Switzerland to get Europe’s largest EV charging hub
Swiss energy firm EBL plans to create an E-Mobility Hub which will feature 280 EV charging points, including 60 fast chargers. The facility will be located in the canton of Basel. It will also have space for e-mobility related projects inside a large innovation centre.
Once EBL finishes their E-Mobility Hub and start operations in 2023, it will likely be the largest facility of its kind in Europe (still).
The company wants to install almost a park of EV charging stations – 280 to be precise including 60 DC chargers that EBL calls Superchargers although it is unclear if Tesla is involved at this stage.
Cooperation exists between EBL and the canton of Basel-Land and the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland for the project.
Moreover the E-Mobility Hub will accommodate workshops for research projects, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and concept stores and showrooms for electric carmakers. The planned building that EBL calls its Innovation Centre will have nine floors and stretch over 23,000 sqm.
The basement will house to a large stationery energy storage made from 2nd life batteries. The power company expects the hub to require 20,000 megawatt hours of energy a year within 10 years. This energy will be 100% renewable and supplied by local power sources including solar energy, hydropower and wood fuel. Some will be stored in the battery in order to power the fast chargers at peak times.
Recently, the Swiss government said it wanted 15 percent of all vehicles to be electric by 2022. In terms of charging infrastructure, the country is seeking to engage with pilot and demonstration projects.
In its statement, EBL related to the government policy directly and said it believes the new E-Mobility Hub will help provide the necessary infrastructure for growth in the sector.
The site has been found already and is located close to the A2 highway. EBL said it has secured a reservation for the land through the canton. Construction is to begin in 2021. The EBL e-mobility hub is scheduled to begin operations in 2023.
1 Comment