|29 November 2016|
Europe
The biggest names from the world of motoring are collaborating to create the ‘highest-powered charging network in Europe’.
Car giants, BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which has the objective to swiftly install a comprehensive network of stations to support ‘long-range travel for battery electric vehicle drivers’.
Their goal is to give drivers access to thousands of high-powered charging points by 2020.
The household names will make significant investments in a move which is designed to support the mass-market adoption of battery electric vehicles.
“We intend to create a network that allows our customers on long-distance trips to use a coffee break for recharging”, says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “Reliable fast charging services are a key factor for drivers to choose an electric vehicle. With this cooperation we want to boost a broader market adoption of e-mobility and speed up the shift towards emission-free driving.”
Starting next year the projected ultra-fast high-powered charging network – with an initial target of about 400 sites in Europe – will have power levels up to 350 kW, which is significantly faster than the most powerful charging system deployed today.