Autobahn GmbH Opens Ultra-Rapid Charging Hub on A8 Freeway

Today, Autobahn GmbH South East Branch has opened a fast-charging hub at the Heckengäu parking lot near the German town of Rutesheim. The charging park is part of the nationwide expansion of charging infrastructure by the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV). The site offers road users the opportunity to charge their vehicles quickly and conveniently. 

The fast-charging hub opened today is located on the A8 freeway (Salzburg direction) at the Heckengäu parking lot with restroom facilities. As part of the German Federal Ministry of Transport's nationwide expansion of charging infrastructure, it is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and offers four charge points. Each connection provides up to 400 kW. This is enough to charge a mid-range auto with electricity for 300 to 500 kilometers (depending on consumption) within 10 minutes. Thus, the charging hub is future-proofed. If two vehicles share a charging station, each of them can still be charged at 200 kW or more. Operator of the hub is autostrom plus GmbH. The payment system accepts all common charge cards and debit and credit cards.

The German Federal Ministry of Transport is installing 9,000 additional fast-charge points for electric vehicles which are part of a nationwide network of rapid charging facilities, known as Deutschlandnetz (‘German network’). The project aims at the development of charging infrastructure in regions, towns and cities and at unmanaged rest areas in order to eliminate the white spots in the charging stations map.

Private companies are building the 1,000+ locations of the Deutschlandnetz on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport. Around 900 locations are being built in urban and rural areas, while 200 will be located directly on the freeways. When all sites are completed in 2026, drivers throughout Germany will be able to find the nearest fast-charging station quickly and without making a detour. For more information, please visit: www.deutschlandnetz.de (in German language).

[Opening ceremony quotes:]

Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport:

“Mobility must be geared towards the needs of people and the economy. This is why we focus on progress with responsibility: through the German network, we are consistently investing in a charging infrastructure that meets demand throughout the country, thereby creating the conditions for sustainable and innovative mobility across Germany. The new Deutschlandnetz fast-charging hub, which opened today directly on the freeway, provides electromobility in everyday life, for commuters, families and companies alike.“

Dr. Michael Güntner, Chairperson of the Management Board of Autobahn GmbH:

“Autobahn GmbH is pressing ahead with expansion of the charging infrastructure to provide electromobility for everyone and on all routes. In total, the Deutschlandnetz network comprises 1,000 fast-charge points on freeways in 200 locations.“

Christine Baur-Fewson, Director of the Southwest Branch of Autobahn GmbH:

“Fast-charging hubs are an important step on the road to climate-friendly mobility. The A8 freeway is of outstanding economic and logistical importance, for the Stuttgart economic region as well as for neighboring countries and the German federal states. Vacation travelers also use this highly frequented road. So, we are pleased to now offer A8 road users the opportunity to charge their vehicles quickly and conveniently."

Steffen Szeidl, Executive Board Spokesperson of Drees & Sommer SE:

“The Heckengäu fast-charging site on the A8 freeway is an example of how the much-needed transformation of the transport infrastructure in Germany has picked up speed – driven by systematic promotion by the Federal Ministry of Transport[MC1]  and an efficient implementation by Autobahn GmbH. Working together, all partner companies in the Deutschlandnetz network are creating the basis for climate-friendly mobility that relieves the burden on economic corridors and integrates Europe-wide transit flows. It is precisely this kind of close cooperation between the public and private sectors that is the key to solving investment backlogs, accelerating growth and securing our long-term competitiveness.“ 
Stuttgart-based Drees & Sommer SE, a global player in consulting on construction and infrastructure is a shareholder of autostrom plus GmbH.

Dr. Burkhard Seizer, Managing Director at autostrom plus GmbH:

“The A8 freeway is one of the busiest west-east axes in southern Germany. The new fast-charging hub of the German network Deutschlandnetz at the unmanaged rest area Heckengäu closes a gap. If you want to avoid leaving the freeway and do not need to stop at a service station, you can charge ultra-fast directly at the Heckengäu site for the first time. This enables commuters and transit drivers to make a very short and uncomplicated charging stop and continue their journey seamlessly, especially on this highly frequented section of the A8 freeway.“

About autostrom plus:

Hanover-based autostrom plus GmbH has been commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport, to install and operate 99 fast-charging hubs and 482 charge points, most of them located in eastern and southern Germany. Founded in 2024, the joint venture of leading energy, infrastructure and planning companies, has already realized 42 fast-charging parks with 210 charge points with 100 percent green electricity, high charging capacities, as well as fair and transparent charging conditions. Shareholders of autostrom plus are the consulting firm Drees & Sommer SE, the energy supplier enercity AG, the charging park and filling station operator Q1 Energie AG, the Pohl Group – a company that specializes in energy, infrastructure and road construction, the public utility company SWN Stadtwerke Neumünster GmbH, the regional energy supply company RheinEnergie AG with its subsidiary TankE GmbH, and the charging infrastructure service provider Westfalen Weser Ladeservice GmbH.

About the German government company Autobahn GmbH:

The German government's Autobahn GmbH is responsible for planning, construction, operation, maintenance and asset management of the country's freeways. Since the start of operations on January 1, 2021, Autobahn GmbH has combined the advantages of a centrally positioned organization with the strengths of the regional roots at its ten branch offices. With more than 13,000 kilometers of freeway network, the company is one of the largest operators of this type in Europe.

Media contact:

Autobahn GmbH Southwest Branch 

Media officer: Linda Mayer

phone: +49 (0)711 342 501 20; email: presse.suedwest(at)autobahn.de; website: www.autobahn.de