Scheidt & Bachmann Energy Retail Solutions has introduced an artificial intelligence-based tool designed to predict charging station availability and waiting times, as electric vehicle adoption increases and demand for reliable infrastructure grows.
The system, called SIQMA FlowMax.AI, uses algorithms to estimate utilisation, availability, and pricing transparency at charging points in real time. The company said the tool is intended to help drivers decide whether to wait at a busy station or seek alternatives, while also improving efficiency for charging station operators.
“Anyone who has tried to charge their electric vehicle knows the problem: if the charging station is occupied, the EV experience can quickly turn into an odyssey searching for an available one,” the company said in a statement.
Unlike conventional refuelling, where waiting times are relatively predictable, EV charging involves longer and more variable dwell times. “Whether someone charges only up to 80 percent or fills the battery completely, or whether they shop nearby or wait in a café: human behaviour is difficult to predict,” the company added.
Scheidt & Bachmann said it developed the system in collaboration with consulting firm Slalom Germany. The tool combines data from open interfaces with additional variables such as location, time of day, weather conditions, and nearby amenities. According to the company, the AI can estimate when a charging point will become available within the first five minutes of a charging session.
“Direct data pipelines continuously feed new information into the calculation model, which constantly optimises itself,” the company said.
The system can be accessed through application programming interfaces (APIs) for integration into third-party apps, including vehicle and smartphone platforms. It can also be displayed on-site via digital signage systems such as the company’s SIQMA Sign screens.
Scheidt & Bachmann said the solution is already in use and can be deployed either as a standalone software integration or as part of a bundled offering with hardware displays. In addition to availability, the system provides information on pricing, local services, and advertising opportunities.
Chief Executive Jörg M. Heilingbrunner said the tool is designed to make EV charging more predictable. “Electromobility will significantly transform the entire market within a few years. With SIQMA FlowMax.AI, we aim to make electromobility as predictable as conventional refuelling,” he said.
Dr. Stephan Theis, Managing Director of Business Development at Slalom Germany, said the project highlights the role of AI in infrastructure optimisation. “Projects like this demonstrate how AI innovation can solve concrete infrastructure problems and transform entire industries,” he said.
Scheidt & Bachmann Energy Retail Solutions is part of the Scheidt & Bachmann Group, a Germany-based family-owned company with around 3,500 employees and operations across multiple sectors including mobility, parking, and signalling technology.