Driving the Future of Mobility: Innovating for the Road Ahead

The world is undergoing a transformation in how we move, and at the heart of this transformation is innovation in mobility. As a global energy leader, TotalEnergies is taking steps toward the future, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and mobility solutions that prioritize efficiency and accessibility.

In the first episode of the EnergyTalks Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Louis de Lépinau, Innovation Manager at TotalEnergies EV Charge, to discuss the exciting changes taking place in the mobility landscape. Hosted by Lillian Wagner, this episode dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of electric mobility, the future of EV infrastructure, and how TotalEnergies is leading the charge (pun intended) in creating seamless, sustainable mobility solutions for all.

Let’s take a closer look at the key takeaways from the conversation.

A Vision for Electric Mobility

Louis and the team at TotalEnergies approach electric mobility, ?in his words: “Innovation is very linked to vision and intuition. You need a strong vision and character to provoke the consistency and desire in others to pursue it.”

This is the foundation upon which TotalEnergies’ electric mobility strategy is built. With a presence in over 70,000 charge points worldwide, TotalEnergies is continuously expanding its infrastructure to meet the needs of individuals, businesses, and fleets alike.

Innovation for Seamless Charging

Innovation in mobility isn’t just about inventing new technology for the sake of it; it’s about understanding customers’ needs and finding ways to meet them in ways that others haven’t. TotalEnergies is focused on providing chargers that are convenient and adaptable, including fast and high-power chargers at service stations, chargers in the cities, slow chargers at corporate fleets, and even home solutions.

One of the most exciting developments is the effort to make charging faster and more enjoyable for EV drivers. High-power charge points, now available at many TotalEnergies stations, significantly reduce the time needed to charge vehicles. This helps to address one of the common concerns among EV users: that charging takes too long. For example, did you know that charging 100km with a high-power charge (HPC) point only takes 6 minutes ?

Addressing Common Concerns: EV Infrastructure

One of the most frequently voiced concerns about EV adoption is the state of charging infrastructure. Social media and the news are full of comments about EV chargers being unreliable, too sparse in remote areas, or too slow to meet demand. Louis acknowledges that while progress has been made, the EV industry is still relatively young.

The first public charger in Europe capable of delivering over 50 kW of power was installed just eight years ago, in 2016. Since then, the industry has made great strides, but there’s still room for improvement. TotalEnergies listens closely to customer feedback and is constantly working to improve its charging offers. The goal is simple: to ensure that the customer journey—from finding a charge point to completing the charging process—is as smooth and straightforward as possible.

At the core of this mission is the reliability and availability of TotalEnergies’ charging infrastructure. Customers need to trust that when they arrive at a charger, it will be operational and easy to use. That’s why TotalEnergies prioritizes high-quality maintenance and service across its network, ensuring that drivers can charge their vehicles with confidence, no matter where they are.

The Future of Electric Vehicles

As of 2021, Europe boasted over 250,000 public charging points, with the Netherlands, Germany, and France leading the charge. This extensive network is crucial for supporting the growing number of EVs on the road, and TotalEnergies is playing a major role in its expansion. However, as Louis points out, the future of EV mobility will bring new challenges.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is managing the increasing demand for electricity. Grid congestion is already a concern in countries like the Netherlands, and this issue will only grow as more vehicles transition to electric. Louis mentions a specific innovation that TotalEnergies is working on to address this: a home charge point that can delay the start of a charging session to avoid grid congestion and take advantage of lower electricity tariffs during off-peak hours.

The Role of Innovation in the EV Sector

At TotalEnergies, innovation is woven into every project. Louis shares that the company approaches innovation with a mindset of constant improvement. The key, he says, is not only in developing new technologies but in rapidly testing and scaling solutions that meet customer needs. This agile approach allows TotalEnergies to stay ahead of the curve in a fast-evolving industry.

Advice on Embracing Innovation

Louis emphasizes the importance of creativity, curiosity, and energy. Innovation, he says, is all about opening new paths, inspiring others, and building a sense of trust and passion among teams.

“Innovation has a very big relationship with creativity in the vision,” Louis explains. “You need curiosity to find the right people and the right solutions, and energy to inspire your sponsors and the people who will help you.”

For Louis, the key to success in any innovation project lies in collaboration and iteration. It’s not about getting everything perfect the first time, but about learning, adapting, and improving over time.

?? Watch the full podcast episode below ???