EnBW launches largest HPC charging park at Kamener Kreuz

The energy provider EnBW from Baden-Württemberg has officially put into operation its largest fast-charging location to date, as previously announced. The opening was attended, among others, by the Minister-President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), as well as the CEO of EnBW, Frank Mastiaux. The new large location is situated near the Kamener Kreuz – the most trafficked transport hub in Germany. 52 electric vehicles can charge simultaneously here, with up to 300 kilowatts of power in the best-case scenario. This should, depending on the vehicle, charge up to 100 kilometers of range in five minutes, using 100 percent green electricity as usual from the provider. 

"The expansion of a nationwide charging infrastructure is a central prerequisite for a successful market ramp-up of electromobility and makes an important contribution to achieving climate protection goals. With this outstanding project at the highly frequented Kamener Kreuz location and the opening of one of the largest fast-charging parks in all of Europe, we are reaching another milestone on the road to the mobility of the future," explained Hendrik Wüst (CDU), recently appointed Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, at the virtual opening ceremony conducted due to the pandemic.

Commuter State NRW Wants to Promote E-Mobility

This consistent expansion is necessary to successfully shape the traffic transition and the mobility of the future in the long term, Wüst continued, especially in the commuter state of North Rhine-Westphalia, this is important. With around 115,000 registered pure electric cars, North Rhine-Westphalia ranks number 1 in a national comparison. One in ten cars newly registered in North Rhine-Westphalia is a purely battery-electric vehicle, the politician continued. In October alone, 6,500 battery-powered vehicles were newly registered.

More Torque in Expanding Charging Infrastructure

The energy provider sees itself as a driver in this regard and points to the approximately 50 large fast-charging parks that have already opened or are about to open. In total, they operate the largest fast-charging network in Germany with 650 locations. EnBW's CEO Mastiaux hopes for additional momentum in expansion from the new federal government, which aims to make Germany a leading market for e-mobility.

"To make this a success, we need more torque in expanding the charging infrastructure. Here we can learn from the energy transition: we should avoid over-regulation, prioritize market-driven expansion – and realize planning, approval, and funding procedures more quickly in the future," argued Mastiaux. 

The company focuses on public fast charging in long-distance travel as well as increasingly in urban areas or directly at retail locations for the expansion of charging infrastructure. The Baden-Württemberg company operates every third fast-charging location that has gone online nationwide and invests 100 million euros annually in this until 2025.

Innovations: Sanitary Facilities and Virtual Power Plant

The new fast-charging location in Kamen is intended to set new standards not only in terms of size and charging capacity. It is EnBW's first charging park with on-site sanitary facilities. Previous locations relied on corresponding infrastructure in the vicinity. With this service, the company is meeting a central customer demand. Further, customers find covered seating areas and a large photovoltaic system that covers all charging spaces and will generate up to 120 kilowatts of energy on-site.

The innovation project "Virtual Power Plant" ensures with the use of AI that solar power not needed at the location is fed into the power grid and distributed there via so-called direct marketing, further promoting the flagship project. Conversely, the virtual power plant provides the charging park with green electricity that is not generated on-site. Even before the official opening ceremony, the charging park went into operation on December 3, 2021, and has since been met with great enthusiasm from e-car drivers, according to interim results.