Construction of e-charging stations in public spaces can begin

Mayor and Head of the Climate Department Sabine Groß is delighted that the application process has been completed and that the number of charging points in Offenbach will soon be significantly increased:

"This is a great advantage for the quality of life in our city, because electric vehicles reduce air pollution, they do not emit any greenhouse gases during operation and they are quieter in the city than combustion engines." Groß adds that the expansion of charging stations contributes to the future-oriented and sustainable development of the city of Offenbach.

In order to ensure that the ongoing expansion of the public e-charging infrastructure is sustainable and in line with demand, various departments of the city administration, under the leadership of the Office for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection and with the involvement of an external office, have developed a concept on the basis of which the public areas can be released for the e-charging infrastructure. The aim of this concept is to ensure that only as many charging points are built in public spaces as are actually needed. "We want to develop and expand supply in line with demand, because public space is limited and there are always conflicts of use. As many charging points as are deemed necessary will be built step by step. At the same time, the companies are obliged to further expand the infrastructure if the number of e-vehicles continues to grow. In return, the companies receive the assurance that no other player will be active in the vicinity, so that their investment pays off," says Wiebke Fiebig, Head of the Office for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection.

The following procedure was used to determine future charging requirements: The city area was divided into a total of 40 sub-areas, for which the charging requirements in public spaces were determined up to both 2025 and 2030. For each area, the size of the private charging potential within the sub-areas was taken into account. The loading potential is determined by employers, DIY stores, supermarkets and beverage stores, among others. Parking spaces can be used, but also easily convertible parking capacities of the respective building stock.

During the application period from March 15 to June 14 of this year, charging station operators had the opportunity to apply for specific locations within one or more of the 40 sub-areas in the city. The applications were then checked by the city for their suitability. The criteria taken into account included the availability of electricity, environmental protection, accessibility and traffic safety. After examination, they were classified accordingly as "approvable" or "not approvable". If several applicants applied for a site within an area, the lot decided who would operate the area in future.

The four companies will install around 50 charging points on 39 of the 40 sub-areas over the coming months. The final plot will be awarded when the Innovation Campus is developed. "If demand is high, the e-charging network will be continuously expanded," emphasizes Mayor Groß.

The first charging points are expected to go into operation in the coming months.