RWE Effizienz GmbH; Renault Deutschland AG; the automotive engineering research company
Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka); and the Institut für Hochspannungstechnik (High-Voltage Engineering Institute) of RWTH Aachen University will participate in the “E-mobility in commuter traffic” development project for the Rhine-Ruhr Model Region. Coordination is carried out by the project control center, EnergieAgentur.NRW.
The goal of this joint project is to integrate electric mobility into the everyday commuter traffic
along the urban nexus of the A40 motorway. With the focus on the towns of Mülheim, Essen
and Dortmund, RWE is to construct a comprehensive charging infrastructure by mid-2011. In
addition, data will be collected to enable the development of marketable products such as
GPS devices with a clear charging station overview and route planning. The project
participants hope in this way to drive forward the necessary research and development to
facilitate the introduction of electric mobility.
The vehicle fleet consists of 40 Renault pre-production electric vehicles along with 110
converted electric cars that RWE is providing as lease vehicles. Renault is providing models
of the Kangoo Express Z.E. utility vehicle and the Fluence Z.E. mid-range family sedan,
which is already due for production launch in Europe in 2011, once the project is over. Both
models are already capable for market launch of a range of 160 km, and the choice may be
made between standard charging and quick charging. In addition, with the Fluence Z.E.
empty batteries can be exchanged entirely automatically in just a few minutes for a fully-charged
one using the Quick-Drop system.
The RWE lease vehicles, based on the Fiat 500 and Karabag 500 E, are equipped
with the lithium-ion batteries. Models based on the Fiat Fiorino are also
being used.
On the research side, the project is to be intensively monitored, examined and evaluated.
The BMVBS Electric Mobility in the Model Regions Program is implemented by NOW GmbH
(Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- and Brennstoffzellentechnologie – the National
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Organisation).
The German Federal Ministry for Traffic,
Construction and Urban Development (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und
Stadtentwicklung – BMVBS) supports this particular project, as part of the Electric Mobility for
the Model Regions Program, to the tune of approximately €7 million (US$9.6 million).