Volkswagen recently showcased its first charging stations for the EVs in the UK. It can be set up flexibly and independent of the power supply wherever it is needed. Incorporated with quick charging technology, Volkswagen claims that it has the charging capacity of up to 360 kWh. Furthermore, it also said to allow the temporary storage of sustainably generated power, such as solar or wind energy – and therefore CO2-neutral mobility.
Volkswagen reveals that the charger can be permanently connected to a power supply with up to 30 kW via alternating current that lets the battery pack perpetually recharge itself. In the temporary charging station, if the energy content of the integrated battery set is less than 20 percent, the depleted charging station is simply exchanged for a charged one.
The first mobile quick charging stations will be set up as early as the first half of 2019 in Volkswagen’s hometown as part of a pilot project, and will support the expansion of a charging infrastructure in the urban area. As of 2020, the charging station will also be implemented in other cities and communities.
Thomas Schmall, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components, says: “The mobile charging stations are a decisive step toward an efficient network of charging points. They can be set up anywhere as required – with or without connection to the power supply. This flexibility enables a completely new approach for the rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure. Cities can, for example, find out the most suitable places for a permanent charging point before making major investments in developing the network. In addition, it will be possible to set up a large number of charging stations temporarily – exactly when and where they are needed.”
Volkswagen announced that the mobile charging stations can be set up at defined points, for example, spread out across a city. The flexible locations can be easily found via the Internet or apps. Each charging station enables DC quick charging with up to 100 kW. In addition to electric cars, e-bikes can also be charged. Up to four vehicles can be charged simultaneously: two with DC and two with AC connections. It further claims that the total battery storage capacity of up to 360 kWh is sufficient for up to 15 e- vehicles. There is also the possibility of connecting to the power supply directly, allowing the station to be charged with up to 30 kW via alternating current by means of a permanent standard grid connection. This could enable charging points for electric vehicles to be set up quickly and simply, without any structural changes or major financial outlay. Thus, the battery pack in the charging station can be recharged around the clock thanks to the direct power connection, making it possible for time-independent recharging, and therefore buffering of power, also considerably reducing the strain on the power supply at peak periods.
Mark Moller, head of technical development at Volkswagen Group Components said, “It is only when an electric car is charged with sustainably generated power that it can claim CO2-neutral mobility. Our charging station is the first to offer the possibility of temporarily storing sustainably generated power.” For example, the charging station can be charged specifically with solar or wind energy, which is then transmitted to the electric vehicles during charging. Technically, the mobile charging column is based on the battery pack of the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB). On the one hand, this offers the advantage of quick scalability and, on the other hand, the charging station allows batteries from electric vehicles to have a second life.