Aral tests Plug&Charge technology at ultra-fast charging stations

Bochum/Stuttgart, 8th September 2021 – Aral has targeted the end of this year to roll out ‘Plug&Charge’ functionality for its ultra-fast charging stations. Thanks to direct, encrypted communication between vehicle and charging console, this makes fully automated, secure charging sessions possible without the need for apps or charging cards. In the last few days, along with leading car manufacturers and its EV charging partners alpitronic, has·to·be and Hubject, Aral has completed successful tests of the technology at the Murr charging station near Stuttgart. This makes Aral one of the first companies to test and implement Plug&Charge, underlining its pioneering role in the eMobility sector.

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“Under our Aral pulse brand, we want to offer eDrivers the fastest, simplest and safest charging network of all,” says Aral’s Head of eMobility Alexander Junge. “By installing the new Plug&Charge service at all our charging stations by the end of the year, we and our partners are taking a major step towards an electrified future.”

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“From a technical perspective, the close collaboration we have with our partners better equips alpitronic to evaluate and act upon market trends and standards,” says Philipp Senoner, CEO of alpitronic. “From the customer’s perspective, Plug&Charge is another important milestone when it comes to embracing eMobility, and we’re excited to be playing an active role in this project.”

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“With Plug&Charge, plugging in the cable initiates the payment process immediately,” explains has·to·be gmbh Chief Operating Officer Maximilian Huber. “As far as the customer’s charging experience is concerned, this takes convenience to another level, thus illustrating one of eMobility’s many benefits.”

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“Innovation is the driving force when it comes to improving the charging experience for customers, we’re convinced of that,” says Hubject CEO Christian Hahn. “That’s why we’re pleased to have bp on board as a leading global energy provider supporting our seamless, secure and open Plug&Charge ecosystem as we create a sustainable mobility future.”

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How does Plug&Charge work?

Plug&Charge is an automated, secure authentication technology connecting eVehicles and charging stations, in accordance with the ISO 15118 standard. eCar drivers can plug in the charging cable immediately without any need for apps, charging cards or QR codes – then simply drive away. The entire charging process, from authentication to initialization to billing, is fast, secure and automated. All data is transferred via encrypted communication technology, and thus protected from unauthorized use. Plug&Charge also provides a basis for future use cases that are critically important for eMobility, such as smart, wireless charging and energy grid stabilization.

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Aral is currently installing ultra-fast charging consoles delivering up to 350 kilowatts at its gas stations. Additionally, a planned joint project with VW will accelerate the roll-out of ultra-fast charging stations at Aral gas stations in Germany and bp locations in other European countries.

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This photograph is available for download at www.aral-presse.de

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*Translated from the original German version of the Aral press release on 08.09.2021.

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About Aral:

With around 2400 fuel stations, Aral leads the way in Germany – Europe’s most important fuel station market. Headquartered in Bochum since 1898, the premium fuel and lubricants supplier devised the world’s first superfuel in 1924. Made up of aromatic and aliphatic components, this gave rise to the company’s name. Since 2002, Aral has been bp’s fuel station brand in Germany. An increasing number of sites are being furnished with REWE To Go shops, offering customers a wide, high-quality range of fresh snacks and warm food. Via its Aral pulse eMobility brand, Aral is also one of the leading providers of high-performance ultra-fast charge points.

Contact: Wiebke Albers, Aral Press & Public Relations, +49 234 4366 3826, wiebke.albers@aral.de

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About alpitronic:

The team at alpitronic is made up of passionate, progressive engineers with experience in various fields including automotive, aerospace and industrial electronics. More than a third of the approximately 200 employees are developers, dedicated to creating concepts for both proprietary and third-party products. Along with specializing in the development of electronic hardware and software for the automotive sector, alpitronic has also been working on the development, production and worldwide distribution of scalable DC high-power chargers for eVehicles since 2017. The products, brought to market under the hypercharger® brand are particularly renowned for their reliability, compact footprint and forward-thinking design concept. They can currently deliver up to 300kW. The hyperchargers have now established themselves as a market-competitive flagship product for the company.

Contact: Andreas Lastei, Business Development, +39 0471 096450, sales@hypercharger.it

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About has·to·be:

has·to·be paves the way for sustainable mobility. With its comprehensive EV Charging solution and innovative services, has·to·be provides everything companies require to enjoy success in the field of EV Charging: from the scalable operation of charging infrastructure to the end-to-end management of worldwide mobility solutions.

More than 100 employees from ten nations work at the headquarters of has·to·be gmbh in the federal province of Salzburg and its offices in Munich and Vienna.

Contact: Sabrina Wurzer, PR & Marketing Manager, +43 6452 21200-61, sabrina.wurzer@has-to-be.com

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About Hubject:

Hubject simplifies the charging of electric vehicles. Through its eRoaming platform, called intercharge, the eMobility specialist connects Charge Point Operators or CPOs and eMobility Service Providers or EMPs, thus providing standardized access to charging infrastructure regardless of any network. With over 270,000 connected charging points and more than 750 B2B partners across 52 countries and four continents, Hubject has established the world’s largest cross-provider charging network for electric vehicles by connecting CPO networks. In addition, Hubject is a trusted consulting partner in the eMobility market, advising automotive manufacturers, charging providers, and other EV-related businesses looking to launch eMobility services or implement Plug&Charge using ISO 15118. In essence, Hubject promotes eMobility and its advancement worldwide. Founded in 2012, Hubject is a joint venture of the BMW Group, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, EnBW, Enel X, Innogy, Siemens and the Volkswagen Group. Hubject’s headquarters is in Berlin, with subsidiaries in Los Angeles and Shanghai.

Contact: Christian Hahn, CEO, +49 30 587 088 91 13, presse@hubject.com

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