Image: Pražská energetika After a year-long test phase, the largest charging hub in the Czech capital has now entered regular operation. The hub is located on Novovysočanská Street in the Praha 9 district. It is operated by the energy company Pražská energetika (PRE), which owns an adjacent property. According to a municipal statement, both sites are technically interconnected. Of the 161 charging points, 147 are public, while a dozen are reserved for the PRE group. Charging currents are managed by a dedicated system that monitors the energy consumption of surrounding buildings and all installed charging points in real time. The hub features 161 charging points, including two public HPC charging stations from Alpitronic with a capacity of 400 kW. At the neighbouring PRE site, six additional non-public HPC stations with twelve connectors and a capacity of up to 300 kW are installed. The offering is complemented by 50 freestanding AC charging stations, 25 wall-mounted AC wallboxes, and three AC lamppost chargers. Together, all AC charging points provide 145 AC charging connections. Prague’s Mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda, attended the inauguration of the charging hub: “The development of electromobility in Prague must be based on data, not on feelings or fashion trends. We see that the number of electric vehicles and charging points in the Czech Republic and Europe is growing steadily, but at the same time it is clear that smart, high-capacity HUBs in strategic locations work best, not randomly distributed individual stations.” The Novovysočany charging hub demonstrates how Prague combines modern energy management technologies with the effective use of existing energy infrastructure to protect both the distribution grid and the residential comfort of local residents. Jaromír Beránek, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, added: “II have been involved in the development of electromobility and charging infrastructure for a long time, which is why I am pleased with the launch of this unique HUB. I will continue to support similar projects that effectively combine high performance with a smart network, as they are the key to smooth and clean transport in Prague.” Users can access the chargers via the “PID Lítačka” app. Plans also include providing real-time information on the occupancy and availability of charging stations directly within route planning in the app. Meanwhile, the public area of the charging hub on Novovysočanská Street is expected to become increasingly user-friendly over time. “Construction procedures have currently been initiated to add a roof and a price totem. We would like to obtain a planning permit in June and have the pilot project of the roof and price totem built by the end of the year. We would also like to install a food vending machine with refreshments for customers in the location,” explained Libor Hladík, Head of Electromobility at PRE. Furthermore, in cooperation with the city, PRE is already identifying suitable locations for additional charging hubs. The focus is primarily on unused industrial sites or car parks that can be expanded. Plans are already in place for further charging hubs in Prague, including Zbraslav, Komořany, Holešovice, and Plzeňská Street in Řepy, where HPC chargers are set to be installed. praguedaily.news, praha.eu
Liked by Charlotte Wilson, Nathan Nelson
Liked by Charlotte Wilson, Nathan Nelson
Liked by Charlotte Wilson, Nathan Nelson