Volkswagen has partnered with the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains, which are owned by the Schwarz Group, to install 140 public charging stations at 60 Lidl and 10 Kaufland locations around Berlin. VW says these 140 chargers will expand the public charging infrastructure in the city by almost 20%.

VW is launching an electric car sharing service called WeShare , and the new chargers will be exclusively available to the WeShare vehicle fleet outside the supermarkets’ opening hours.

Volkswagen’s charging strategy is based on its assumption that future EV drivers will do about 50% of their charging at home, 20% at work, 5% along highways, and no less than 25% in public spaces. VW is working on home charging via its subsidiary Elli, and is working towards the development of a fast charging network on major European highways under the IONITY umbrella.

VW plans to install 70 charging stations in Berlin by 2020. Each will have one DC fast charger with a power rating of 50 kW, and one AC station.

Volkswagen’s WeShare fleet will initially consist of 1,500 e-Golf vehicles. At the beginning of 2020, VW plans to add an additional 500 e-up! units. In mid-2020, the first model based on the new MEB platform, the ID.3, is scheduled to join the fleet. VW eventually plans to expand WeShare to more cities in Germany and to other countries.

VW Board Member Christian Senger, said, “Supermarkets are the filling stations of the future. Charging while you shop is an ideal solution. On average, just 45 minutes at a fast charging station is sufficient for an e-Golf. This is the next consistent step by Volkswagen in its efforts to provide area-wide coverage with charging points in public spaces via partnership arrangements.”

Source: Volkswagen