The test laboratory also has five special climate chambers. These allow E.ON engineers to simulate all possible temperature conditions, from freezing to extreme heat. For example, the charging mode of electric cars can be tested at temperatures between minus 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. E.ON also uses the test center to train its customers and partners in installation and maintenance.

"To implement and achieve the goals of the energy and transport transition, we need the active participation of the entire urban society. A successful and long-term process can only be achieved through innovative projects and networking between various players in our city. Therefore, I am very excited to be able to open the E.ON Test Lab. The continued development of electric mobility is a key element of the energy transition and another important step towards limiting climate change and less dependence on fossil fuels," said Thomas Kufen, Mayor of Essen.

Patrick Lammers, a member of the board of directors of E.ON, said that the energy transition, "clean" transports (with a reduced carbon footprint), and the limitation of climate change - will only succeed if electromobility gains even more momentum.

"We will build at least 1,000 additional public charging stations in Europe every year, further accelerating the transformation of traffic and transport. With our new test and innovation center, we are building the capacity to meet the growing demand for charging infrastructure. We are therefore ideally positioned for the dynamic development of the electric mobility market," says Lammers.

The test laboratory pays special attention to the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles. Together with vehicle manufacturers, E.ON tests and develops charging technologies designed to meet the special requirements of electric trucks and buses. The test laboratory is the only facility in Europe where fast charging of heavy vehicles with a power of up to 3 MW can be tested.

“Fast charging for trucks is essential to electrify road freight and make it carbon neutral. There is still a long way to go before we get there. In the coming years, we will witness many technological innovations in this field. We can easily test new high-capacity truck charging stations of up to 3 MW on-site and are therefore well prepared for future developments with increasingly higher charging capacities," said Davide Villa, CEO of E.ON Drive.

Total sales of electric cars hit a new record last year. The International Energy Agency estimates that the number of electric cars could increase tenfold by 2030.

"In our test lab, we focus on understanding and improving the entire electromobility ecosystem. Here we try, test, and optimize for everyday use by companies and private customers. The goal is to make electromobility possible on a large scale and to make it suitable for practical use. Ease of use depends on the harmonious interaction of different smart technologies," adds Davide Villa.

E.ON plans to build at least 1,000 new ultra-fast charging stations per year in its European markets. In Germany, E.ON will build around 140 new charging locations with more than 1,200 charging points for the federally subsidized German network ("Deutschlandnetz"). In 2022 alone, E.ON sold more than 20,000 charging points to private customers and companies in Europe.