Motorway's First E.ON Charging Station Unveiled in Germany (Deutschlandnetz)
New Fast-Charging Parks Open on A7 Motorway in Walsrode
In a significant move towards electrifying transportation, the first implementation of E.ON's "Autobahnlose" program has been launched. This program aims to build 900 fast-charging parks, including 200 at unmanned motorway rest areas, across urban and rural areas.
The new fast-charging parks, located on the A7 near Walsrode, are a part of the state-funded "Deutschlandnetz" project. These parks feature high-power fast chargers with capacities of up to 350 kW, ensuring quick and efficient charging for electric vehicles (EVs). The chargers use 100% renewable electricity sourced from certified green energy providers, making them eco-friendly.
For the introductory period of three months after opening, the operator offers a special rate of 0.29 €/kWh to encourage adoption and trial by drivers. After this period, the price for ad-hoc charging at the Walsrode location will be 0.73 Euro/kWh, still competitive compared to traditional fuel prices.
The fast-charging park at Walsrode is strategically located at the motorway junction where the A7 crosses the A27, making it a key traffic hub in Northern Germany. Another fast-charging park, Wolfsgrund East, is set to open in a few days, further enhancing the charging infrastructure in the region.
Ludolf von Maltzan of E.ON Drive Infrastructure stated that these two new Deutschlandnetz locations are at an important traffic hub for drivers. The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) is investing around 2.3 billion euros in the project, with the aim of creating 9,000 additional fast-charging points for EVs.
The BMV's goal is to ensure that charging stations can be reached every ten driving minutes on the highways, with a total of 4,000 fast-charging points planned along the highways. Private companies are building these locations on behalf of the ministry.
If two EVs share a charger, each can be charged at a minimum of 200 kW, reducing waiting times significantly. The Hypercharger HYC400 from Alpitronic is used at the Wolfsgrund West location, offering a peak power of 400 kW. With this hypercharger, a mid-size EV can be charged with enough energy for 300 to 500 kilometers in just ten minutes.
The Federal Highway Authority has also opened a fast-charging park on the A7 near Walsrode, heading towards Hannover. This marks the first fast-charging park in Lower Saxony under the "Autobahnlose" program. The "Autobahnlose" program was awarded to four operators in February 2024, including E.ON, Fastned, TotalEnergies, and Autostrom.
These new fast-charging parks are a significant step towards promoting the use of EVs and providing eco-friendly transportation options for drivers on the A7 motorway. The parks are expected to be completed by 2026, further expanding Germany's charging infrastructure and supporting the country's goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2045.
The new fast-charging park at Walsrode, a part of the "Deutschlandnetz" project, features high-power fast chargers with capacities of up to 350 kW, utilizing technology to ensure quick and efficient charging for electric vehicles (EVs).
Moreover, the Hypercharger HYC400 from Alpitronic, a technology deployed at the Wolfsgrund West location, offers a peak power of 400 kW, enabling mid-size EVs to be charged with enough energy for 300 to 500 kilometers in just ten minutes.
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