Fastned, the Dutch company that is building a European network of fast-charging stations for electric vehicles, has opened its first location in Germany. The new station is located on the A3 highway between Frankfurt and Cologne.
The station offers two different types of charging:
- DC fast charging: This type of charging is capable of charging an electric vehicle in about 30 minutes. Fastned says that its DC chargers are some of the fastest in the world, with a charging capacity of up to 150 kilowatts.
- AC fast charging: This type of charging is slower than DC fast charging, but it is still much faster than a standard household outlet. AC fast chargers at the station have a capacity of 50 kilowatts.
In addition to the new charging station, Fastned is also opening a customer service center where drivers can pay for their charging, ask questions, and use the restroom. The customer service center is staffed by Fastned employees, not robots.
Why Germany?
Germany is an important market for electric vehicles. In 2017, over 100,000 electric vehicles were sold in the country. This number is expected to increase to over 1 million by 2020.
The German government has also been supportive of electric vehicles, with plans to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2020. To help reach this goal, the government has been investing in charging infrastructure. For example, the government has committed to installing 7,000 DC fast-charging stations by 2020.
With its new station in Germany, Fastned is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing market for electric vehicles in the country.