle, the battery will take between half an hour and an hour and a half to charge when connected to a fast-charging station.