JOLT Energy and REWE Group Launch Joint, Nationwide Expansion of Ultra-Fast Charging Stations

HPC without medium-voltage grid upgrades: JOLT Energy and REWE Group launch joint nationwide expansion of ultra-fast charging points

Battery-buffered high-power chargers enable up to 300 kW of charging power without expanding the medium-voltage grid; more than 100 new sites planned per year

Munich/Heidelberg, 16 March 2026 – JOLT Energy, an expert in urban high-power charging (HPC), and REWE Group, one of Europe's leading retail and tourism companies, have opened their first joint HPC site in Heidelberg. The pilot marks the start of a strategic partnership: in the coming years, more than 100 fast-charging sites per year are planned nationwide in Germany at REWE and PENNY car parks. What makes them special is that their charging infrastructure requires no medium-voltage grid expansion. JOLT's battery-buffered HPC technology enables charging power of up to 300 kilowatts using a low-voltage grid connection. This makes ultra-fast charging feasible even at urban sites previously unsuitable for conventional HPC solutions because of limited grid capacity or space requirements.

Around 60 percent of Germany's population lives in urban areas, and approximately 80 percent of those people rent their homes. This leaves many EV drivers without attractive charging options. At the same time, installing high-capacity grid connections often requires substantial construction work. This is exactly where JOLT's compact HPC technology comes in: it needs no separate transformer, can be integrated in a space-saving way with as few as two charging points and can usually be implemented within nine to twelve months. At the REWE site in Heidelberg, it replaces an originally planned solution that would have taken up considerably more space.

For REWE Group, fast charging is a strategic element of site development: customers can charge their vehicles while shopping in about 20 to 30 minutes, the very time they spend in the store. Expanding the charging infrastructure also supports the company's sustainability goals, since electric mobility makes a significant contribution to reducing transport-related emissions.

Charging infrastructure and digital outdoor advertising in one practical package

Another distinctive feature is the integration of large digital advertising displays into the charging equipment. They extend the store's retail-media space into the car park and create additional touchpoints along the customer journey. Advertising is marketed through REWE Group Retail Media Connect. Alongside third-party ads, the screens show regional content, weather updates and the company's own campaigns. The result is an integrated model that combines charging infrastructure with digital out-of-home advertising.

“Together with REWE, we are bringing high-power charging precisely where it is most urgently needed in urban areas: to busy everyday locations such as supermarkets. Our battery-buffered technology enables ultra-fast charging even where grid capacity is limited and creates additional revenue opportunities for retailers through integrated advertising space,” comments Hans Beck, Chief Commercial Officer at JOLT Energy. “Heidelberg is the starting point for a large-scale rollout of more than 100 locations a year.”

“At REWE Group, we are aware of our special responsibility towards people and the environment. Accordingly, our strategic ambition is to operate our network of stores sustainably and continue developing it in that respect. This also allows us 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 specialisation in battery-buffered HPC charging systems, JOLT is the ideal complementary solutions partner for us, particularly where HPC charging has not previously been possible due to lack of space or limited grid capacity. The advertising screen on JOLT's charging stations, measuring up to 75 inches, offers additional value that we can use effectively in REWE Group's communications. We are very pleased to be working in partnership with JOLT and look forward to jointly developing further locations in German metropolitan areas soon.”

The Heidelberg site was selected on the basis of technical, economic and strategic criteria. Alongside strong demand for fast charging, the site's physical characteristics played a decisive role. JOLT's compact solution makes it possible to deliver an economically viable project while ensuring high visibility and a convenient location for traffic.

With the pilot project, JOLT and the REWE Group are laying the groundwork for a nationwide roll-out. Numerous further sites planned for implementation over the coming months are already in the pipeline, particularly in urban areas currently lacking adequate HPC coverage. The aim is to consistently integrate fast charging into everyday routines such as weekly grocery shopping, further accelerating the growth of electric mobility. “The Heidelberg installation shows how fast-charging infrastructure, retail and digital outdoor advertising can be combined into an integrated, economically viable ecosystem: quick to implement, gentle on the grid and scalable,” Beck concludes.

About the REWE Group

The cooperative REWE Group is one of the leading retail and tourism groups in Germany and Europe. In 2024, the company generated total external sales of more than €96 billion. Founded in 1927, REWE Group has around 380,000 employees across 21 European countries. Its retail brands include REWE, REWE CENTER, nahkauf, BILLA, BILLA PLUS and ADEG supermarkets and hypermarkets; PENNY and IKI discount stores; BIPA drugstores; and toom DIY stores. It also operates REWE To Go convenience stores and e-commerce services including REWE delivery and collection, Zooroyal and Weinfreunde. The Lekkerland Group encompasses the group's wholesale activities in on-the-go food and drink. Under the DERTOUR Group umbrella, its tourism division includes more than 2,000 travel agencies, tour operators, hotel brands and online travel portals.

About JOLT Energy

JOLT Energy was founded in 2018 and is a leading provider of urban high-power charging (HPC) solutions headquartered in Munich. JOLT's charging infrastructure delivers up to 300 kW, allowing electric vehicles to add around 100 kilometres of range in just five minutes. Battery-buffered technology enables JOLT to provide HPC charging even where the urban grid is reaching its limits. As a specialist in developing, financing and operating an ultra-fast charging network, the company is among the drivers of the energy and mobility transition. JOLT focuses on scalable charging clusters in metropolitan areas and seamlessly integrates reliable infrastructure into urban spaces. Together with cities, petrol stations, supermarkets and other location partners, JOLT is making ultra-fast charging widely available in European city centres. Further information: www.jolt.energy

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Lewin Holländer

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