ČEZ presents the Czech Republic’s first fast-charging station with battery storage

Czech energy supplier and charge point operator ČEZ has installed a fast-charging station with battery storage in Prague. It is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. The charging station was supplied by Kreisel Electric from Austria.

The charging station with the model name Chimero 180 from Kreisel Electric can charge EVs with up to 180 kW and is intended for locations with insufficient grid capacity. The built-in battery system with a capacity of 115 kWh can store energy from the grid as a buffer, which can later be released during charging. The device is designed for connected loads from 22 to 60 kW, while the newer Chimero 240 version supports grid connections up to 120 kW and can deliver 240 kW. Charge point operator Allego, among others, already uses the Chimero units at locations with insufficient grid connections.

But back to unit at ČEZ in Prague: “In recent years, we have significantly accelerated the construction of ultra-fast charging points, which are favoured by drivers, especially on longer journeys. We already offer more than a hundred of them in our network,” says Tomáš Dzurilla, Director of the Electric Mobility Department at ČEZ. “However, we cannot always install such a station in the most suitable location. The most common reason for this, apart from property-related obstacles, is the limited capacity of the local distribution network.”

“Back in the summer, we installed one of these charging points for Technologie hlavního města Prahy, a company that wants to test its properties for possible wider use in the capital,” adds David Veselý, Director of Green Energy at ČEZ ESCO. “We believe that this type of charging station will contribute to developing the charging infrastructure in the Czech Republic thanks to its ability to compensate for the lack of electricity quickly and without taking up much space. The combination of grid and battery power will ensure the coverage of consumption peaks and guarantee each driver a charging capacity of up to 180 kW.”

With the installation of the buffer storage charging station, ČEZ is fulfilling the goals it has set itself as part of its ‘Clean Energy of Tomorrow’ vision. These include operating at least 800 charging stations for electric cars by the end of 2024. For 2025, the company plans to build at least 100 more fast-charging stations. ČEZ operates its charging network under the name Futurego and has a corresponding range of charging cards and charging apps.

cez.cz