Ultra-fast charging stations for electric vehicles

In partnership with ON Drive and Clever, a new type of electric-vehicle charging station has been designed in Scandinavia. The station promises to charge a car in fifteen minutes while drivers and passengers rest and recharge themselves. The new station sits at the center of the E20 highway in Fredericia, Denmark, and is the first of a network of forty-eight ultra-fast EV charging stations to be built along Scandinavian highways. The station consists of a series of tree structures whose canopies filter sunlight, provide shade and protection, and define a green, calm environment, in strong contrast to traditional petrol stations with long queues, gasoline fumes and exhaust. Thanks to a modular design, the station is scalable: one tree can easily grow into a whole forest. It is built from certified timber and concrete, topped with solar panels, and surrounded by trees, grasses and other plants chosen with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation to enhance biodiversity. All components can be disassembled into reusable and recyclable materials, and timber as the primary material further emphasizes sustainable design. The first ultra-fast station offers a relaxed experience and can charge four electric cars simultaneously; the Fredericia station comprises twelve trees.