Circontrol Is Committed to Renewable Energies as a Source for Charging Electric Vehicles at Its New Facility

Circontrol is making progress on its extension works for a new 2,000 m2 unit, which will double the production capacity for fast charge equipment. The works are expected to be finished in October. The extension will include a new laboratory for testing and ensuring the proper functioning of the equipment, as well as a car park with 100 kWp solar carports and a 60 kWp solar rooftop installation. These developments will allow the company to be energetically self-sufficient and employees and visitors to charge their electric vehicles with solar power.

Circontrol is a pioneer not only in the development of charging solutions, but also in the implementation of these solutions in the company.

The installation of AC and DC charging equipment at offices is a reality in Circontrol. With the aim of promoting the use of electric vehicles among its employees, as well as the use of renewable energies, Circontrol has built a car park with 100 kWp solar carports that supply 16 slow charging points, making a total of 32 parking spaces for charging electric vehicles. This is in addition to the spaces that the company had previously implemented as a showroom for employees, managers and visitors, which belonged to the fast, ultra-fast and semi-fast charging segment.

The growth being seen in the electric automobile industry, closely linked to the fulfilment of the climate targets set by the European Union and Spanish government, means that it is increasingly necessary to fit company car parks with charging equipment for vehicles. This is already happening at shopping centres, airports and restaurants, where fast chargers are available for users to charge their vehicle batteries in a short time.

The trend of the future will be to install slow chargers where people spend the most time, such as their workplaces or their homes, with fast and ultra-fast charging found on major thoroughfares, or fast and semi-fast opportunity charging at supermarkets, restaurants, shopping centres, etc.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency as the Hallmark of Circontrol

Circontrol’s commitment to the environment and the fight against climate change has led the company to pioneer the development of electric vehicle charging solutions. Circontrol is firmly committed to sustainability and renewable energies as the means to charge electric vehicles and thus achieve greater energy savings and efficiency, avoiding energy waste.

As well as its commitment to photovoltaic power generation at its new car park with 100 kWp solar carports and the 60 kWp solar rooftop installation, Circontrol is also committed to energy savings and efficiency. During the pandemic, an electric vehicle simulator was designed and built that transforms the charging energy into alternating current, which is then re-injected into the grid. This simulator will allow Circontrol to save around 140,000 kW/h per year. “Our work is directly linked to sustainability and energy efficiency, so we must also use electricity efficiently, and design solutions that allow us to save energy and not waste it”, says Núria Comellas of Circontrol.

Circontrol, Constantly Growing

Circontrol’s new 2,000 m2 unit will allow the company to double its production capacity for fast charging equipment. The new facility will also be equipped with a new testing laboratory, as the rapid growth in the industry makes innovation in the sector an ongoing challenge. Circontrol is firmly dedicated to innovation and, each year, it allocates 12% of its annual turnover to R&D, as well as having its own technology for development and research.

In order to keep up with new designs, which will increasingly require more technology and larger batteries, Circontrol is building a new “advanced laboratory for the testing and validation of electric vehicle chargers”, with which it will be able to conduct climatic chamber tests with outputs of up to 350 kW. “This new laboratory will enable us to ensure the proper functioning of our equipment with any vehicle and in any situation”, explains Comellas. “Plus, it was necessary for us to have a more technologically advanced laboratory, as 20% of our sales come from products that are less than a year old, further underlining our commitment to innovation to develop more advanced solutions”, concludes Comellas.

Circontrol is also strongly committed to the people who make up the company. In spite of the pandemic, Circontrol’s workforce increased by 13.5% since January, with engineering professionals from different specialities to provide a strong boost to R&D, and therefore be prepared once the healthcare crisis is over. As of today, 38% of employees are working on R&D, and the company expects to close 2021 with more than 210 employees.

About Circontrol 

Circontrol is a company with in-house technology where innovation is a constant objective. It was founded in 1997 to provide solutions in the mobility sector and electric vehicle charging solutions. Since its creation, it has dedicated a large part of its work to R&D and producing high-quality products, making it a leader not only in standard solutions but also in solutions specific to market demands.

Its core activity is focused on developing Mobility or, more specifically, on efficient solutions for
mobility in car parks and eMobility, with smart charging solutions for electric vehicles.