BMW, Daimler, Ford, Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi join forces on electric car charging
BMW, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the “highest-powered charging network in Europe”.
IN A MOVE THAT COULD send shivers down the spines of start-ups and industrialists everywhere, major European car makers have joined forces to build a high-speed electric car charging network in Europe. According to a joint statement released overnight, “The goal is the quick build-up of a sizable number of stations in order to enable long-range travel for battery electric vehicle drivers. This will be an important step towards facilitating mass-market BEV adoption”.
Development of the network is expected to begin in 2017 with claims it will be “significantly faster than the most powerful charging system deployed today”. The group plans 400 sites initially, suggesting that by 2020 customers will be able to access thousands of charging stations across Europe.
“The charging experience is expected to evolve to be as convenient as refueling at conventional gas stations… The network is intended to serve all Combined Charging System equipped vehicles to facilitate the BEV adoption in Europe”.
“This high-power charging network provides motorists with another strong argument to move towards electric mobility,” says Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
“A reliable, ultra-fast charging infrastructure is important for mass consumer adoption and has the potential to transform the possibilities for electric driving,” added Mark Fields, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “Ford is committed to developing vehicles and technologies that make people’s lives better, and this charging network will make it easier and more practical for customers across Europe to own electrified vehicles.”
Question: Do you think a fast charging network similar to this one being proposed for Europe could work in Australia?
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I think it would work in Australia. Charging times would have to be fast though as charging at home isn’t an option for many (street parking, apartments, multiple cars at home). The network would also need to still give the freedom we’re used to with petrol. I’ve driven from Gold Coast to Sydney twice in the last year. Once I detoured via the New England when traffic was bad on the Pacific Highway and the second time I didn’t have the time to stop at Port Macquarie (Tesla charging station) as I was running behind due to road works. Also, petrol stations are pretty good one-stop shops now and the charging network needs to be able to match these in terms of food choices and essential items (the kids want to go to Macca’s not a winery). BEVs are still a compromise due to the network and on both of these trips a BEV would have limited my options and taken more time to complete the trip.