In order to drive the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, both the German federal government and private companies have been focusing on the installation of fast charging points.
In 2022, the market witnessed an unprecedented situation: ultra-fast chargers with a capacity of more than 150 kilowatts increased by 80%, from 3,851 to 7,037.
In the subsequent years, this trend continued to rise, sparking a new debate.
“The available power is growing faster than the number of points due to the increasing importance of high-performance fast charging infrastructure,” asserts Thomas Bella to Mobility Portal Europe.
The member of the International Section Council at the Federal Association at Consulting for New Mobility (BBNM e.V.) adds:
“Of approximately 115,000 public chargers, around 22,000 are fast chargers.”
What significance is being given to this type of “refuelling”?
Primarily, it is the “Deutschlandnetz” initiative.
This is a project driven by the Fast Charging Act (SchnellLG), which entrusted the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) with the task of ensuring infrastructure that meets the needs of the entire country.
In response, BMDV and Autobahn GmbH have awarded tenders for 900 regional sites and 200 motorway locations, with the aim of closing the “gaps” on the map.
These locations are strategically distributed to provide rapid and convenient access to fast chargers.
Each of the selected sites must meet high standards of usability and customer comfort.
As well as each device must be capable of delivering a maximum power of at least 300 kilowatts and a nominal power of at least 200 kilowatts.
Meanwhile, Charging Point Operators (CPOs) are engaged in a race to secure a prominent position in an increasingly competitive market, striving to ensure participation “as quickly as possible”.
“Especially with regard to access to the necessary network capacities,” notes Philipp Schockenhoff, Team Lead Sales Expansion Markets at gridX, to Mobility Portal Europe.
In this context, he states that acquiring site connections “is probably the most important criterion” for a CPO’s success today.
“However, this will also change over time as profitability and availability determine whether a CPO’s business remains sustainable in the long term,” he adds.
A scalability model for charging points will be key
Connectivity and interoperability driven by data-based analysis will be essential for the future success of the “refuelling” infrastructure.
To maintain and scale the network in an economically viable manner, it is necessary to optimise and balance device loads.
This is achieved through detailed analysis of information, including equipment occupancy, load distribution throughout the day, and identification of weaknesses or seasonality.
“Therefore, reliable access to site and charger data is crucial,” says the gridX representative.
He emphasises: “This means that charger models which are not sufficiently controllable and do not provide the required data quality for monitoring via a standardised interface will become obsolete.”
What challenge does the electrical grid capacity represent?
A persistent challenge in the sector is the capacity of the electrical grid to support the growth of electric mobility.
The current infrastructure is not fully prepared for the issues of the energy transition, highlighting the need for expansion guided by future needs.
In this context, one potential solution could be the development of chargers that facilitate bidirectional charging.
This technology not only allows an EV to be charged but also enables it to return energy to the network, helping to stabilise it.
gridX highlights that vehicle-to-home (V2H) will be the first to gain traction in this sector.
This not only helps reduce peak energy demand but also allows EV owners to benefit from additional income through participation in the wholesale market or ancillary services.
However, current legislation presents obstacles to these installations due to the network fees that must be paid.
