Rheinmetall and TankE want to bring charging curbs to cities
Rheinmetall and TankE want to jointly expand the charging infrastructure in cities and municipalities. The electricity is to come from the curb.
Electric car charging at a charging curb
(Image: Rheinmetall)
With the growing number of electric cars on the roads, the demand for charging options is increasing. One solution is to integrate charging points into the curbs along the roadside. The arms group Rheinmetall and charging infrastructure provider TankE want to install these widely and have, according to their own statements, agreed on a strategic partnership for this purpose.
Rheinmetall will supply the necessary technology, which the group has developed and which has already been tested in Cologne. TankE, a subsidiary of the Cologne-based energy provider Rheinenergie, will plan, install, and then operate and maintain the charging facilities. This is what the two partners announced.
The modular charging curb developed by Rheinmetall is integrated into the curb and enables AC charging with a power of 22 kilowatts. According to the manufacturer, the system uses existing infrastructure and, unlike charging stations, can blend inconspicuously into the urban landscape. This makes the charging curbs suitable for historic city districts or for streets where there is not enough space to set up charging stations.
Less vandalism
The costs for installation and maintenance are said to be low, as the components are modular and can therefore be retrofitted or replaced quickly. Furthermore, the charging curbs are said to be less prone to vandalism. On conventional charging stations, the cables are increasingly being stolen, damaging the charging stations in the process, which can quickly result in tens of thousands of euros in damage.
In 2024, Rheinmetall and TankE started a field test in Cologne. For this purpose, four charging curbs were installed at two locations in the Cologne district of Lindenthal. The test ran for about a year. During this time, the technology proved itself and is ready for series production, Rheinmetall and TankE announced.
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Users rated the technology positively – at least that's what Rheinmetall reported at the end of the test in May last year. However, some on the internet also criticized that they had to bend down to get to the charging port or that the cover could be dirty.
(wpl)