Volkswagen Will Convert its Components Plant to Develop EV Charging Stations

The planned transition to e-mobility will allow the plant to accomplish the urgently needed transformation and will contribute to safeguarding employment and sustainably strengthening the financial situation of the Hanover components plant.

Volkswagen Group has announced that it plans to start mass production of flexible and fast electric vehicle charging stations by 2020, and the first step in the company’s e-mobility transition is converting its existing Hanover car components plant to build EV charging stations.

The assembly will begin in 2020, in the part of the factory that currently produces heat exchangers. And will form a part of the engine and foundry business area.

Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, said, “The development of charging infrastructure will be a key factor in the success of e-mobility. The flexible fast charging station developed by Group Components can make a key contribution in this area. This is confirmed by the considerable interest shown by potential partners. The charging station is an element in the end-to-end responsibility of Group Components for the high-voltage battery – from the development of cell production competencies through to recycling. At the same time, the transformation of heat exchanger production at the Hanover components plant will provide sustainable prospects for the future in the new e-mobility business area.”

In technical terms, the charging station is based on the battery package of the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) and is designed to use its cell modules. This station, based on the principle of a power bank, can charge up to 4 vehicles at the same time and also be used for the interim storage of eco-power.

Later, the charging station will provide a second life for batteries from electric vehicles. When a vehicle battery has reached a defined, reduced residual capacity, it will be replaced. If this battery subsequently passes a thorough analysis, it can be reused in a mobile charging station.