BMW, Porsche demonstrate 450kW EV charging
The system is now up and running in Bavaria, and it'll give your electric car a seriously quick charge
BMW and Porsche have successfully demonstrated their first "ultra-fast" electric vehicle charge station in Bavaria, capable of delivering 100km of range in just three minutes.
The station is suitable for any electric car with a CCS Type 2 charge plug, and can adapt its output to match a vehicle's onboard maximum.
With that in mind, a BMW i3 with a 57kWh battery went from flat to 80 per cent charge in just 15 minutes, while a 90kWh Porsche development mule was charged at more than 400kW, meaning it could be totally refilled in the same timeframe.
The unit's fast-charge capability comes thanks to a clever fluid-cooling system, which relies on a combination of water and glycol. BMW says it's easier to maintain and kinder to the environment than conventional cooling systems.
At the moment, the station is available free of charge – heh – for electric vehicle owners. It's located in Jettingen-Scheppach, north west of Munich between Ulm and Augsburg.
Although it's been conceived with testing in mind, the test station also aims to show the way for more widespread high-speed charge infrastructure in Europe.
Along with BMW and Porsche, the charging system has been developed by an industry group including Allego, Phoenix Contact E-Mobility, and Siemens.