Innovative design by COBE encourages energy-efficient transportation

COBE has designed a new type of charging station for electric vehicles (EVs) in the Danish city of Frederica. Created in cooperation with Danish e-mobility provider Clever and the European energy company E.ON, the station is part of an upcoming network of 48 ultra-fast EV charging stations along Scandinavian highways. The design promises to recharge a vehicle in just 15 minutes but also offer drivers and passengers a welcome break and the chance to recharge their own mental batteries while the car is being powered up. 

The charging stations consist of a series of structural “trees”, featuring canopies to offer shade and protection while providing a green setting, as a contrast to the rushed and fuel-filled atmosphere of the traditional petrol station. Dan Stubbergaard, architect and founder of COBE, explained: “The energy and the technology are green, so we wanted the architecture, the materials and the concept to reflect that. So, we designed a charging station in sustainable materials placed in a clean, calm setting with trees and plantings that offer people a dose of mindfulness on the highway.”

Thanks to a modular design concept, different scales of facility can be constructed according to location. The stations are topped by solar panels and surrounded by trees, grass and other plantings, selected in cooperation with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation. All components of the construction can be broken down into usable and recyclable materials and the choice of wood as a building material further emphasizes the building’s sustainable design. 

By reducing the waiting time to recharge EVs and creating a welcoming environment for vehicle owners, the companies behind the scheme hope the ultra-fast stations will attract EV investment and promote the transition to more energy-efficient transportation both in Denmark and abroad.

Lucy Nordberg
TenderStream Head of Research

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