Automotive

ABB announces plan to build world's largest network of EV fast-charging stations

ABB announces plan to build world's largest network of EV fast-charging stations
One of the planned EV charging stations
One of the planned EV charging stations
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One of the planned EV charging stations
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One of the planned EV charging stations
A map showing the distribution of the charging stations across The Netherlands
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A map showing the distribution of the charging stations across The Netherlands

If all goes according to plan, in two years The Netherlands will have the world’s largest nationwide network of EV fast-charging stations. It was announced this week that by 2015, there should be over 200 such stations along Dutch highways, leaving no resident farther than 50 km (31 miles) from a charge-up at any time.

The stations will be run by Dutch start-up Fastned, with the chargers being supplied by Switzerland’s ABB Group. Each station will house several chargers including ABB’s 50-kilowatt Terra 52 and Terra 53 models, which are reportedly capable of charging an electric vehicle within 15 to 30 minutes.

A map showing the distribution of the charging stations across The Netherlands
A map showing the distribution of the charging stations across The Netherlands

Those chargers are also able to accommodate a variety of commonly-used vehicle charging protocols, including CHAdeMO and CCS. According to ABB, “the network will be capable of serving EVs offered by all major car brands from Europe, Asia and the USA.” A cloud-based service will handle things like customer payments, remote assistance, servicing and software upgrades.

Additionally, photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the stations will help offset the financial and environmental costs of supplying the necessary power.

The first chargers are scheduled to be delivered this September.

Source: ABB via Treehugger

6 comments
6 comments
Jim Friedl
The question I have for ABB and/or Fastned is if they are going to utilize any storage at these sites. I know that Tesla Motors Supercharger stations do and I would imagine that in order to take some weight off the local grid that this solution would as well. And how do the solar panels mix into the equation? Are they just there to feed back into the grid and spin the meter the other way, very slowly? Or are they used in conjunction with some on sight storage solution that can be used to facilitate the fast charging?
jeronimo
Why the solar panels ? They are such a costly way to make electricity compared to any centralised power generation station, irrespective of the source of energy.
rocketride
. . . leaving no resident farther than 50 km (31 miles) from a charge-up at any time."
Or, in more practical terms, half again their vehicle's range away from a charge-up.
Stephen N Russell
Export this to the US & link with Tesla or franchise units for Home, school, college, airport, bus port use.
Oskars Bormanis
Why not link the electric charge stations to gas stations already out there
Slowburn
How much life does a fast charge take off the life of the battery?