Shell subsidiary ubitricity wins contract for 200 lamp post chargers in Berlin

The Berlin-based manufacturer and operator of charging solutions for electric vehicles, ubitricity, a subsidiary of the oil company Shell, has won a public tender from the city of Berlin for at least 200 lamp post charging stations in public spaces. The setup will begin in the districts of Steglitz-Zehlendorf and Marzahn-Hellersdorf. The provider is deploying its charging point "Heinz," specifically developed for the German market. The installation of the first 200 lamp post charging points is set to start in close cooperation with the Berlin Senate Department for the Environment, Mobility, Consumer, and Climate Protection in the second quarter of 2022. The implementation is part of a federally funded "Clean Air" project. If the already requested project extension by the state of Berlin is approved, up to 800 additional lamp post charging points can be installed, the provider added.

Success Model from Great Britain

With the installation of lamp post charging points in Berlin, the successful model of lamp post charging from Great Britain is being transferred to Germany, taking local guidelines into account. Charging stations on street lamps utilize the existing infrastructure and enable city dwellers without private parking spaces - about 60 percent in Berlin - to have everyday access to electromobility right in front of their homes. The "Heinz" charging point, developed jointly by ebee Smart Technologies and ubitricity on the EUREF campus, is mounted on the street lamp without further surface sealing of the sidewalk. With a charging capacity of 3.7 kW, it provides suitable conditions for urban residential charging in line with usual parking times. This follows everyday habits and enables the cost-effective and rapid establishment of nearby charging points taking existing network capacities into account, the provider promotes the concept.

Electricity from Renewable Sources is Mandatory

All lamp post charging points will be supplied exclusively with electricity from renewable energies by Shell Energy Retail GmbH. Residents have the opportunity to charge at the lamp post charging points using their usual tariffs from their Mobility Service Provider (MSP), such as Shell Recharge, or via ad-hoc access using a QR code. The latter works without registration or ongoing membership. Both options only require a standard charging cable with a type 2 plug.

"Using existing infrastructure for public charging points is key to making the transition to electric cars easier for all citizens," believes Daniel Kunkel, CEO of ubitricity.

Fabian Ziegler, Chairman of the Management Board of Shell in Germany, sees projects like this as aligned with the federal government's resolution to aim for climate neutrality by 2045.

"That is ambitious but feasible, provided everyone pulls together. We want to be part of the solution and help with the transition to electric vehicles in the passenger car sector. We expect that in the future, only one in five charging sessions will take place at the gas station," Ziegler further explained.