Recharge your vehicle from a lamp post?
Ubitricity, a subsidiary of Shell, has just won the city of Berlin’s tender for a federally funded air quality improvement project. Thus, 200 charging points on streetlights will soon show up in two districts of the capital.
Lampposts-chargers, this may surprise. However, the latter have already proven themselves in the United Kingdom. Indeed, these particular charging stations allow the use of the existing infrastructure of the electricity network. They are mainly intended for the 60% of Berliners who do not have a private parking space to set up a charging station at home.
With a charging capacity of 3.7 kW, the terminals (called Heinz) have been specifically designed for the German market. Electricity comes from renewable energies, supplied by Shell Energy. In order not to disturb pedestrians, the sockets are mounted along the lamp post. A standard charging cable is enough to enjoy it.
And the payment in all this? Good question ! Berlin motorists will be able to use the QR Code present on the famous lamppost to pay for their “full”. A subscription with a mobility service provider is also possible.
If all goes well, another 800 charging points should quickly join the first 200 in Berlin.
After the United Kingdom and Germany, Ubitricity is making eyes at France with its “Étoile” charging stations. At present, only around twenty charging stations of this type have been deployed near Calais. Adapted to the requirements of the French market, these charging stations have a more powerful charging capacity of up to 5.5 kW. And on a larger scale?