ABB deploys Austria’s first EV fast-charging network

18 October 2011

ABB has delivered and installed Austria’s first network of direct current (DC) fast-charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). Vorarlberger Kraftwerke AG (VKW), a unit of Austrian utility illwerke vkw, will operate the charging network as part of its VLOTTE project.

ABB recently installed the first three Terra 51 charge stations in Schruns-Rodund in the Montafon Valley, at the site of the Austrian Automobile Association (ÖAMTC) in Rankweil and in front of VKW’s main office in Bregenz. VLOTTE is one of the largest electric mobility projects in Europe, having put nearly 300 EVs on the roads of the western region of Vorarlberg since its start in 2009. The project’s first three fast-charging stations will officially be opened on 20 Oct.

The Terra 51 charger is compatible with all electric vehicles using the CHAdeMO standard; it offers one 50 kW max connection. ABB’s Terra stations can recharge an EV battery in as little as 15 to 30 minutes, compared with eight hours when using a regular alternating current (AC) power outlet. All Terra systems in ABB’s installed base are supported by the Network Operations Center (NOC), which provides remote maintenance, software updates and industry-leading backbone network uptime. VKW will use ABB’s complementary Galaxy services to remotely monitor and manage individual charging sessions across the network.

In July, ABB acquired Netherlands-based Epyon Power (earlier post) and created the Product Group EV Charging Infrastructure.