Study on HPC charging infrastructure – in urban, rural and highway settings

In the study “Development of the German HPC charging infrastructure until 2025 – Demand-oriented expansion scenarios for cities, the countryside and highways”, the RLI analyzes and calculates the potential of high-power charging infrastructure (HPC) for the progress in the development of e-mobility.

Fast charging as a driver of e-mobility

Many e-car users do not have private access to charging infrastructure and rely on public charging points to charge their vehicles. The RLI investigates HPC charging technology as a potential driver of e-mobility because it makes charging faster and more convenient.

In the study, the RLI analyzes the current status and distribution of HPC charging points in Germany. It also presents different scenarios for the expansion of HPC charging infrastructure by 2025. The researchers compare this with the predicted number of e-vehicles in Germany by 2025.

A fast-charging network for the whole of Germany

In simulative calculations, the RLI places sites for HPC charging infrastructure across Germany in locations where they are needed. Data on population and traffic density as well as other socioeconomic factors are taken into account for the selection of charging point locations. Based on the projected market ramp-up of e-vehicles, RLI also calculates the need for HPC charging infrastructure and does so in different areas of Germany: not only in urban areas, but also in suburban areas, in rural areas and along highways. Subsequently, the forecasted stock of HPC charging points is compared to the demand for HPC charging points.

For urban areas, the RLI calculates exemplary locations for HPC charging points for five selected cities. In this way, the RLI creates a fast charging network for the entire area of Germany that meets the forecasted charging demand of e-vehicles.

Project duration: February 2021 – Feburary 2022

• Development of a broad data basis and assumptions for the simulation
• Determination of the demand for HPC charging points in Germany until the year 2025
• Development of three scenarios for the markets run-up of HPC sites in Germany
• Calculation of a Germany-wide potential for new HPC sites and simulative distribution of HPC sites until 2025
• Comparison of the Germany-wide demand and inventory of HPC charging points
• Analysis of the development of HPC charging infrastructure in Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin, Dortmund and Rostock