Daily EV news · France · 21 October 2026
EV Charging
Kempower and Evergreen Mobility partner to build French heavy-duty charging network
DC fast charging manufacturer Kempower has partnered with French heavy-duty charging specialist Evergreen Mobility to develop a charging network across France. The partnership addresses a critical infrastructure gap, as Europe has only around 730 public truck chargers above 350 kW but needs an estimated 35,000 megawatt chargers by 2030, while EU registrations of electrically chargeable trucks rose 47.7% in the first half of 2026. France's first sites with Kempower megawatt chargers have been installed at a public truck stop in Lapalisse on the N7 in Allier and at a Kimmel Transport depot in Thal-Drulingen, both equipped with Kempower Mega Satellites operating at 250 kW but scalable to 1.2 megawatts, plus four Kempower Satellites each delivering up to 300 kW peak power.
Why it matters
This partnership signals significant procurement opportunities in the French heavy-duty charging market, with Kempower's distributed DC architecture and dynamic power sharing offering a scalable model for both public and depot installations. The 35,000 megawatt charger requirement by 2030 represents a substantial pipeline for CPOs and equipment suppliers targeting the commercial vehicle segment.
Electric Vehicles
Alpine A390 selling around 250 units a month as Renault prioritises brand building over volume
Renault Group chief François Provost has said Alpine's A390 performance SUV is finding roughly 250 buyers a month, a figure Alpine CEO Philippe Krief admits is behind expectations. Priced from £61,390 to £69,390 in the UK, the electric fastback SUV competes directly with the Porsche Macan Electric. Provost told media that the initial sales forecast was 'overcooked' and that the car's primary role is to 'nurture the brand' for the long term rather than chase volume.
Why it matters
Alpine's slower than expected ramp up signals that even well reviewed premium EVs face a tough fight for consideration against established German rivals, a dynamic CPOs and site hosts should weigh when forecasting utilisation at locations targeting higher income EV drivers.