Electric mobility in Germany is reaching an important milestone: Today, the first fast-charging park at an unmanaged motorway rest area began operation as part of the Deutschlandnetz.
The newly-opened fast-charging station is part of the nationwide expansion of the charging infrastructure by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and enables electric vehicles to be charged quickly and easily. 1,000 fast-charging points in total are being built along the motorways at 200 locations. The new location on the A21 in Schleswig-Holstein (Rastplatz „Depenauer Moor West“) is operated by Autostrom plus GmbH.
Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing said: “Charge quickly, drive worry-free: That’s Deutschlandnetz in a nutshell. Going forward, whoever’s on the road in an electric car will find an ultra-fast charging column, no matter where they go – because we are investing in the charging parks of the future. The first Deutschlandnetz motorway fast-charging park opened today, thus bridging another gap on the charging map. By 2026, 200 charging parks will be built on our motorways.”
Dr. Michael Güntner, Chairman of the Board of Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, said: “The commissioning of the first fast-charging park at an unmanaged motorway rest area means we are advancing the expansion of the fast-charging infrastructure along the entire route network. The opening of this charging park is the beginning of the process of multiplying charging points nationwide along the motorways. Our goal is to make electric mobility a real alternative on all routes, for everyone.”
Dr. Burkhard Seizer, Managing Director of Autostrom plus GmbH: “Our fast-charging parks along the motorways offer unbeatable advantages: rapid access routes, extremely short charging times with our 400 KW chargers and speedy onward journeys for motorists.”
Dagmar Fehler, CEO and Spokesperson of NOW GmbH: “With the opening of the first fast-charging park at an unmanaged motorway rest area we have reached another milestone on the road to a nationwide and demand-oriented charging infrastructure in Germany. I am delighted that the Deutschlandnetz is now being expanded to include fast-charging points in the nationwide motorway network. This enhances service for users and the charging network along motorways becomes tangibly more dense. Our objective is that in future, motorway drivers will find a charging option every 15 to 30 kilometres.”
In the long term, a total of 4,000 fast-charging points are to be built along the motorways. The network is planned in such a way that motorway charging columns can be reached every 10 driving minutes.
The distribution of the locations is based on comprehensive traffic planning needs analysis from the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure (at NOW GmbH), which takes into account already existing infrastructure and anticipates increasing demand for fast-charging infrastructure in the coming years as well as emerging technical developments.
Further information: www.deutschlandnetz.de
With the Deutschlandnetz, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is creating 9,000 additional fast-charging points for electric cars. They are being built in regions, cities and at unmanaged motorway rest areas that were previously gaps on the charging map. Commissioned by the BMDV, private companies are building the more than 1,000 Deutschlandnetz locations. Around 900 locations are being built in urban and rural areas, with 200 directly along the motorways. If all locations are complete by 2026, motorists will be able to find the next fast-charging column quickly and directly. Autobahn GmbH des Bundes is responsible for the planning, building, operation, maintenance, financing, traffic management as well as asset management of the federal motorways. Since beginning operation on 1 January 2021, Autobahn GmbH unites the advantages of a centrally structured organisation with the strengths of the regional roots of its ten branches. With more than 13,000 kilometres of motorway network, the company is one of the largest motorway operators in Europe.
Image: from left: Dr. Michael Güntner (Autobahn GmbH des Bundes), State Secretary Hartmut Höppner (BMDV), Burkhard Seizer (Autostrom Plus GmbH), Carsten Butenschön (Autobahn GmbH des Bundes) | Image rights: Autobahn GmbH