HPC Without Medium-Voltage Infrastructure: JOLT Energy and REWE Group Launch Joint, Nationwide Expansion of Ultra-Fast Charging Stations
Battery-backed high-power chargers enable charging power of up to 300 kW without the need for medium-voltage infrastructure; more than 100 new locations planned per year
Munich/Heidelberg, 16 March 2026 – JOLT Energy, an expert in urban high-power charging, and REWE Group, one of Europe’s leading retail and tourism companies, have launched their first joint high-power charging station in Heidelberg. The pilot marks the start of a strategic partnership: In the coming years, more than 100 fast-charging stations are to be built annually at REWE and PENNY parking lots across Germany. What makes this special is that the charging infrastructure used does not require a medium-voltage upgrade. JOLT’s battery-buffered HPC technology enables charging capacities of up to 300 kilowatts when connected to the low-voltage grid. This makes ultra-fast charging feasible even in urban locations that were previously unsuitable for traditional HPC concepts due to limited grid capacity or space constraints.
About 60 percent of Germany’s population lives in urban areas, and roughly 80 percent of them rent their homes. As a result, many electric vehicle drivers lack convenient charging options. At the same time, high-power grid connections often require significant construction work to install. This is exactly where JOLT’s compact HPC technology comes in: It requires no separate transformer, can be integrated in a space-saving manner starting with just two charging points, and can typically be implemented within nine to twelve months. At the REWE location in Heidelberg, it replaces a previously planned solution that would have required significantly more space.
For REWE Group, fast charging is a strategic component of its store development strategy: Customers can charge their vehicles in about 20 to 30 minutes while shopping, exactly the amount of time they spend in the store. At the same time, the expansion of the charging infrastructure supports the company’s sustainability goals, as electric mobility plays a key role in reducing traffic-related emissions.
Charging infrastructure and digital outdoor advertising in one convenient package
Another unique selling point is the integration of large-format digital advertising displays into the charging infrastructure. These extend the store’s retail media space to the parking lot and create additional touchpoints along the customer journey. Marketing is handled by REWE Group Retail Media Connect. In addition to third-party advertising, regional content, weather updates, and company-owned campaigns are displayed. This creates an integrated model that combines charging infrastructure with digital out-of-home advertising.
“With REWE, we’re bringing high-power charging exactly where it’s most urgently needed in urban areas: to high-traffic everyday locations like supermarkets. Our battery-buffered technology enables ultra-fast charging even with limited grid capacity and opens additional revenue potential for retailers through integrated advertising space,” comments Hans Beck, Chief Commercial Officer at JOLT Energy. “Heidelberg is the starting point for a large-scale expansion with more than 100 locations per year.”
“At REWE Group, we are mindful of our special responsibility toward people and the environment. Accordingly, our strategic goal is to operate our network of stores in a sustainable manner and to continuously improve it in this regard. This is also to offer our customers an environmentally conscious and attractive shopping experience. With JOLT Energy, we can meet the rapidly growing demand for high-power charging at urban REWE and PENNY locations,” explains Sebastian Engels, project coordinator at REWE Group and responsible for the rollout of e-mobility. He adds: “Thanks to its specialization in battery-buffered HPC charging systems, JOLT is the ideal, complementary solution partner for us. This is particularly true in locations where HPC charging could not previously be implemented due to space constraints or limited grid capacity. The advertising screen on the JOLT charging stations, which measures up to 75 inches, offers additional value that we can effectively integrate into REWE Group’s communication activities. We are very pleased about our partnership with JOLT and look forward to jointly expanding to additional locations in German metropolitan areas soon.”
The Heidelberg location was selected based on technical, economic, and strategic criteria. In addition to the high demand for fast charging, the characteristics of the site played a decisive role. The compact JOLT solution enables a financially viable implementation while offering high visibility and a convenient location.
With this pilot project, JOLT and REWE Group are laying the groundwork for a nationwide rollout. Numerous additional locations are already in the pipeline and are set to be implemented in the coming months, particularly in urban areas with previously insufficient HPC coverage. The goal is to consistently link fast charging with everyday routines such as weekly grocery shopping, thereby further accelerating the development of electric mobility. “The installation in Heidelberg demonstrates how fast-charging infrastructure, retail, and digital outdoor advertising can be combined into an integrated, economically viable ecosystem: quick to implement, grid-friendly, and scalable,” Beck concludes.
About the REWE Group
REWE Group, a cooperative, is one of the leading retail and tourism groups in Germany and Europe. In 2024, the company generated total external revenue of over 96 billion euros. Founded in 1927, REWE Group operates in 21 European countries and employs approximately 380,000 people. Its retail formats include supermarkets and hypermarkets under the REWE, REWE CENTER, and nahkauf brands, as well as BILLA, BILLA PLUS, and ADEG; the discounters PENNY and IKI; the drugstores BIPA; and the toom home improvement stores. In addition, there are the REWE To Go convenience stores and the e-commerce activities REWE Delivery and Pickup Service, as well as Zooroyal and Weinfreunde. The Lekkerland Group comprises the corporate group’s wholesale activities in the on-the-go food sector. The tourism division, under the umbrella of the DERTOUR Group, includes over 2,000 travel agencies, tour operators, hotel brands, and online travel portals.
About JOLT Energy
Founded in 2019, JOLT Energy is a leading provider of urban high-power charging (HPC) solutions, with headquarters in Dublin and Munich. JOLT’s charging infrastructure delivers up to 300 kW of power, enabling electric vehicles to gain around 100 kilometres of range in just five minutes. Thanks to its battery-buffered technology, JOLT can deploy HPC charging even in locations where urban power grids reach their limits. As a specialist in developing, financing, and operating ultra-fast charging networks, the company is a driving force behind the energy and mobility transition. JOLT focuses on scalable charging clusters in metropolitan areas and seamlessly integrates reliable infrastructure into urban environments. Working together with cities, fuel retailers, supermarkets, and other site partners, JOLT is making ultra-fast charging widely accessible across city centres in Europe and North America.
More information: www.jolt.energy
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