Allego Holding, the leading pan-European electric vehicle charging network and Volkswagen Group France announced this week a partnership with Groupe Bertrand. Created in 1997 by Olivier Bertrand, the Groupe Bertrand has become one of the leading players in the hotel and restaurant industry in France with more than 35,000 employees. The Group has various business lines, like catering, restaurants, and brasseries, with several brands like Hippopotamus, Léon, Volfoni and Au Bureau, High-end hotels, Retail and Real estate.
Volkswagen Group is the first automotive group to commit to the Paris Climate Agreement and intends to become climate neutral by 2050. To drive forward decarbonization, its vehicle range will become electric in a near future. To facilitate access to electromobility, Volkswagen Group France wants to participate to the HPCs program supported by the French Government. Through its partnership with Allego, VGF is creating the conditions to convince major actors to set up charging network, including HPCs.
Allego and Groupe Bertrand will enter a long-term High Power Charging partnership, to install Ultra-Fast Electric Vehicle charging stations at 15 locations throughout France. The first location to go live towards the end of this year. On average 2 to 4 HPC stalls are foreseen per location. In accordance with French regulations every site will also be fitted with an AC charging point for those who want to take a bit more time to enjoy their meal.
The Electric Vehicle chargers themselves will be kitted in Allego branding as easy recognition for EV drivers. For the longer term with utilization increasing, there is the potential to expand to an additional location. In France, Allego currently operates a network of 175 of chargers and is currently rolling out a network of 2 000 charging points at 200 Carrefour hypermarket locations throughout the country. This new partnership would be a powerful addition to this network. Making Allego the biggest destination charging provider on the French market.
“We are thrilled to partner with Groupe Bertrand as it builds on our companies’ mission to provide suitable EV charging solutions at the right time and place. Given Groupe Bertrand expansive network throughout France, this agreement will be a terrific addition to the network we are currently rolling out and help create a solid network of HPC charging solutions across the country,” comments Mathieu Bonnet, CEO of Allego. “This partnership also is a testimony to the leadership of the Groupe Bertrand team that recognizes that the electrification of road transport is no longer an abstract concept, but a long-term solution to one the most pressing issues our planet faces: climate change.”
“We are proud to sign this major partnership. Faced with the evolution of our planet, hospitality and its ecosystem have a role to play. It is therefore our responsibility to reduce our negative impacts. Our places are places of exchange that can support French citizens in this transition,” says Olivier Bertrand, CEO of Groupe Bertrand.
“Volkswagen Group France is delighted to actively participate to expand the charging network in France within Groupe Bertrand brands, thanks to our partnership with Allego. As Groupe Bertrand is sharing the same values of ecological transformation, we are proud to set with them another brick of our New Auto Strategy,” comments Luc Chausson, VGF Strategic Projects Director. “We are looking forward opening the first charging station on Groupe Bertrand locations.”
