For a breakthrough in e-mobility, we need superhubs

Electromobility is on the brink of becoming a mass market. In Switzerland, plug-in cars are showing a double- or triple-digit growth rate and in 2020, they accounted for around 14% of new registrations. Any doubts about battery electric vehicles dominating our roads in one or two decades’ time are increasingly being dispelled. Most vehicle manufacturers, too, are in the process of implementing a change of course, and a wide range of electric cars for various requirements and budgets is now available on the market. So electric cars have arrived. Since Switzerland is known to be a country of renters, and therefore increasing numbers of people who do not own property will be purchasing an electric car, the question arises: can the growth of public charging infrastructure keep pace with this development?

Urban regions becoming bottlenecks

While a fairly dense network of public charging stations already exists in rural regions of Switzerland, in urban conurbations the picture is different. In light of how the situation is predicted to develop, in the larger Swiss cities there are hardly sufficient AC charging stations available. The outlook is even gloomier for fast charging stations, which are the charging method of choice for electric car drivers without their own wall box. In the city of Zurich, for example, there are currently a total of 10 fast charging stations scattered across the entire urban area, mostly with a power output of just 50 kilowatts. Yet the demand for public charging infrastructure would be especially high in cities due to the population density and high proportion of renters. When buying an electric car, renters usually can’t simply bypass the issue by installing a private wall box. Cities also face a particular challenge in the fact that available parking spaces are typically scarce, not to mention expensive. On top of this comes the interest in generally reducing private transport within cities, which is not indicative of a serious expansion in charging infrastructure for electric cars.

30,000 AC charging stations versus 10 superhubs

Cities recognise their (political) responsibility to provide charging infrastructure at least for long-term parkers in the blue zone, yet it is still unclear what implementing this will look like. The idea that some day, tens of thousands of AC charging stations will be installed alongside public parking spaces does not seem realistic. Construction, integration in the existing infrastructure, and efficient management and operation would likely be too costly and too complex.

Elsewhere in Europe, however, developments are pointing the way ahead. An efficient solution for urban centres in particular is presented by the possibility of so-called ‘superhubs’, examples of which are being created in England with 20 or more fast charging points. Thanks to fast charging technology, electric vehicles can charge their batteries to the recommended 80 percent in just 20 minutes depending on the type of vehicle, which renders electromobility genuinely practicable not only for private individuals but also for car-sharing services or taxi firms. The advantages of superhubs are plain to see: for charging station operators, they result in considerable economies of scale. Constructing fewer, larger charging hubs reduces the administrative burden around building permits and electricity supply, while maintenance is made easier by the facilities being less geographically dispersed. Due to higher visitor frequencies, developing hubs with additional services such as restaurants and shopping facilities becomes worthwhile. From the customer’s perspective, in addition to the large number of fast charging points available, attractively designed superhubs improve the charging experience. With their functionality, facilities and also their visibility, superhubs act as a kind of beacon of electromobility, demonstrating that e-mobility works for everyday life and even the act of charging offers added value.

1.5 million plug-in cars by 2030

The experience of GOFAST, the largest fast charging provider in Switzerland, has been just the same: customer demand for fast charging solutions is growing significantly in urban areas. The Swiss company is therefore planning the construction of larger fast charging hubs in various regions. Expert analysis recommends a ratio of one fast charging point for 100 electric cars. Whether or not a functioning charging infrastructure can be established by 2030, especially in urban areas, for the 1.5 million plug-in cars predicted is dependent on both political will and the initiative of private stakeholders.