Four ultra-fast charging hubs in northern Italy have a new owner. On October 29, 2026, E.ON Drive Infrastructure (EDRI) Italy announced that it had acquired 100% of the share capital of SMATRICS EnBW Italia S.r.l. The deal moves four high-power charging (HPC) hubs, with 64 ultra-fast charging points between them, into EDRI's network. All four are already operating.
The sites sit along two of the European Union's TEN-T transport corridors, the Scandinavian-Mediterranean and the Mediterranean, according to EDRI's press release. None of the sources reviewed for this article gave a purchase price.
The deal in numbers
The per-site split below comes from EDRI's announcement. Vaielettrico and TuttoTech reported the same figures. Counts are as of the October 29, 2026 announcement.
| Hub | Location (as described by EDRI) | Ultra-fast points |
|---|---|---|
| Brixen-Vahrn | South Tyrol, on the Brenner corridor | 20 |
| Palmanova | Udine, on the Alpine-Adriatic corridor | 12 |
| Gruaro | Venice area, between the A28 and A4 motorways | 16 |
| Trezzo sull'Adda | Milan area, on the A4 | 16 |
| Total | 64 | |
The four counts add up to the announced total: 20 + 12 + 16 + 16 = 64. Brixen-Vahrn, with 20 points, is the largest of the four. According to EDRI it sits on the Brenner corridor, and TuttoTech describes the Brenner axis as one of the busiest crossings between Italy and Central Europe. Gruaro and Trezzo sull'Adda both sit on the A4 motorway or beside it, and Palmanova is in the province of Udine, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Vaielettrico describes the group as four HPC stations in Italy's north-east, although Trezzo sull'Adda is in the Milan area.
Who is buying
According to EDRI's press release and TuttoTech, EDRI operates in 11 European countries, runs more than 10,000 public charging points and employs more than 200 people. Next to a network of that size, 64 points is a modest addition. The sites matter for where they are: EDRI says all four hubs are on core TEN-T corridors, connecting Italy with Central Europe and key Mediterranean markets.
TuttoTech also reported that the law firm Watson Farley & Williams advised E.ON Drive Infrastructure Italy on the transaction. The sources do not say who advised the seller.
Why grid capacity is the point
The detail in EDRI's release that matters most for the future is that the acquired sites have a high level of available grid capacity. EDRI says this enables ultra-fast charging today and gives strong potential for future expansion, in additional charging points and potential technology upgrades. Michele De Gaspari, EDRI's Regional Director Southern Europe, gave a statement in the release about strengthening the company's presence along major European transport corridors.
Spare capacity makes expansion possible, but nothing has been committed yet. TuttoTech reported that the four stations stay where they are and at the power announced at the handover, and that no date has been given for any work. Here is where each part of the deal stands:
- Operating now: four hubs, 64 ultra-fast points.
- Announced: the change of ownership to EDRI Italy (October 29, 2026).
- Not announced: any specific expansion, new charger count, power upgrade or timeline.
A consolidating market
Vaielettrico presented the deal as part of a consolidation process in Italy's charging sector that has been discussed for some time, and noted continuing talk of other consolidation deals under study among operators. These rumours are unconfirmed, and the outlet did not name any other deals. EDRI's own release says the transaction confirms its ambition to play a leading role in ultra-fast charging by continuing to invest through strategic M&A.
What It Means for Drivers
In the near term, very little appears to change for someone pulling in to charge. All four hubs were already operating before the deal, and according to TuttoTech they stay where they are at their announced power. Drivers on the Brenner route through Brixen-Vahrn, in the Venice area at Gruaro, on the A4 near Trezzo sull'Adda, or in Palmanova should find the same 64 ultra-fast points in the same places.
Some things may change later, but the sources give no details on them:
- Pricing and payment: none of the sources gives charging prices, per-kWh or per-minute rates, or says whether tariffs, apps or roaming access will change under EDRI. Vaielettrico expressed a hope that growth of larger operators brings more price competition in Italy, which is the outlet's opinion rather than an announcement. Check the price on the charger or in your app at the time you charge.
- Branding and apps: the sources do not say when or whether the sites will be rebranded or moved onto EDRI's own app or account systems.
- More chargers: EDRI says the sites have grid capacity for growth, but no expansion has been announced and no timeline given.
If you plan long trips around these corridors, it makes sense to check the sites in your charging app before you travel, especially in the months after the handover.
Sources
- E.ON Drive Infrastructure Italy Acquires 100% of SMATRICS EnBW Italia (EDRI press release, October 29, 2026)
- E.ON compra Smatrics Italia, con 64 ricariche (Vaielettrico, October 29, 2026)
- E.ON rileva SMATRICS EnBW Italia: 64 punti di ricarica ultraveloce in 4 stazioni del Nord (TuttoTech, October 30, 2026)
