EnBW launches field tests of XCharge charging stations
In addition to another fast-charging station at the EnBW City site in Stuttgart, three further locations—Rutesheim, Durlach Centre in Karlsruhe, and the site at Karlsruhe Railway Station—have been included in the test, as EnBW has announced. In total, ten XCharge charging stations are now available in EnBW’s so-called ‘HyperNetz’.
Up until now, EnBW has almost exclusively used DC charging stations from Alpitronic. The Hypercharger HYC200 and HYC400, along with the earlier generations HYC150 and HYC300, make up the majority of EnBW’s charging infrastructure. Just last week, EnBW and Alpitronic extended and deepened their long-standing partnership. Alpitronic will remain the primary supplier in the future—but likely no longer the sole partner.
“As part of its strategy, EnBW continuously tests charging stations and software from various manufacturers,” the company explains. The goal is to ‘strengthen the resilience of the fast-charging network and reduce dependence on individual suppliers’. “Reliance on a single supplier carries risks, particularly in times of global uncertainties and supply chain challenges,” explains Volker Rimpler, Chief Technology Officer for E-Mobility at EnBW. “That is why we continuously monitor supplier markets and test promising technologies to ensure our supply chains remain resilient and economically viable.”
However, EnBW had not publicly communicated about such tests until now, having primarily conducted them in a lab. The commissioning of the first XCharge station in August attracted some attention in the industry but—unlike the current expanded field test—was not widely publicised.
EnBW tests XCharge C7 with up to 400 kW
While XCharge’s roots are in China, the company has been managing its international business from dual headquarters in Hamburg and Austin for several weeks. The charging equipment manufacturer offers multiple products in its fast-charging portfolio, including a battery-supported high-power charger (HPC). However, EnBW has opted for the XCharge C7 Ultra-Fast Charger, which—like the Hypercharger HYC400—delivers up to 400 kW of charging power.
“The C7 Ultra-Fast Charger provides up to 400 kW at a maximum of 600 A, enabling significantly shorter charging times. It features two CCS connectors, a user-friendly touchscreen interface, and a compact, modular design that simplifies installation and maintenance,” states XCharge. “Optionally available liquid- or air-cooled cables allow flexible operation under high load, while the certification for compliant metering and billing ensures adherence to measurement and billing regulations in public networks.”
For over two years, EnBW has been testing XCharge’s hardware and software, initially in the lab and since August at the EnBW City charging hub at the energy provider’s Stuttgart office. “XCharge has so far met all requirements in terms of technology, service, data protection, and software,” says Rimpler. “We have analysed several thousand charging sessions in the lab and continuously improved the hardware and software based on these findings.”
With the expansion to three additional sites—including the flagship charging hub in Rutesheim, which was once the first major EnBW charging hub near a motorway—the company aims to gather more data. Customers can charge at ten XCharge stations, though these are typically mixed sites, meaning the reliable Hyperchargers remain available as an alternative.
“The results of the expanded field test will serve as the basis for EnBW’s future evaluation of how collaboration with XCharge can be further developed,” the German company states. There is currently no supply contract with XCharge, but this is clearly the goal of the tests. EnBW considers the ‘strategic diversification of the supplier base’ important for several reasons. In addition to economic aspects, the focus is on the long-term security of the charging infrastructure and its technical advancement.
For XCharge, the EnBW tests are also a highly significant project, as the HPC market in Germany and Europe is currently dominated by Alpitronic, alongside other manufacturers such as Siemens, ABB E-Mobility, and Ekonergetyka. A deal with EnBW would represent a major leap for XCharge, as Germany’s largest fast-charging operator is a highly prestigious customer.
Albina Iljasov, Head of Europe at XCharge, also emphasises the importance of the project but highlights different reasons. “This project is particularly important for us because the fast-charging infrastructure in Germany sets high technical and regulatory standards,” says Iljasov. “We are very optimistic that our system will operate reliably under these conditions. This expanded test is therefore an important milestone for us and supports the further expansion of fast-charging in Germany.”
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