Retail4Multi-Use

Commercial transport differs from passenger transport. There are major differences in how commercial transport vehicles are used compared to passenger transport. These differences relate primarily to the various economic sectors and their respective operating concepts. Up to now, individual passenger transport has mainly been considered for the planning and development of public charging infrastructure. However, to meet the increasing demand for charging infrastructure in commercial transport, it is necessary to determine the requirements of the relevant stakeholders. These requirements are particularly related to charging location, charging capacity, reservation options and time slots for charging. One aim is to optimise the utilisation of charging infrastructure through the combined use of passenger and commercial transport stakeholders. In addition, economic players are placing new demands on reservation options, payment systems and the availability of charging infrastructure. As part of our research work on the topic of charging infrastructure for commercial transport, we collect data on vehicle usage patterns and charging preferences. Based on this data, charging requirements can be determined and potentials for multiple utilisation identified.

Reliance on market ramp-up

A rapid market ramp-up of electromobility in Germany plays a key role in ensuring that the German government's climate protection targets for 2030 in the transport sector are met. This can only be achieved if the development of charging infrastructure precedes the market ramp-up of vehicles. However, the charging infrastructure will only become profitable for operators if the number of electric vehicles sold grows significantly or the utilisation of charging points is increased through other measures. The Retail4Multi-Use project contributes to an improved utilisation of the charging infrastructure at retail outlets, thereby supporting the market ramp-up of electric mobility.

Analysing the multi-use potential

The Retail4Multi-Use project is investigating the use of charging infrastructure at retail locations. Various user groups, particularly from the commercial transport sector, are included. The aim is to determine the potential offered by the multiple use of charging infrastructure. To this end, the requirements of the relevant stakeholders for the multiple use of the charging infrastructure are first collected using various empirical survey formats. This includes retail surveys, interviews and expert workshops with stakeholders. The DLR MovingLab is used to collect driving profiles of different user groups and combine them with survey elements on travelling purposes and charging preferences. The charging needs of these groups of users in Berlin are determined using the Institute's own charging demand model CURRENT from which charging infrastructure requirements are derived. In addition, legal and procedural challenges are analysed in order to accelerate the development of multi-use charging infrastructure.

Project partners

• Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH

Associate partners