Volkswagen begins expansion EV charging stations at its German sites

The Volkswagen brand is systematically driving its electric offensive and will be installing some 4,000 charging points at its German sites by 2025.

The first are already up and running: Ulrich Markurth, Mayor of Braunschweig, was joined by Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, to inaugurate the first charging center for employees with 60 new charging points.

The Volkswagen Group is investing some €250 million ($277.5 million) in expanding the charging infrastructure at its European sites. When combined with the activities at dealerships, this means the Volkswagen Group is providing some 36,000 new charging points in Europe.

“Adequate facilities for charging at the workplace are an important element in our electric offensive. Going forward, charging their electric vehicles while they are at work will be easy and convenient for our employees. We are demonstrating how the gradual transition to e-mobility can succeed,” said Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for E-Mobility.

“I am very pleased that Volkswagen AG is making massive investments in the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles worldwide and, more specifically, in our region. And I am particularly delighted that the Braunschweig plant is a trailblazer for this major investment. Employees will be able to refuel while they work. And at the same time, these charging points will also be available to other electric vehicle users. This is an excellent model that should set a precedent. We will also need more public charging options going forward. However, demand for charging stations cannot be primarily covered by such public facilities. Conditions for installing private charging points should be improved, and companies should contribute to that. I would like to thank Volkswagen AG for sending such a strong signal,” Braunschweig's Mayor, Ulrich Markurth, said.

The first charging centre was commissioned at the Volkswagen Group Components plant in Braunschweig. The 60 charging points are located on the Ohefeld parking lot bordering on the site. The charging power level is 11kW and the charging centre uses a Type 2 plug, the European standard system. The sole source of power for charging is Volkswagen Naturstrom from renewable sources. The power has been certified by TÜV Nord and is 100% CO2-free, originating from sources such as wind and hydropower. Further charging centres will be successively phased in at the other German sites by 2025.

“Volkswagen's first charging center has been realized at the Components plant in Braunschweig. That makes us very proud. The Volkswagen Group is underpinning its electric offensive with this initiative and at the same time turning e-mobility into a real world experience for employees, and later also other drivers of electric vehicles. This is a clear and concrete step towards e-mobility,” said Otto Joos, Business Field Manager “Chassis” at Volkswagen Group Components.

Volkswagen is active in all areas where electric vehicles are charged: at home, at the workplace, in public spaces and on highways. Charging at the workplace is becoming increasingly important because it is a good alternative for all those who cannot charge at home. Going forward, some 20% of all charging operations could take place at the workplace.

Charging centres are also an attractive option for companies because construction conditions are often favorable and it is relatively easy for firms to create an additional benefit for their employees. In light of this, Volkswagen is not only active at its own sites, but the Volkswagen subsidiary Elli (Electric Life) also offers other companies complete charging solutions for employee parking lots and fleet operations.