Opel conducts research into e-car charging infrastructure
The car manufacturer is building an intelligent charging and infrastructure system with more than 160 charging points for electric vehicles in its Rüsselsheim development center. This field laboratory will work on developing a sustainable charging infrastructure.
Share
The more than 160 charging points in Rüsselsheim and the test center in Rodgau-Dudenhofen will be used to charge the development center's e-fleet while providing plenty of data for extensive simulations. Opel expects this to result in insights about charging behavior and the scope of the required network expansion. An intelligent control system is also designed to ensure that the charging current and charging times are adapted to the respective use of the vehicles, so they are ready to be driven at any time. Opel is also installing a modular battery storage system in Rodgau-Dudenhofen that will reuse 18 Ampera vehicle batteries. They are intended to compensate for consumption peaks and so to stabilize the power grid. The University of Kassel as well as the companies Flavia IT and Plug'n Charge are also involved in the project, which is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport and Regional Development.
The charging infrastructure is even suitable as a separate business segment, as the consulting firm Deloitte reports in a study that suggests potential is there: according to estimates by the national electromobility platform, about 70,000 public charging stations will be needed to supply the German government's target of one million electric cars by 2020. However, if expansion continues at its current pace, probably only 14,000 charging stations (about 19,600 charging points) will be available by then.
Related Exhibitors
Interested in news about exhibitors, top offers and trends in the industry?
Browser Notice
Your web browser is outdated. Update your browser for more security, speed and optimal presentation of this page.
Update Browser