"Urcharge" project examines crucial questions about the viability of e-mobility for everyday use

The next five months will be an exciting experience for the residents of 51 of the 106 residential units in a complex in Kleinmünchen: During this period, they will swap their fuel cars for a fully electric car. The kick-off will take place in the course of tomorrow with the vehicle exchange at the Sonnleitner car dealership in Linz-Urfahr and Leonding. This is made possible by the "Urcharge"* research project, i.e. "Urban Charging", which is being headed by the TU Wien (Viennna University of Technology).

The demonstration project even goes one step further than the climate targets set for 2030: In a residential complex of NEUE HEIMAT OÖ on the Theresia-Brandl-Weg, almost 50 percent of the residents (26 terraced houses and 5 apartment buildings) are switching to electric cars. Their parking spaces - divided between two underground car parks - have been equipped with the LINZ AG charging solution "WallBOX CitySolution", which is implemented with KEBA power charging stations that are manufactured in Linz.

The infrastructural basis for the demonstration project is provided by the "WallBOX CitySolution", a complete charging solution from LINZ AG especially for residential complexes. "This inexpensive and intelligent charging solution is specially designed for large-volume residential buildings. Residential property developers can equip their new buildings and usually also their existing properties with this e-mobility solution. With this demo project, we want to maximise the current possibilities and further develop our complete solution," says Gerald Mayrhofer from the e-mobility team at LINZ AG. If a basic infrastructure is available, the "WallBOX CitySolution" can be installed quickly and guarantees reliable and exclusive charging. It is fed 100 percent with electricity from the region and can be used in garages and open spaces.

"As project leader and research partner, we value the 'Urcharge' project because of its holistic nature, which is unique in the field of charging infrastructure for large residential buildings in urban areas. A demonstration phase of almost half a year with 51 participants is extremely valuable for establishing the real charging behaviour and for the verification of our research results in the model. These findings will flow into a concept for private, urban charging in order to promote convenience, affordability and thus the acceptance of e-mobility and to achieve Zero Emission Mobility in individual traffic", says Jasmine Ramsebner MSc, who is in charge of the project as research associate and project manager at the Vienna University of Technology.

"LINZ AG already very successfully offers charging solutions and products for the needs in public spaces, multi-storey residential buildings, homes and businesses. We are very optimistic that the demonstration project will provide us with decisive insights into the suitability of e-mobility for everyday use and that we will be able to make an important contribution to more sustainability in road traffic. LINZ AG is thus once again underlining its commitment to emission-free drives, as it has done with its modern bus fleet and the innovative 'tim' mobility service," says LINZ AG General Director DI Erich Haider, MBA.

"Above all, charging stations must be convenient for the user, reliable and safe. In large residential complexes, where typically several electric cars are charged simultaneously, an intelligent load management solution is implemented. It optimally distributes the charging power so that the electric cars can be charged with a correspondingly low grid load and costs. In other words, our charging station not only charges, but is also a highly intelligent communication and control centre between the electric cars and the power grid behind them. With this solution, KEBA is once again taking on a pioneering role and thus making an important contribution to the breakthrough of electric mobility", says Ing. Mag. Gerhard Luftensteiner, Chairman of the Management Board of KEBA AG.

Robert Oberleitner, Managing Director of NEUE HEIMAT OÖ: "The 'Urcharge' project gives us the opportunity to make a significant contribution to climate change and to actively participate in ensuring that the non-profit housing developers are fit for the future in the area of e-mobility. In the course of the project, we will gain experience that will help us to meet the requirements of our customers in the future and to continue to offer the high quality of living they are accustomed to."

The complete press release can also be downloaded here

Please follow the links to learn more about the Climate and Energy Fund and the "Zero Emission Mobility" program. Under the following link you can also find out more about our various charging solutions for every requirement.