Dutch electric vehicle (EV) charging company Fastned has launched its first fast-charging station directly on a German motorway, part of a nationwide infrastructure rollout under the German network initiative. The new site, located at the Neufelder Heide-Süd service area on the A40 motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia, features six charging points, each capable of delivering up to 400 kilowatts of power.
The station is the first of 34 planned motorway locations awarded to Fastned earlier this year under a government contract aimed at bolstering Germany’s EV infrastructure. In February, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) awarded contracts to four providers – E.ON, TotalEnergies, a consortium under Autostrom Nord, and Fastned – to deploy nearly 1,000 high-power chargers across 200 unmanaged motorway service areas. Fastned secured one of six regional lots in that tender.
“With the new charging park at the Neufelder Heide service area, we are bringing Fastned fast-charging stations to the German motorways for the first time – we are very proud of this,” said Linda Boll, Country Director of Fastned Germany. “At the same time, we are looking forward to realising Fastned fast-charging stations at 33 other locations as part of the German network in the coming months.”
The newly opened site uses three HYC400 hyperchargers from Alpitronic and features a revised design, deviating from Fastned’s usual yellow canopy structure. The chargers support both 200 kW minimum and peak 400 kW charging capabilities, providing rapid refueling for long-distance EV drivers.
Additional Fastned stations are under construction along other major routes, including the A2, A7, and A29 motorways, though specific commissioning dates have not been announced. The broader plan calls for the deployment of 8,000 fast-charging points at about 900 locations beyond the motorway lots, with Fastned responsible for building 96 of these regional sites. Three are currently operational.
“With the opening of these charging parks, we are continuing the nationwide densification of charging points along the motorways,” said Michael Güntner, Chairman of the Management Board of Autobahn GmbH. “We are building a total of 1,000 fast-charging points at 200 locations on the motorways.”
Germany’s broader strategy aims to eliminate range anxiety and support the transition to electric mobility by ensuring consistent access to high-speed charging infrastructure along both national and regional routes.
