Electric vehicle charging assistants deployed at busy French motorway service stations
Bornistes help drivers use busy charging hubs and resolve technical problems during the peak getaway period
Electric vehicle drivers heading on holiday in France this summer may encounter a new type of motorway service station employee, as operators deploy charging assistants to help motorists use busy charging hubs and resolve technical problems during the peak getaway period.
Known as bornistes, they are increasingly being deployed on France's busiest holiday routes as electric vehicle use continues to grow.
Help for drivers at busy charging stations
At the Lançon-Provence motorway service area, a busy stop for traffic heading to the Mediterranean, all 16 charging points were occupied during the latest summer getaway weekend.
Charging assistants, typically wearing orange high-visibility clothing, help motorists find available chargers, explain how the equipment works and resolve minor faults.
"I have to keep things flowing. There are a lot of people," one borniste told Franceinfo.
One driver said the biggest challenge was finding a charger compatible with both their vehicle and payment method.
The role is particularly useful for motorists unfamiliar with motorway charging.
TotalEnergies has expanded the scheme, previously saying it deployed bornistes at around 85 service stations during holiday periods and busy weekends.
On the busiest days, each assistant can help with around 130 charging sessions.
Resolving technical problems
As well as directing motorists, bornistes help resolve charging problems.
At a service station on the A10 motorway, one assistant helped drivers restart a failed charging session after a communication error between the vehicle and charger.
Station staff said such interruptions can occasionally occur during periods of extreme heat, although they remain rare.
France now has around 168,000 public charging points, with the government aiming to increase that number to 400,000 by 2030.
Motorway operators say charging assistants help reassure less experienced electric vehicle drivers while keeping charging stations operating more smoothly during the busiest holiday weekends.
