Back when the first combustion engines were designed, gasoline and other fuels were only sold by pharmacists, which is why the world's first filling station is recorded as Wiesloch pharmacy in south-western Germany. Bertha Benz refueled with Ligroin benzine here during her famous cross-country trip in 1888. Alternative outlets for fuels didn’t spring up till 1900, and the first directory of filling stations in Germany was published in 1909. Thus it took around 20 years for a more or less sufficient infrastructure for fueling combustion engines to develop - but this didn't stop the technology from catching on. A similar process is currently under way in electromobility, whatever the skeptics might say. Battery technology and charging systems are now surging forward, and it’s foreseeable that the charge and maximum range will very quickly approach the standards we have come to expect during the last century or so. Bang in line with this trend, ABB AG is unveiling the world’s fastest ever electrical charging station at HANNOVER MESSE 2018, clearly confirming its leading role in sustainable mobility.

The 350 kW Terra high-power charging station takes only eight minutes to provide electric vehicles with enough power to travel 200 kilometers, making it perfect for highway rest areas and filling stations. ABB charging technology is taking hold all over the world - for instance, the Terra HP system was recently chosen for Electrify America, the largest ever e-mobility infrastructure project in the United States. With more than 6,500 high-speed charging stations installed in 60 countries, ABB is one of the world's leading suppliers of DC charging solutions. The company is showcasing its pioneering technology at HANNOVER MESSE 2018 alongside driving simulator infotainment and an original Formula E race car from the first all-electric international motorsport series run by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

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