German utility vehicle maker Sortimo has embarked upon what it says will be the world’s largest EV charging station on the A8 highway at Zusmarshausen between Stuttgart and Munich.

The completed project, which is set to offer 144 charging stations, will be able to charge up to 4,000 electric cars a day, every day, and will include 24 “fast chargers” rated German utility vehicle maker Sortimo has embarked upon what it says will be the world’s largest EV charging station on the A8 highway at Zusmarshausen between Stuttgart and Munich. 350kW DC and 120 rated at 50kW DC.

Charging infrastructure is one of the key factors in creating a smooth and robust transition to electric vehicles, and the speed with which EVs can charge according to charger capacity (and what drivers do while that happens) must also be taken into account.

A similar but smaller scheme in Holland (Image: FastNed)

Sortimo has recognised this need – while the 350kW will allow EVs to charge in as little as 10 minutes, the 50kW chargers require longer, so Sortimo’s charging station project is complimented by an “Innovation Park” which includes a shopping centre and conference rooms where drivers may book rooms for meetings while they wait.

Sortimo’s plans including storage of surplus renewable energy harvested from a network of surrounding companies and private homes, as well as thermal management to use waste heat to help power the park’s buildings.

When the project is finished, Sortimo states that for each year the station is use, 60,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be saved.

Read more: The Driven