WattAnyWhere: a mobile generator for fast charging stations

Project type

Field demonstrator

State

Under developpement

Role of EnovArk

  • Identifying the right partners, bringing them together
  • Making the region’s infrastructure available (open-air laboratory)

Faster recharging thanks to bioenergy: The start-up WattAnyWhere, based at the Energypolis Campus in Sion, is developing an innovative system for powering a recharging station for electric vehicles. The specificity of this solution is that it is independent of the electricity grid, thanks to the supply of renewable ethanol, coupled with a fuel cell for energy transformation. An initial test installation has produced convincing results in the laboratory, as part of an Innosuisse project with the EPFL and the HES-SO Valais/WallisWith the help of EnovArk, the young company has started the deployment of a first generator and terminal in the field, in Sierre.

In recent years, the number of electric cars in Europe has increased massively. These vehicles are going to fill the motorways and need energy. According to several studies, more than 3.5 million charging points will be needed by 2030 in Europe. Founded in 2021, WattAnyWhere proposes to add value to renewable ethanol by using it to power future electric vehicle charging stations. This will avoid the deployment of heavy infrastructure to supply these stations. The start-up will use biomass residues, transformed into ethanol, as an energy carrier. The renewable ethanol, which is in abundance, will be transformed into energy using a fuel cell.

A first station in Sierre in early 2024

Thus, thanks to the support of EnovArk, a first terminal will be installed at one of OIKEN’s sites in Sierre. OIKEN will play an essential role in this project, as the first customer. The distributor will fully support WattAnyWhere in the success of this first installation. Initially, the power of the installation will be increased to 10 kW and then to 50 kW. The latter capacity is necessary for the fast charging of a standard electric vehicle. Eventually, the WattAnyWhere installation, in the form of a mobile container, will have a minimum capacity of 300 kW.

This project will be led by WattAnyWhere. Its team, drawn from the industry, will ensure that an ambitious roadmap is followed. The first charging station should be connected to a WattAnyWhere generator by early 2024 in Sierre.

European industrial partners to accelerate the project

In addition to OIKEN, WattAnyWhere can count on a large number of industrial partners, including the EPFL spin-off Celectis. The SMEs Elcogen (fuel cell – Estonia), Alcosuisse (ethanol production – Switzerland) and Helbio (energy systems – Greece) are also involved in the project, as they were in the first laboratory tests.

Finally, the project can count on a new partner, AVL, based in Austria. This partner can call on some 5,000 engineers including some specialised in fuel cells.

Further information

Contact

EnovArk
c/o Fondation The Ark
Rue de l’Industrie 23

1950 Sion
Switzerland

058 332 21 20

contact@enovark.ch

Scroll to Top