After restructuring in the last two years, Volkswagen is planning a clearly noticeable expansion of the charging infrastructure on the way to electromobility in the next few years. In addition to increasing the number of electric cars available in the future, the declared goal is to make the number of charging points in public spaces more transparent for all users. In Europe, according to VW, 250 million euros will be made available for the creation of 36.000 charging points by 2025.
So far, the charging points have mainly been installed at Volkswagen dealerships in cities and the company's own plants have been equipped with charging points mainly for employees. For greater customer acceptance of the topic of electromobility, especially in our surveys, the fear of not reaching the next charging point on time is a main argument against buying an electric car. The Volkswagen group is planning massive countermeasures here.
Charging points for short and long distances
For the future, all conceivable charging scenarios for home, work and travel should be seamlessly displayed and covered. In addition to the expansion of the infrastructure, the subsidiaries "Elli" and the charging service "We Charge" have already been founded. Elli is to provide an inexpensive wallbox for charging in the home this year. With the “We Charge” solution, a charging card is to be created that can be used at all public charging stations without contact, regardless of the provider. The billing should then take place on an account comparable to a clear credit card billing monthly.
Thomas Ulbrich, Board Member for E-Mobility at the Volkswagen brand, explains the strategy. “The charging infrastructure is increasingly becoming a decisive factor for the rapid breakthrough of e-mobility in Germany. Charging an e-car must be just as easy and natural as charging a smartphone. Above all, we need significantly more charging stations in public spaces and simple rules for installing private wallboxes. Volkswagen wants to set an example here and is committed to building the charging infrastructure at all levels ”.
Infrastructure creates demand for electromobility
Volkswagen expects most of the charging processes at home or at work in the future. The Volkswagen subsidiary "Elli" supplies the equipment in the form of a compact and easy-to-install wallbox and in the future will also offer its own green power supply for corporate and private customers. A total of 4.000 charging points are to be created at the Volkswagen locations, which are also to be used by the public.
In the medium-haul and long-haul segment, customers should be able to use all public charging points with the “We Charge” charging card described above. In the travel sector and for field workers in the long-haul sector, manufacturers primarily rely on a dense network of ultra-fast charging stations. The “Ionity” joint venture has planned a considerable pace in expanding these charging points. By the end of 2020, 400 charging stations with an average distance of 120 kilometers along the motorways will provide a comprehensive network of charging points in Europe.
Demands on politics
From the perspective of the Volkswagen Group, the commitment to expanding the infrastructure should be ensured through better framework conditions. According to the coalition agreement, 100.000 charging points were to be created; by the beginning of 2019, only 17.400 public and partially public charging points were registered in the BDEW charging station register. Volkswagen is calling for significant improvements here. It lists new regulations in rental and building law as well as significantly more funding measures to expand the charging infrastructure.
“E-mobility in Germany has the potential to become a real success story. If business and politics join forces, we can cope with the challenges of the charging infrastructure very quickly - just as we can only manage the technologically driven structural change in our industry together, ”said E-Mobility Board Member Thomas Ulbrich. Germany needs "a master plan for e-mobility".
Volkswagen underscores the change to electromobility with a clearly perceptible structure with a comprehensive approach. In the future, the car will play less of a role in the value chain of automotive companies, and sustainable, intelligent and well-networked mobility offers are in demand.
More articles - Volkswagen - click here
Addendum
E-mobility board member Thomas Ulbrich. Germany - Copyright VW
Volkswagen - On the way to electromobility
Further articles and information on electromobility can be found in the current issue. Subscription under
Questions and suggestions under 01575/287 3616 or by email to leser@greencarmagazine.de.
Comments are welcome to be entered. They are activated after a content check.
- Light vehicles - mega trend for 2024 - September 21, 2023
- Portrait of the Mazda CX-60 Homura e-SKYACTIV PHEV - September 21, 2023
- The 5 most important tips for traveling with an electric car - September 20, 2023