Darmstadt, May 6, 2024 – We look back on Darmstadt's Electromobility Day on April 28 – a thoroughly enjoyable day with many interesting conversations. Darmstadt was likely no exception, so we've summarized the three most frequent topics of discussion for you here.
We conducted numerous interviews with electric car owners, and the general consensus was almost always the same: urban charging infrastructure (unless designed as a neighborhood-wide solution) still suffers from fragmented solutions. Homeowners typically have their own wallboxes, while renters have access to (still too few) public charging stations – and these stations cannot be reserved; a structured charging station sharing system is lacking. Charging points blocked by combustion engine vehicles are a frequent problem, and managing the charging infrastructure proves extremely difficult due to the multitude of parallel approaches and facilities. The e-bike owners we spoke with naturally have fewer problems due to their smaller vehicles and replaceable batteries.
The exhibitors present were also engaged in lively discussions – one main topic of conversation being: Germany's charging network is currently making great strides, but managing the charging infrastructure isn't yet running smoothly everywhere – especially since the number of electric trucks is increasing rapidly, thus necessitating the development of a nationwide truck charging network! Whether and how the two networks could be merged remains an open question. The space required for charging stations, for example directly on highways, poses additional challenges. Clever management of charging station sharing would be a promising component for the future, and Book-n-Park is ideally suited for this purpose.
One point that repeatedly came up was the inner-city parking situation – especially for small local businesses like butchers, bakers, and the like, who suffer from the lack of parking spaces. Without parking management, their available spaces are quickly filled despite all the signage. Our smart parking barriers offer a simple solution, and several business owners expressed great interest in Book-n-Park's access control system – we're excited to see how it develops!