XPENG is building its own charging network in Europe: 1 MW stations, 1,000+ sites. Plus where to test an XPENG in Iași
In Paris, XPENG showed X-Energy, its up-to-1 MW charging stations with built-in battery storage that need only 120–240 kW from the grid. The target: more than 1,000 stations in Europe. In Iași, Romania, you can test an XPENG at Open Auto Center.
XPENG isn't just selling cars in Europe anymore. It's building its own fast-charging network too. In Paris, where the Motor Show opens today, XPENG gave more details on X-Energy, its charging stations rated at up to 1 MW. The photo above is the slide from the presentation: "Building a global physical AI ecosystem with X-energy".
The first to flag it was "EFIEBER", a German creator in Paris. He ties it to the rest of XPENG's European plan: production at Magna in Austria, an R&D centre in Munich, its own Turing chip and the IRON robot. "I see a lot of parallels with Tesla," he writes.
What the slide says
- MW charging capacity: megawatt-level charging, i.e. up to 1,000 kW.
- Only requires 120–240 kW AC input: the station needs just 120–240 kW from the grid.
- 1,000+ stations in Europe.
The trick is the battery inside the station. According to "CnEVPost", the first X-Energy station, opened in Hong Kong in September, has 400 kWh of storage, up to 1,000 A and a 1 MW peak. "GlobalChinaEV" explains why that matters: the station draws at most 240 kW from the grid, and the battery covers the rest when a car asks for more. So it can go where there's no huge grid connection, like a supermarket car park, not just a motorway site.
The Hong Kong station is open to all brands. According to "PR Newswire", XPENG's 5C-capable models can add 450 km in 9 minutes. That's the maker's figure, not an independent test.
The plan for Europe
XPENG CEO He Xiaopeng set the target back in July, at the Mona L03 launch in Munich: more than 1,000 self-operated stations in 13 European countries, "CnEVPost" reports. "EVwire" adds that XPENG wants more than 4,000 fast-charging points in Europe by 2028: "The goal is very clear, to build the fastest charging network in Europe."
What we don't know yet: the date for the first X-Energy stations in Europe, or the exact countries. None of the sources above mention Romania. Until then, an XPENG in Romania charges at the usual public stations.
Where to test an XPENG in Iași
In Iași, XPENG is sold and test-driven at Open Auto Center. Their site lets you book a test drive for the G6, G9, P7+, X9 and L03.
XPENG Iași – Open Auto Center Showroom: 87 Aurel Vlaicu St., Iași Phone: +40 232 233 296 · Email: [email protected] Showroom hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–17:30, Sat 10:00–14:00, closed Sunday Service: 45 Calea Chișinăului, Iași · +40 232 224 967 (Mon–Fri 08:30–17:00) Website: xpeng-iasi.ro
My XPENG G6 and G9 tests
I picked up both models from Open Auto Center and tested them on the road, charging included (videos in Romanian). First, the G6 Performance. I leave Iași at 4:30 a.m. for Târgu Frumos and back, with consumption that surprised even me, and at the end, at an E.ON Drive charger, you'll see how fast the battery climbs from 30 to 50%. Along the way I also check how long the lane assist lets me go without touching the wheel.
Second, the long drive in the G9 Performance, an SUV weighing close to 3 tonnes. I headed for a brand-new charging station near Pașcani and got a surprise there; on the way back, at a 300 kW charger, the charging curve comes out flat as a ruler. Plus: voice commands, launch control and a self-parking move right next to a Tesla.
Also on the channel:
- BYD Killer? I discovered what the new XPENG G6 can do! (first impressions, straight from the showroom)
- Goodbye competition? The interior of the new Xpeng G6 is shocking! (materials and interior)
- The smartest electric car? Testing the new XPENG G9 at Open Auto Center (tech and self-parking, on the streets of Iași)
