Spain’s Council of Ministers has authorised the tender of six works concession contracts to build and operate eight new service areas on the State Road Network, each equipped with an ultra-fast charging station for electric vehicles. The government announced the decision on 13 October 2026. The contracts have an estimated value of €611.9 million excluding VAT, of which about €78 million covers construction of the service areas.
Key Takeaways
- Spain authorised a €611.9 million tender for eight service areas with ultra-fast EV charging.
- The sites are on the A-2, A-3, A-4, AP-7 and A-8, and five are double areas.
- Concessionaires will finance, build and operate the areas for 20 to 25 years.
- The pilot supports Spain’s AFIR obligations on the state road network.
Key Figures
| Lot | Service area | Road and kilometre point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Caridad (Asturias), one side | A-8, km 490 |
| 1 | La Roca del Vallès (Barcelona), both sides | AP-7, km 129 |
| 2 | Perales de Tajuña (Madrid), one side | A-3, km 35 |
| 2 | Penagos (Cantabria), both sides | A-8, km 208.5 |
| 3 | Montoro (Córdoba), both sides | A-4, km 353 |
| 4 | Algemesí (Valencia), both sides | AP-7, km 541 |
| 5 | Calatayud (Zaragoza), one side | A-2, km 234 |
| 6 | Saelices (Cuenca), both sides | A-3, km 99 |
How the Model Works
The eight areas form the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility’s pilot programme for charging infrastructure on state roads. Five of the eight will be double areas, with facilities on each side of the road. All sit on state-owned land that was under-used, which the government says speeds up development.
The winning concessionaire drafts the construction project, which must be approved by the General Directorate of Roads, then finances and builds the works. In return it can operate the service area for a concession period of 20 to 25 years, paying a fee to the administration. The government says the programme supports transport decarbonisation, aims to attract private investment through a stable framework, and contributes to Spain’s compliance with the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), Regulation (EU) 2023/1804.
What It Means
Long concessions give operators time to recover the cost of grid connections and high-power hardware, which is often the hardest part of motorway charging economics. Bidders will likely combine charging with food, retail and rest facilities to raise revenue per visit. Suppliers should expect requirements tied to AFIR, such as card payment and published pricing at public chargers.
Ultra-fast DC units will anchor these sites, but service areas also need lower-power charging for staff, service vehicles and longer stays. A compact DC charger such as the EV-RHDC30K-L or Type 2 AC posts can fill that role. See our commercial charging solutions for planning support.
Related Reading
- How Fast Is a DC Fast Charger?
- Why Is DC Fast Charging So Expensive?
- EV Charging News: T&E Finds EU Charging Has Outpaced EV Sales in All but One Country
