Volkswagen and BP have launched a strategic partnership intended to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe by rapidly building a fast-charging network across Europe by 2024. Volkswagen's Flexpole 150kW charging units, each of which feature two chargepoints, have an integrated battery storage system, overcoming one of the biggest obstacles to the rapid roll-out of fast charging infrastructure in Europe today - the need for high-powered grid connections. The Flexpole units can be directly connected to a low voltage grid which removes the requirement for a dedicated substation, reducing installation times. The Flexpoles provide fast charging speeds of up to 150kW2, enough to deliver up to 160km of driving in as little as 10 minutes, depending on the model of electric vehicle. The first phase of the roll-out will see up to an additional 4,000 chargepoints at BP's Aral retail sites in Germany and BP retail sites in the UK over the next 24 months. By the end of 2024, up to 8,000 chargepoints could be available across Germany, the UK and other European countries.
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