German start-up Numbat is planning a major expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with the goal of installing thousands of charging stations at supermarket and hardware store parking lots across the country. The company is being supported by financing of up to one billion euros.
A consortium led by investment specialist Patrizia has committed an initial 140 million euros. The first phase of the rollout will see 400 charging stations installed at Tegut locations. Of these, 200 charging points are scheduled for this year, with the remainder to follow next year. Numbat founder Martin Schall described the move as an early step toward securing a leading position in the fast-growing EV charging market.
Numbat’s key innovation lies in its fast chargers, which include integrated battery storage. This allows electric vehicles to charge to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes. The company offers supermarkets and retail partners the installation of the stations free of charge and plans to sell electricity at prices ranging from 40 to 60 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Another advantage of Numbat’s model is its ability to store electricity when prices are especially low, particularly when renewable energy from wind or solar is abundant. The start-up also plans to generate additional revenue through advertising displayed on the charging stations.
Industry observers see Numbat’s approach as particularly promising because many retail locations do not have the necessary grid capacity to support conventional fast chargers. The built-in storage system therefore offers a practical alternative.
It remains to be seen whether Numbat can establish itself in a highly competitive market that includes major players such as Tesla, EnBW, and Eon. Still, the start-up has already secured strong backing, including support from prominent investors such as Paul-Josef Patt and Christoph Ostermann, who sold battery storage specialist Sonnen in 2019.