The Volkswagen manufacturer and the oil company BP have entered into a partnership to develop a network of electric charging stations. A rapprochement of reason, for a smoother and faster transition to electric.
In various BP petrol stations, the manufacturer will install its own terminals, the Flexpole. The United Kingdom and Germany will benefit from the first installations. The two partners are aiming for 4,000 stations within two years, which will allow BP to increase its offer to 8,000 points.
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A Volkswagen Flexpole charging station. Image: Volkswagen.
Flexpoles are terminals designed by Volkswagen for quickly charging a vehicle with a capacity of 150 kW. Every 10 minutes, they add a range of about 150 km. Using batteries, they can work in places with low power supply. ” We are leading the expansion of charging infrastructure in Europe at high speed. Together with bp, we will put thousands of fast charging stations into operation in a very short time. Rapid expansion of the charging network is crucial today explains Thomas Schmall CEO of Volkswagen Group Components.
While the United Kingdom has promised 300,000 electric charging stations by 2030, this project involving a local player, BP, bodes well. In particular, the country intended to launch 6,000 fast charging points along the motorways. It is also a question of a rule for urban planning requiring all new buildings (shopping centres, housing, office buildings) to integrate charging stations. To see if the stations of BP will help it to develop this network. In Germany, where the attachment to thermals is still strong, the transition will certainly be longer.