Volkswagen has doubled down to grow its charging capability in the world's largest EV market. The automaker's China division announced on July 3 that it plans to increase capital investment in local charging service provider CAMS by CNY800 million (US$112 million) and launch a pilot charging program.
Volkswagen Group China established CAMS with carmaker FAW Group and two other companies in 2019. Volkswagen said on Monday that it will increase support for CAMS with joint venture FAW-Volkswagen Automobile.
The German automaker also said it will partner with China's State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles Company and CAMS to launch a pilot ordered charging program for EVs (V1G) in the Jingjinji Metropolitan Region.
According to Volkswagen, the V1G program will leverage the remote-control technology to adjust the power of chargers based on the grid load. The practice aims to cut the peaks of load and stabilize the grid.
Volkswagen said customers will be able to pay lower charging fees with the program. The first phase of the pilot, which plans to recruit 2,400 EV drivers, is scheduled to begin in July 2023 and continue until June 2024.
Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen China's chairman and CEO, said the company is implementing a comprehensive electrification strategy and building a charging network that covers all parts of China with CAMS.
As of June, CAMS installed 10,950 public chargers in over 180 cities in China. The charging service company plans to grow its charging network to 17,000 chargers by 2025.
Volkswagen said it will keep developing charging solutions with CAMS, including high-power and automated charging.
China-based NetEase Auto reported that Volkswagen aims to set up a global charging network with invested companies like Elli, Electrify America and CAMS. The automaker plans to install 43,000 high-power chargers in Europe, China and the US by 2025.
