If you’re driving an EV in Spain, avoid Endesa’s recharging points if you can

I thought I would share my experience yesterday of trying to recharge my electric car at charging point in the historic Spanish city of Pamplona installed by Endesa, one of the country’s leading electricity utilities. Spanish speakers might want to see the comments on the Electromaps app… (by the way, strongly recommended)

If Spain’s EV future depends on Endesa, then we’re in big trouble. Of the four recharging points in Pamplona, two were not working, and the person in charge of the parking lot where they are located could do nothing but take note of the problem and confirm that the complaints were very common. When I called the 800 number the company provides, there was no answer, just a recording. So much for Endesa’s commitment to electric mobility.

Leaving aside the not unimportant issue of the reliability of the company’s recharging service, if you want to use it, you have to download an app, JuicePass and then tell Endesa your life story, the make and model of your car, the type of plug it uses and your credit card details, as well as checking two SMS messages, to be then informed that an RFID card will be sent to your home so you can recharge.

I don’t know about you, but when I want to recharge my EV, I don’t expect the Spanish Inquisition. Has it…