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Wildtrails chooses Smappee to create one of the largest charging squares in Wallonia 

“64 charging points are primarily for our customers” 

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Providing guests with a pleasant stay in 2024 also means ensuring sufficient charging options for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Wildtrails spared no expense to meet this requirement. The event organisation hired installer DECAT empowering places to install 64 Smappee EV Base charging stations. “For us, this was an obvious investment to meet every customer’s needs,” says Frank Descamps, owner of Wildtrails. 

Since 1994, Wildtrails has been creating customised programmes for meetings, seminars, conferences, teambuilding events, workshops, brainstorming sessions, and other incentives for an extensive and diverse clientele. To host these events, the company owns several luxurious locations and estates in the picturesque area of Jupille. These locations offer 104 rooms and 303 beds, often booked months in advance. Many businesses have become loyal clients, who over time have developed new expectations. 

Belgian quality 

“Even before the pandemic, we regularly received requests from customers to provide electric vehicle charging options,” says Frank Descamps. “Although the COVID crisis and the July 2021 floods caused severe economic and infrastructural damage, during that time, we also conducted a market survey for EV charging solutions. DECAT emerged as the best partner. They were quick to respond, maintained excellent communication, and offered an unbeatable price-to-quality ratio.” 

DECAT, founded in 1976, has grown into a class 8 installation company and operates as a technical integrator

When Wildtrails presented its EV and high-voltage needs, Thomas Dhont, Technical Sales at DECAT, immediately knew which solutions to propose.

“We work independently of any specific brands, but when it comes to charging stations and energy management, we quickly turn to Smappee products and services. When comparing price and quality, there’s no contest. Plus, Smappee charging stations come equipped with outstanding control options, thanks to a highly efficient energy management system.” 

Thomas Dhont, Technical Sales at DECAT

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“An added bonus is Smappee’s Belgian identity and the elegant design of the EV Base charging stations,” Frank adds. “I already knew the company, so I was quickly on board with DECAT’s proposal.” 

Stylish high-voltage cabinet 

To provide enough power for the charging stations, a high-voltage cabinet was required. “Thanks to a constructive collaboration with Proximus, Ores (the main distribution network operator for electricity and gas in Wallonia), and the municipality of Rendeux, the street only had to be dug up once to install both fibre optic and high-voltage cables,” Frank explains. “We have great relationships with the municipal services, and we assured them that we would take great care to design the exterior of the high-voltage cabinet in Ardennes style. This way, it blends perfectly with the surroundings. That’s why we quickly received the go-ahead.” 

Once the approvals were in place, DECAT could start constructing the high-voltage cabinet and wiring for the electrical panels. 

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Optimising renewable or low-cost electricity 

Charging is currently done using power drawn from the grid. “We still have several fixed-rate energy contracts,” Frank continues. “There are plans to install solar panels in the future. Ideally, the revenue from the charging sessions will help finance them.” 

For Wildtrails, it is especially beneficial that the EV Base charging points feature load balancing control options. “All the necessary hardware is in place for this,” says Emile Bekaert. “Especially when the owner of the charging stations has a dynamic energy contract, load balancing is very useful, allowing them to use higher capacity during periods of cheaper electricity.” 

Smooth and quick service 

Another major advantage of working with DECAT and Smappee is the peace of mind it brings to Frank Descamps’ team. “As with other customers, we serve as Wildtrails’ central contact point for everything related to the charging infrastructure. Thanks to the excellent communication and quick response times from Smappee and our team, we can resolve any issues quickly. Often, the customer doesn’t even notice there’s been a challenge: with the smart but easy-to-use Smappee Dashboard, we can monitor each charging station individually, see which ones are in use, the charging speeds, and more.” 

‘Natural’ parking 

Going from 0 to 64 charging points in one move sparks the imagination. “Many large companies trust us to host their events here,” Frank continues. “So, four charging points won’t cut it. We often host several hundred guests (many of whom stay overnight) in a single day. Many of them already drive, or will soon drive, electric vehicles. It’s essential to ensure their mobility needs are met. Besides, the charging infrastructure in the surrounding area is quite limited. You might find a hotel or bed & breakfast with a maximum of four charging points, but that’s about it. Wallonia has some catching up to do in terms of electric mobility infrastructure. With this EV parking area, we not only serve our guests but also introduce passersby to our accommodations while they wait during a charging session. Soon, we will also enhance the parking area with natural landscaping.” 

All charging points have been operational since summer 2023. “When our customers see that we offer free parking and so many charging options—all at 22 kW—they often think it’s a typo in our communications,” Frank laughs. “But it’s true. Without a doubt, the 64 EV Base charging stations will be used even more in the future, especially with so many electric vehicles being delivered to companies this fall.” 




Customer Wildtrails    
Country Belgium 
Industry Entertainment & Teambuilding 

Profile

For 30 years, Wildtrails has been a trusted events partner for large companies, SMEs, and individuals. The team, led by Frank Descamps, organises teambuilding events, incentives, congresses, workshops, seminars, meetings, and conferences. In the Rendeux and Jupille areas, it offers 104 rooms and 303 beds. 

The challenge

Until recently, there were few or no options for charging electric vehicles in the surrounding area. Wildtrails conducted an extensive market survey to analyse which partners could best meet the need for a large-scale charging infrastructure. 

The solution

Installer DECAT provided the best solution with an unrivalled price-to-quality ratio. The multitechnics contractor proposed Smappee EV Base charging stations, which can charge vehicles at 22 kW. DECAT also installed a high-voltage cabinet, enabling 64 vehicles to charge simultaneously. 

The results

  • Full installation operational since July 2023   
  • 448 days of charging logged as of February 2024   
  • Average charge session of 39 kWh   
  • Wildtrails is the only provider of extensive charging options in the region 
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Why Smappee?

  • Aesthetic design   
  • Belgian manufacturer offering fast service   
  • Real-time, comprehensive overview of all charging points via the Smappee Dashboard   
  • Load balancing ensures balanced power distribution across all 64 charging points   
  • Smart charging adapts to dynamic electricity rates
  • Ease of managing public charging  

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