E.ON Drive Infrastructure (EDRI) Italy has announced in a company statement that it will acquire 100 per cent of the share capital of Smatrics EnBW Italia. Through this acquisition, the charging infrastructure specialist is integrating four already operational high-power charging (HPC) sites in northern Italy into its portfolio. “The transaction represents an important milestone in the growth strategy of E.ON Drive Infrastructure Italy,” the management stated. The agreed purchase price has not been disclosed.

The acquired charging parks are located at the following sites:

  • Brixen-Vahrn (South Tyrol) along the Brenner Corridor, featuring 20 ultra-fast charging stations
  • Palmanova (Udine) along the Alpine-Adriatic Corridor, featuring 12 ultra-fast charging stations
  • Gruaro (Venice), located between the A28 and A4 motorways, featuring 16 ultra-fast charging stations
  • Trezzo sull’Adda (Milan), along the A4 motorway and serving the greater Milan area, featuring 16 ultra-fast charging stations.

According to EDRI, the sites are characterised by high connection capacity, which in the future will also allow for rapid expansion of charging stations and potential technological upgrades. Michele De Gaspari, Regional Director for Southern Europe at E.ON Drive Infrastructure, commented: “By integrating these hubs into our network, we are strengthening our presence along the most important European traffic corridors and further expanding a network designed to make high-power charging across Europe increasingly accessible and reliable.”

EDRI states that it is now represented in eleven European countries, employs around 200 people, and operates a network of approximately 10,000 public charging stations. In Italy, the company recently won a tender at the beginning of the year from Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI), Italy’s largest motorway operator, for the construction of 104 HPC charging stations at 18 motorway service areas. These are being built along Italy’s busiest east-west and north-south corridors, including the A4 (Turin–Trieste) and A14 (Bologna–Taranto) motorways. According to earlier statements, all sites are expected to be operational by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, Smatrics EnBW is ending its operations in Italy after around two years. At the end of 2024, the charging network joint venture, which had previously operated exclusively in Austria, opened its first fast-charging park in Italy (DE). This was the aforementioned site on the Brenner motorway with 20 HPC charging points. In 2025, this was followed by the charging park in Palmanova (DE), before Smatrics EnBW expanded its network in February 2026 to include the next two sites.

In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Smatrics EnBW also provided a reason for the withdrawal from Italy. Smatrics EnBW is a driving force for the mobility transition in Austria and pursues the goal of establishing a comprehensive fast-charging network. “Sustainably securing and further developing a strong position in Austria requires an unrestricted focus and a complete concentration of the resources of SMATRICS EnBW GmbH on its core market,” the spokesperson told electrive. For this reason, Smatrics EnBW decided to sell 100% of its shares in its own charging network in Italy – “and to focus entirely on the Austrian market from now on.”

linkedin.com, eon-energia.com (ITA)