Rheinmetall Charging Curbs: A Revolution in Urban E-Mobility or Just a Passing Curiosity?

As the number of electric vehicles continues to rise, the availability of charging points—especially in urban areas—is becoming an increasingly urgent issue. In response to this demand, German company Rheinmetall introduced an innovative solution in 2022: curb-integrated charging points. Instead of traditional charging posts sticking out from sidewalks, drivers can now plug their vehicles into discreetly embedded units integrated into the street surface.

Real-World Testing

Since April 2024, four of these “charging curbs” have been installed in Cologne, in partnership with network operator TankE. Over the course of several months, more than 2,800 charging sessions have taken place—averaging more than two per day. Each session delivered around 19 kWh on average, with the total energy transferred exceeding 50 MWh. Notably, the devices maintained over 99% uptime, regardless of weather conditions.

The tests also aimed to evaluate the infrastructure’s durability in real-world urban conditions—exposed to dust, leaves, rain, frost, and even dogs, which treated the curbs as part of their environment. It turned out that the only instance of a full service outage occurred in spring 2024 due to debris buildup. However, the devices were quickly brought back online.

Modular Design, Easy Replacement, Silent Cooling

Rheinmetall designed the charging points as modular units, which can be easily swapped out in the event of failure or damage. During testing, modules were intentionally replaced as part of ongoing development work—particularly in relation to the cooling system, which is intended to enable full 22 kW power usage even on hot days.

Users Satisfied—Especially Seniors

As part of the pilot project, users were asked to rate the system’s performance. The result? An average score of 4.38 out of 5. Drivers praised the ease of use—such as the ability to connect the cable with one hand, the absence of posts or bollards to navigate around, and the convenience of parking. Surprisingly, the most positive feedback came from drivers aged 60 and over, who appreciated the barrier-free and intuitive design.

What About the Drawbacks?

Some challenges were identified. The most frequently mentioned drawback was the limited visibility of the charging points—they blend almost completely into their surroundings, which can be problematic for new users or in poor lighting conditions.

What’s Next?

Although Rheinmetall has not officially disclosed the price of the solution, available information suggests that the cost per unit is under €10,000, with significant discounts possible for bulk orders. This could be a key argument for cities and operators considering a broader rollout of this technology.

Source: rheinmetall.com