Fill up, go to the toilet and a coffee to take out — job done. For a long time, that was the way service stations on German motorways were typically used. This is undergoing fundamental change with the increasing spread of alternative drives. First of all, of course, the petrol stations of today and tomorrow must provide the charging facilities for electric vehicles. And maybe hydrogen and gas as well. However, charging an electric vehicle takes a lot longer than filling up the tank of a combustion engine. With modern technology, charging takes 20 to 30 minutes. Time which the motorist can make good use of.
The future of filling up
An innovative petrol station which was opened on the A9 motorway between Nürnberg and Munich in the autumn of 2017, is to be the blueprint for the future. The Fürholzen West service station offers motorists gas and hydrogen besides conventional fuel — and electricity. The four fast-charging stations on the site are equipped with all standard connections: Type 2 plugs, CHAdeMo and the Combined Charging System Standard (CCS). “With its highly modern, fast-charging stations, Fürholzen West is making an important contribution towards making electric vehicles suitable for long distances and with it to the breakthrough of electromobility in Germany”, explains Jörg Hofmeister, Electromobility Manager of the operator Tank & Rast.
Electric vehicles in Fürholzen West charge exclusively eco power. With photovoltaic panels on the roof of the e-charging station and a combined heat and power plant, the intention is that over the long term the service station operated by Tank & Rast together with the power company innogy, will generate more power than it delivers. The service station is also designed with sustainability in mind, displaying ecological materials such as wood, for example. The design is aesthetically pleasing with an elegantly constructed, curved roof, tempting visitors to linger. As we said, to do more than just fill up, take a leak and order a coffee to take out …
