Latest challenges and developments in advanced charging technologies

Automotive IQ sat down with Mr. Regerbis, Head of charging infrastructure at EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, and discussed the current and future role of energy companies in e-mobility and the main challenges they are facing. 

What is the role of energy companies in e-mobility?

Well energy companies like EnBW are very experienced when it comes to infrastructure, so the infrastructure side of e-mobility is actually the main focus for energy companies. Due to this experience in building and maintaining and operating critical infrastructure systems charging infrastructure naturally is one that lays within the energy companies. 

What are the main challenges of energy providers when it comes to e-mobility?

Well,  it is actually the challenge to have the grids equipped throughout working closely with the grid operation companies in that way that with the rise of e-mobility the grids still remain stable and the provision of energy is always secured. 

How do you plan to overcome this major challenges?

What we are doing as an energy company is that we are speaking with a lot of the grid companies and that we are taking them into the planning process in a very early stage so that they can secure their networks, and this leads that there won't be a shortage in the different aspects.

What are the main improvements in key technology you've seen over the past year?

Well this is definitely the fast charging aspect.  EnBW has started in 2012 with establishing an AC charging network in the greater Stuttgart area. With this public charging network we also provide the energy for 500 e-car sharing cars and at the moment we have about 20 000 charging sessions a month. In 2016 we started to focus on DC fast charging.  Starting in September 2016 we built up fast charging locations. As of today we are the operator of about one third of the fast charging infrastructure on German. We are very proud of how fast we established to play such a major role in the field of fast charging.  

Will utility companies be able to provide the required energy for the EV growing market?

Yes.  The amount of energy is not the problem actually what really is the challenge is that as I said that the grids are equipped to that level that all this energy is provided in rural areas, on highways and in urban facilities in a way that the grids still stay stable, but the amount of energy won't be the problem in my opinion.

How do you see the charging network by the year 2020?

This is a great question because our CEO Dr. Frank Mastiaux from EnBW, he just answered this question in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He stated that  at the end of year 2020, EnBW wants to have 1000 fast charging locations up and running and since these are just our plans. Since there are and there will be other players in the market building up fast charging, there will be a good grid of fast charging locations and EV drivers will profit from that.