Workplace Chargers Power Europe’s EV Push

Iberdrola and Airbus install 500 chargers in Spain, turning factories into engines of smart fleet electrification

24 Feb 2026

Europe’s electric vehicle shift is no longer defined by highway rest stops or urban charging hubs. It is moving inside factory gates and office car parks. Iberdrola and Airbus plan to install nearly 500 charging points across Airbus sites in Spain, a move that signals how workplace electrification is coming of age.

The strategy marks a subtle but important pivot. Public fast chargers have expanded quickly, yet industrial employers are emerging as the steadier force behind long term growth. By placing chargers at production plants and corporate campuses, Airbus is weaving electric mobility into daily operations rather than treating it as an add on.

Iberdrola will manage the rollout and link the chargers to smart energy systems that balance electricity demand and prioritize renewable power. The aim is practical and strategic at once. Employees and fleet vehicles can plug in with ease, while the company keeps energy costs predictable and the grid stable.

Company leaders argue that chargers alone are not enough. Real progress depends on pairing hardware with intelligent energy management that delivers efficiency and real emissions cuts at scale. Airbus, which has pledged to reduce operational emissions this decade, sees workplace charging as a direct way to shrink transport related carbon output and encourage more employees to choose electric cars.

The wider implications stretch beyond Spain. As EV ownership climbs and climate targets tighten, utilities are seeking durable partnerships with industrial players. Corporate campuses offer steady demand and consistent usage, unlike public stations where traffic can swing sharply from day to day.

Workplace charging also tackles a stubborn obstacle to adoption: access. When drivers know they can recharge at work, range anxiety fades and buying decisions change. Early corporate adopters across Europe report faster employee uptake once charging becomes part of the workday routine.

Obstacles remain, from grid capacity limits to regulatory patchwork and slow fleet turnover. Even so, momentum is building.

For the charging sector, the message is clear. The future lies in embedding infrastructure into corporate energy strategy, not bolting it on as a side project. If others follow, Europe’s industrial sites may become the quiet powerhouses of its electric transition.