The first 150 kW super fast-charging station open to the public is located in Switzerland, at the San Gottardo Sud service area in Stalvedro, in the canton of Ticino. Compatible with all charging systems, it supplies exclusively renewable energy.
The fast-charging stations for electric cars — a determining factor in the uptake of battery-powered vehicles — typically have a power output of 50 kW. That is a noteworthy figure, though considerably lower than the output delivered by American carmaker Tesla's Supercharger system, which stands at 135 kW and, in the near future, will reach 145 kW. The record in this respect, however, belongs neither to any manufacturer nor, let alone, to any exclusive private facility. The most powerful charging station on the Old Continent is, in fact, public and accessible to everyone. It is located in Switzerland, more precisely at the San Gottardo Sud service area in Stalvedro (near Airolo, in the canton of Ticino), and delivers 150 kW.
Built jointly by the Azienda Elettrica Ticinese and the GOttardo FASTcharge company, the new station offers 150 kW in DC mode (direct current) via CHAdeMO and Combo2 connectors, as well as 65 kW in AC (alternating current) with Type 2 sockets. Put simply, it is compatible with all charging systems on the market, including Tesla's, thanks to an adapter. Notably, the energy supplied is drawn from certified renewable sources and produced predominantly using Ticino's hydroelectric system. It is therefore possible to speak of "zero-kilometre charging".
Powerful. Perhaps even too powerful. At present, in fact, no vehicles on the market are capable of fully exploiting the 150 kW capacity. When new models compatible with super chargers make their debut — presumably by the end of 2018 — it will become possible to restore a range of 100 km in just ten minutes, rather than having to wait around half an hour, as is the case today. The high capacity of the Ticino system is not wasted, however, since multiple cars can charge simultaneously: three vehicles at 50 kW (in direct current mode) or two at 65 kW (in alternating current configuration). Payment can be made in cash, by credit card, using a loyalty card or via a dedicated app. A fee of 0.09 Swiss francs per minute (€0.08/min) for occupying the charging bay is added to a consumption-based tariff of 0.29 Swiss francs per kWh (26 euro cents per kWh).
The Gotthard super fast-charging station is only the first in a series of 150 installations, each equipped with at least two charging bays, that the Azienda Elettrica Ticinese intends to build by the end of 2017, so as to serve twenty different locations.