Shell is building a high-capacity test centre for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Hamburg, focusing on megawatt charging for heavy-duty transport such as trucks, buses, agricultural machinery, construction equipment and electric ships. The first trials at the site are expected to begin by the end of 2025.
The new facility, located at the Shell Technology Centre Hamburg, will support charging capacities of up to five megawatts, making it Germany’s most powerful test centre for heavy-duty EV infrastructure, according to the company. Shell said the centre will play a key role in advancing fast and efficient charging technologies to support the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
“With the construction of the most powerful test centre for electrically powered heavy vehicles and infrastructure, we are a pioneer in the industry,” said Felix Faber, CEO of Shell Germany. “This is where solutions can continue to mature, industry partners can come together and, together with us, make a contribution to the electrification and therefore decarbonisation of the entire sector.”
The facility will serve as a platform for Shell’s own technologies—such as depot charging solutions from its subsidiary SBRS and public infrastructure provided by ubitricity and Shell Recharge—as well as a testing environment for external vehicle and infrastructure manufacturers. It will feature twelve automated test benches, more than 50 flexible test stations and climate chambers capable of simulating temperatures ranging from -40°C to +50°C.
Testing capabilities will include interoperability, charging and energy management systems, and safety assessments of high-voltage components, including those using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard for both heavy-duty and passenger vehicles. The centre will be powered entirely by renewable energy and includes a 10kV AC and 3.6kV DC switchgear system and a bi-directional DC emulator capable of 5.2 MW output, allowing simultaneous testing of multiple 800 kW systems.
Source: shell.de