• chargeBIG now independent subsidiary of MAHLE group
  • Greater operational freedom for former corporate start-up
  • 1,500 charging points sold to over 20 customers
  • Development cooperation with power electronics specialist PRETTL accelerates market launch of chargeBIG fast-charging solution

MAHLE chargeBIG, provider of a smart, scalable, and low-cost charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, remains on track for growth. The former corporate start-up is now an independent subsidiary of the MAHLE group. This will accelerate the automotive supplier’s transformation into a provider of sustainable mobility solutions and will also give the chargeBIG team greater operational freedom. The track record of MAHLE chargeBIG speaks for itself: since entering the market in 2018, around 1,500 charging points have already been sold to over 20 customers, and the current acquisition business is very successful. In addition, chargeBIG has concluded a development cooperation with power electronics specialist PRETTL Electronics Automotive to accelerate the market launch of its recently unveiled fast-charging solution chargeBIG POWER.

Sebastian Ewert, founder and managing director of MAHLE chargeBIG GmbH, said: “Being more firmly anchored within the Group will boost our business performance as a provider and operator of e-mobility services. We’re delighted that we can now take the next step in establishing our fast-charging solution, chargeBIG POWER, with our development partner PRETTL Electronics.”

“In PRETTL Electronics, chargeBIG has found the right partner to implement its ambitious goals. Combining economic efficiency and sustainability is at the heart of our approach,” said Carsten Ellermeier, CEO of PRETTL Electronics. “This is possible thanks to our expertise in the field of power electronics and the principle of intelligent load distribution. The result is an innovative and powerful charging solution.”

With chargeBIG POWER, the company will offer a DC fast-charging solution with charging power of up to 750 kW, based on the proven chargeBIG principle of intelligent load management. The fast-charging solution is suitable for charging parks with up to 20 charging points—even with limited grid connection. It can be economically integrated into the existing grid infrastructure. This solution is intended particularly for long-distance routes, where there is still a lack of fast-charging options today. In this way, MAHLE aims to expedite the electrification of individual and commercial traffic.

The basic chargeBIG concept for AC charging is suitable for fleets and applications with around 20 to 100, or even more, electrified parking spaces. This solution is particularly suitable for parking spaces where electric vehicles are parked for longer periods, such as at airports, office locations, or apartment blocks. chargeBIG offers turnkey centralized solutions for different charging requirements. Charging power of up to 7.2 kW is used in most cases, but charging points delivering an output of up to 22 kW can also be integrated. chargeBIG complies with the requirements of the German calibration law and is easy to operate via a dedicated app.

In the past six months alone, chargeBIG has installed around 500 new charging points at well-known companies such as Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG, Philips Medizin Systeme Böblingen GmbH, SV Sparkassen Versicherung, DIBAG Neckarpark GmbH, and Fuchs Petrolub SE. In order to gain a foothold in the international market, a charging park with 72 charging points was also built at a MAHLE branch in Changshu/China. This gives potential new customers the opportunity to experience the performance and reliability of the system for themselves.