EnBW: 300kW fast chargers at Toom hardware stores

Fast charging at the hardware store: EnBw is now implementing this plan with Toom. In the first step, the Karlsruhe-based energy provider is equipping 30 of the more than 330 Toom locations in Germany with fast charging infrastructure. More are to follow. The HPC columns will have a capacity of up to 300 kW and will be powered 100 percent by green electricity. EnBW is thus expanding its fast charging network into commercial areas. In addition to rest areas and gas stations along highways, hubs in and around urban areas are important locations to offer high charging capacities. These are particularly important for users who do not have a private charging station at home. Timo Sillober, Chief Sales & Operations Officer at EnBW, explains:

"Hardware stores are ideal locations for fast charging stations."

Interesting side note: Toom is part of the Rewe Group and, with more than 330 stores, is one of the leading providers in the German hardware store industry. Jörg Krawinkel, Head of Real Estate at Toom, adds:

"It is important to us to also enable our customers to charge their electric cars at our markets."

EnBw speeds up expansion

The company, based in Cologne, claims to operate all of its markets with green electricity. Currently, EnBw offers nearly 450 locations with fast chargers. But they continue to pick up speed: By 2021, 1,000 fast charging locations with up to 3,000 charging points are to be in place. Timo Sillober, Chief Sales & Operations Officer at EnBW, proudly states:

"On average, we are currently commissioning a new fast charging location every day."

This is also contributed to by the fast charging parks on the A8 in Rutesheim and the one at the Werratal Autobahn rest area on the A4. EnBw utilizes various operator models for this: In Rutesheim, EnBW operates the facility itself, while fast chargers at rest areas are usually installed in cooperation with companies like Tank & Rast. In doing so, the fast chargers can indeed share a roof with the fuel pumps, as happened in Werratal Süd: There, three hyperchargers were installed directly next to the fuel pumps in mid-September.

What does this mean?

EnBw is now complementing the classic fast charging locations on the highway with stations in broader areas and complete charging parks – the number of fast chargers is expected to more than double by 2021.