Ultra-Fast Charging Stations for Electric Cars

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From gas station
to recharge station

Year: Fredericia 2019, Knudshoved 2019, Aarhus 2020, Frederiksberg 2021, Køge 2022, Esbjerg 2022, Odense 2022, Thisted 2022, Vejle 2023, Hans Knudsens Plads in Copenhagen 2023, Nørresundby 2023 and an upcoming network of more ultra-fast, charging stations along Scandinavian highways

Client: Powered by E.ON Drive & Clever

Program: Charging stations for electric vehicles

Size: Modular concept which can be tailored to requirements

The impact of electrified mobility will completely change how our cities look, feel and organize themselves in the future. Cobe’s design for ultra-fast charging stations is based on a complete rethinking of the “mobility experience” driving an EV. The charging station not only minimize the charging time but also create a meaningful break for the driver and passenger and inspire both the driver and other road users to change their habits. The station is designed with a modular approach that is scalable to match a rapid global shift in mobility patterns. The upcoming network will consist of more than 48 ultra-fast, charging stations along Scandinavian highways

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A traditional gas station is rough and dirty.

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The new Ultra-Fast Charging Stations for Electric Cars are tactile and clean.

Based on the annual average in Denmark, CO₂ emissions are 170g per kWh. An average EV travels seven km per kWh which equals to 24 g. CO₂e per km in Denmark. In comparison, an average fossil fueled car emits approximately 200 g. CO₂e per km.

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From gas station to recharge station.

Ford revolutionized the market for privatized mobility in 1903 with the Model A assembly line. Today, car companies are undergoing a similarly dramatic transition to become mobility providers based on electrified alternatives to meet the growing awareness of and demand for more resilient alternatives.

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The ultra-fast charging stations in Fredericia and Knudshoved are the first charging stations of its kind. Over the next years an additional 46 charging stations will be built across Europe.

Electric vehicles are the way of the future. With our design we offer EV drivers a welcome break and an opportunity to recharge mentally in a calm oasis. We wanted the architecture, the materials and the concept to reflect that. Hence, we designed a charging station in natural materials placed in a clean, calm setting with trees and plants that offer people a dose of mindfulness on the highway.

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The charging stations are an oasis far away from the noise and pollution of the traditional fossil fuel-based gas stations. The light wooden canopy modules in combination with small areas of urban nature offer break from the surrounding busy infrastructural landscapes and a chance to recharge one’s mental batteries as well.

Designed for
change

Cobe developed an ultra-fast charging station modular kit including structural components as well as surface and landscape elements scalable for different contexts and conditions. The canopy is constructed for future disassembly to enable reuse and upcycling of materials as needed.

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The modules are designed and produced in a way that makes for easy assembly or disassembly on-site.

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Traditionally, the gas station has been dominated by hardscape asphalt surfaces. The clean charging technology offers an unprecedented potential for a much cleaner environment as there are no toxic fumes or oil leaking onto the paving.

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The modular approach means that the design is scalable, and that one ‘tree’ can easily be multiplied to become a ‘forest’, depending on the required capacity.

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Ultra-fast charging station in Fredericia, Denmark

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Ultra-fast charging station in Knudshoved, Denmark

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Ultra-fast charging station in Aarhus, Denmark

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Ultra-fast charging station in Copenhagen, Denmark

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Ultra-fast charging station in Odense, Denmark

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Ultra-fast charging station in Køge, Denmark

The future of electrified mobility has the potential of offering a much calmer and stress-free “refueling experience” by bringing local trees and plants to the center of the station, thus supporting biodiversity and making each station unique.

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Plant and tree species have been carefully selected by the Danish Society for Nature Conservation to ensure the best conditions for local biodiversity and resilience.

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The Ultra-Fast Charging Station is covered by a wooden canopy, creating a contrast to the traditional petrol stations.

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All wood used for the Ultra-Fast Charging Stations is FSC-certified.

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Timber is in its own right a performative building material that absorbs and stores CO2 as it grows. Today, wood processing, including milling, prefabrication and assembly, is among the most technologically advanced processes in the industry.

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The green roof of the canopy is prepared for heavy cloudbursts, as it is designed to retain water and fitted with downspouts that lead the water to natural green seepage areas.

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The charging station provides a meaningful and much needed break for the driver. A space to recharge your car in just 15 minutes as well as your own mental and physical batteries.

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Location: Fredericia, Knudshoved, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Odense, and Køge, Denmark

Client: Powered by E.ON Drive & Clever

Program: Charging stations for electric vehicles

Size: Modular concept which can be tailored to requirements

Year: Fredericia 2019, Knudshoved 2019, Aarhus 2020, Frederiksberg 2021, Køge 2022, Esbjerg 2022, Odense 2022, Thisted 2022, Vejle 2023, Hans Knudsens Plads in Copenhagen 2023, Nørresundby 2023 and an upcoming network of more ultra-fast, charging stations along Scandinavian highways

Collaborators: Arup, AB Clausen

Awards: Building Awards 2018 – The Infrastructure Award, ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards 2020, Auto Awards 2021 - News of the Year, EU Mies van der Rohe Award 2022 Nominee, Danish Design Award 2022 Finalist. Architizer A+Awards Popular Choice Winner 2022 - Transportation Infrastructure

Team: Alberte Danvig, Alexander Ejsing, Charlie Landefeld, Connor Forecast, Dan Stubbergaard, Dorte Buchardt Westergaard, Doug Smith, Eik Bjerregaard, Francisco Tirado, Hugo Lebrunet, Isabella Sjolte Nissen, Jacob Lantow, Lars Harup, Kelly Skaggs, Liv Moodie, Mads Lützen, Maria Aufegger, Mathys Przespolewski, Peter Laust Røhr Hønnicke, Rasmus Lassen, Sanna Funck, Sofie Naver, Stefan Mylleager, Stine Bærentzen, Sune Mogensen, Ulrich Pohl

Photographer: Rasmus Hjortshøj – COAST

Image Credits: Please note that we have used a small number of images for which the copyright holders could not be identified. In these cases it has been our assumption that such images belong to the public domain. If you claim ownership of any of the images presented and have not been properly identified, please notify Cobe and we will make a formal acknowledgement.