A new supercharger for electric vehicles has been inaugurated in Monaco and it is 50 times faster than a conventional power outlet. The station at Monte Carlo Bay will allow drivers to “fill up” in less than 20 minutes.
Monte Carlo Bay resort features the first ever supercharger, powered via solar panels
The Principality’s first 160kW supercharger was officially opened by SMEG and Monte-Carlo Bay on Thursday 9th May. It follows the inauguration of the most powerful solar power station in Monaco last April, as the Principality pushes ahead with its transition towards sustainable energy.
According to Thomas Battaglione, SMEG chief executive officer, the new station, called ‘Power zone’, is unique in its kind: “In the middle of the city, an electric vehicle driver will be able to fill up in a matter of minutes, whereas a conventional socket requires so many more hours. These units are normally located on motorway areas or in industrial zones.”
“The station is a technical feat, as liquid-cooled DC cables and control algorithms are optimised according to the batteries of vehicles, not to mention the green power supply of the terminal,” explained Frédéric Darnet, CEO of Monte-Carlo Bay, “which is produced locally during the day by photovoltaic panels located on the roof of the hotel.”
The ‘Power Zone’ is provided, installed, operated and supervised by SMEG and is made available to customers and visitors of the Monte-Carlo Bay, a pioneering institution and reference of the eco-friendly approach of the SBM.
Jean-Eric Vergne became the first man to win twice in the 2018-19 Formula E season as he took the Monaco E-Prix to move top of the drivers’ championship.
There had been eight different winners from the first eight races before Vergne, who also won in China, finished ahead of Britain’s Oliver Rowland.
Ex-Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa came third for his first Formula E podium.
With four races of the season left, France’s Vergne has 87 points, with Andre Lotterer on 82 points.
Dutchman Robin Frijns is third on 81 points and he won the previous race of the campaign, the Paris E-Prix, two weeks ago, but lost his championship lead after he crashed late on with Alexander Sims.
“I’ve never won this one before so I’m happy,” said Vergne. “It’s been a difficult season, lots of ups and downs but these kind of wins make it all worth it.”
Rowland had qualified in first but dropped down to fourth because of a three-place grid penalty picked up from the Paris E-Prix, meaning Vergne started the race in pole and he held off Rowland.
“I got pole, then had a penalty but came back to come second and I’m very pleased,” said Rowland.
“It’s the first really good race and I’ve struggled in a lot of races.”
There was disappointment for another British driver, Sam Bird, who battled up from 13th and was sixth on the final lap, but a late collision dropped him down to 17th.
The next race takes place in Berlin, Germany, on 25th May, before a race in Bern, Switzerland, and then the season-ending double-header in New York.
The first package has been delivered by drone in Monaco as part of the Ever expo. Inside was a precious cargo: the beloved Monegasque speciality, barbajuan.
HSH Prince Albert II, Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II Foundation and Jean-Luc Delcroix, Director of La Poste Monaco, were present during the momentous occasion on Thursday 9th May.
The aircraft, commissioned by Mc Clic, took off from the post office at Place du Campanin in Fontvieille and travelled to the forecourt of the Grimaldi Forum carrying Monaco’s favourite pastry, barbajuan.
“I am satisfied that this first ‘postal flight’ went perfectly well,” Delcroix said at the end of the demonstration, signalling that La Poste Monaco would like to eventually use the service in the Principality.
On Friday 10th May, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, together with the Director of Public Works Jean-Luc Nguyen, visited the site of the operation ‘Entrance of the city’ at Boulevard Jardin Exotique.
Accompanied by the FPMC / ENGECO operators, Mrs. Gramaglia noted the progress of the private-public operation consisting of 50 residential housing units and a 1,820-space public car park including dozens of places for coaches, a logistics platform for the processing of up to 5,000 small parcels per day, as well as around 5,000 m² of office space.
The work is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023.
Monaco Life’s Lauren Coles and local resident Kate Powers talk about the Riviera Electric Challenge, which kicked off Monaco’s Formula-E weekend, and how the race encourages people to think bigger about electric transportation.
KIA drivers Kate Powers and Didier Rubiolo are with the mayor of Dolceacqua, Fulvio Gazzola, and Monaco’s Jacques Pastor, minutes before the electric car rally kicked off May 8th
KIA drivers Kate Powers and Didier Rubiolo were with the mayor of Dolceacqua, Fulvio Gazzola, and Monaco’s Jacques Pastor, minutes before the electric car rally kicked off on Wednesday 8th May.
For the past five years the E-Rally, known as the Riviera Electric Challenge, has brought together companies and communities with common values of carrying out best practices in sustainability. Participants from France, Monaco and Italy took an electric vehicle adventure from Cagnes Sur Mer through Italy and finishing in Monaco.
The event, which aims to educate people on how they can prevent climate change through clean mobility, featured Stars’n’Bars co-owners Kate Powers and Didier Rubiolo. For many years now, their business is focused on sustainability, and participating in the E-Rally is one of several ways the team is helping educate the Monaco community about how to action the Principality’s values of a cleaner earth and ocean.
“It was fabulous driving through Italy, they even opened the old town streets to let us drive through,” said Kate Powers. “It was super scenic, we stopped in various towns where each of the mayors would welcome us.”
Kate Powers and Didier Rubiolo
She described coffee breaks, lunch at the top of Vintimille and a dinner party in Dolceacqua, a commune in the Province of Imperia, with a traditional three course meal. The dinner was in the presence of the mayor and prominent Italian figures.
“Prince Albert showed up, to a lot of people’s surprise,” she revealed.
It was Powers’ third time participating in the rally, and she said it won’t be her last. Even though it is a busy time of year for the business, she understands the importance of being involved in this community:
“I get into it when I see the reactions of the others racing, as well as the organisation and the enthusiasm.”
The rally ended at the Grimaldi Forum where we participants were greeted by Salon Ever. Specialists from universities and industries, involved in R&D projects in the area of ecological vehicles and renewable energies, held a conference at the Grimaldi Forum. This event goes to show that sustainability can be fun, and through strong relationships within our community, we can make positive changes towards sustainability.
“I’d like to see more electric vehicles or compressed air cars circulating in Monaco,” said Powers when imagining of the future of Monaco. “As well as imposed carpooling by Monaco or the schools, with bus services for students going up to the schools on the Rocher. And one day a month, a ‘Sunday car-free’ day in Monaco or at least a designated area.”
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