Just before the holidays, on 18 December to be precise, Allego opened something on the car park of the Malinas shopping centre in Mechelen that gives electric driving in Belgium a proper kick forward: 24 fast-charging points in one spot, with power outputs up to 300 kW. That's enough to get a modern electric car to 80% in about twenty minutes – plenty of time for a coffee or a quick browse around the shops.
The location is no accident: right next to the E19 motorway, at the Mechelen-North exit, smack in the middle between Antwerp and Brussels. Ideal for commuters, holiday travellers, or locals popping out for groceries. And the best part: every point supports Plug & Charge. Plug in the cable, and the car sorts the rest – identification, payment, everything automatic. No app, no card, no fuss.
Allego calls this their flagship site, and they're not wrong. This year alone they've added 106 new fast chargers, bringing their total to more than 460 across Belgium. Together with partner Mitiska REIM, they're planning at least five more similar hubs by the end of 2026, all on key retail locations. More places like this, spread out properly, so charging becomes as routine as filling up used to be.
Mechelen is already ahead of the pack. The city has exceeded 130% of its 2030 charging targets and is aiming for one and a half points per hundred residents. With this hub in place, a drive across Flanders or beyond is becoming effortless. The cars themselves are already brilliant – silent, rapid, cheaper per kilometre – and now the infrastructure is finally catching up.
The old excuse about too few charging points is wearing pretty thin. Electric driving is here, right now, and it's only getting better.
For anyone ready to make the switch: on our marketplace you'll find a wide selection of 100% electric cars, ready to browse and buy. Take a look at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
