Shell & VW: First Flexpole Charging Station for Flexible HPC Expansion

After the start-ups Numbat and JOLT, the VW Group is also partnering with the oil company Shell to implement fast charging stations with battery storage, and has launched its first facility in Göttingen, which eliminates the need for a medium-voltage connection. The charging station from Volkswagen's Elli brand also features a battery storage system that enables connection to a low-voltage network. This allows the charging stations to be easily and flexibly installed, accelerating grid expansion, according to the manufacturer. Following successful test operations, Shell and Volkswagen plan to gradually roll out the Flexpole charging station to other countries.

“With VW's Elli Flexpole charging stations, we can make a significant contribution to the necessary expansion of the charging infrastructure. And specifically at locations where fast charging would otherwise be difficult,” explains Tobias Bahnsen, Head of Shell E-Mobility responsible for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Simon Löffler, responsible for Sales, Products, and Projects at Elli, considers the rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure a crucial prerequisite for the success of e-mobility. The HPC station can be set up almost anywhere without major construction work, making it suitable for a quick deployment of fast-charging options.

Accelerated Grid Expansion through Innovative Elli Flexpole Technology

The federal government plans to have at least one million charging points available by 2030. According to the Federal Network Agency, the number of charging points increased significantly by about 21,000 last year to a total of over 80,000. Of these, around 67,000 are standard charging points and about 13,000 are fast charging points. However, a faster expansion of the charging infrastructure is hampered by the necessity of special transformers, whose procurement is characterized by long delivery times, outlines the VW subsidiary. Additionally, around 900 German distribution network operators set different requirements for the transformers.

The Flexpole charging station technology overcomes one of the biggest hurdles in expansion, according to the provider. The charging points can be connected directly to the low-voltage network thanks to the integrated battery system, without the need for a special transformer or costly construction work. This significantly shortens the installation time. At the same time, the combined charging stations enable a charging speed of up to 150 kW. Depending on the vehicle, this allows up to 160 kilometers of range to be charged within 10 minutes.