The EV Charging Stations of the Future
Upscale, comfortable, and convenient, the future of EV charging stations is right around the corner.
Style, comfort, and convenience are words we may not normally associate with refueling our gas tanks or charging our EV batteries. A German luxury auto manufacturer, an American EV charging station network, and a British oil and gas company are hoping to change that. Read on to get a glimpse of the present and future of EV charging.
“The charging station of the future, today”
An EV charging company in America announced its new design vision for the future EV charging station.
Image courtesy of Electrify America
“Electrify America will be reinventing the look and feel at many of our charging stations to meet and exceed the expectations of customers moving from a gas-powered vehicle to an electric lifestyle,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and CEO of Electrify America. “These new designs will help elevate the charging experience for our customers, building on the foundation of our ultra-fast and reliable coast-to-coast network.”
Image courtesy of Electrify America
Calling their concept “human-centered,” these redesigned stations will feature customer lounges, showcase areas for EVs, and a dedicated space for events. Solar panel awnings will shield customers from the sun and inclement weather while also helping power the station’s operations.
Image courtesy of Electrify America
On-site security cameras and additional lighting will enhance security, especially at night. The stations located near shopping centers may offer curbside delivery options and valet charging.
Image courtesy of Electrify America
Throughout 2022 and 2023, the company plans to build these new and improved charging plazas in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego, and Beverly Hills, California, and in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City.
“The momentum moving us closer to an electric transportation system is accelerating with consumers finding more and more choices of EVs from virtually every manufacturer,” Palazzo shared.
“Our customer research shows the need to transition to a more inviting charging experience that accommodates the human experience with waiting areas and other conveniences,” he continued.
(Also read: EV Chargers: A Modern Home’s Must-Have)
A premium charging experience
Last December, German luxury auto manufacturer Audi inaugurated its first pilot charging hub at its exhibition center in Nuremberg, Germany.
“We want to use it to test flexible and premium-oriented quick-charging infrastructure in urban space,” said Ralph Hollmig, project manager for the Audi charging hub. “We’re going where our customers don’t necessarily wake up in the morning with a fully charged electric car and at the same time thinking about increasing charging demand in the future.”
The charging hub provides an app-based, reservation-only booking service in a luxury environment where customers can eat, relax, and work while waiting for their EVs to charge. The high-speed charging hub provides service staff to attend to clients’ needs and offers a food delivery service and mobile car care. Going beyond EV charging, the pilot charging hub also has an exchange station for electric bike batteries and an electric scooter lending service.
The hub has six charging stations and is powered by used and processed lithium-ion batteries that serve as energy storage systems and help reduce cost, waste, and dependence on the electric grid. In addition, solar roof panels provide the charging hub with up to 30 kW of green energy.
Three months after launching its charging hub in Nuremberg, Audi announced it will open a second pilot hub in Zurich, Switzerland.
"Charging must be as simple as refueling—and ideally even more convenient," Audi CEO Markus Duesmann shared. "We successfully launched the pilot phase of our additional premium fast-charging service, the Audi charging hub, in December. This summer, we are launching a second pilot in Zurich."
(Also read: Shifting Gears to EV: OEM’s Next Challenge)
Transforming fuel stations for a greener future
One of the world’s largest oil companies has modified an existing fuel station in Fulham, London. It is the company’s first EV charging hub in the country. Instead of petrol and diesel pumps, the Fulham station now has nine high-powered, ultra-rapid 175kW charge points. The charge points can charge most vehicles up to 80% within 30 minutes. Constructed from sustainable materials, the hub has roof solar panels that provide around 25% of the hub’s electricity needs.
Drivers waiting for their EVs to charge can enjoy a cup of coffee and do their grocery shopping. The hub has a comfortable seating area for waiting customers and features a Costa Coffee shop and a Little Waitrose convenience store.
By 2025, the company plans to have over 5,000 EV charging points on forecourts and in new locations.
"EV drivers are looking for a charging experience that is as fast, convenient, and comfortable as possible," István Kapitány, the company’s Global Executive Vice President for Mobility, shared. "This is exactly what Shell Fulham aims to offer. It joins our growing network of Shell Recharge sites at forecourts and other locations, our Ubitricity on-street charging network, and our Shell Recharge Solutions for homes and businesses as we increasingly help EV drivers to charge wherever they need it. It also gives us all a glimpse into the future of mobility."
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