Düsseldorf Gets Sidewalk-Integrated EV Chargers

On Derendorfer Allee in Düsseldorf, a small flap is flush with the sidewalk. Behind it, a socket awaits an electric car’s cable. Several units are now operating on site, following the installation of the first production units in 2025. The system was developed by Rheinmetall, a German group best known for its industrial and defense activities.

All the electronics fit inside a curb designed for this purpose, with no vertical column or bulky enclosure. The plate indicates a three-phase supply of 400 V at 32 A. Rheinmetall advertises a maximum output of 22 kW on alternating current; the actual power accepted depends, however, on the car’s onboard charger. Drivers use their own cable and can identify themselves via RFID, an electronic identification system, a QR code or the operator’s app. A 4G connection also links the module to monitoring platforms through OCPP, a communication protocol for charging stations.

The benefit is most apparent once the car is gone. A conventional charger can reduce the space available to pedestrians and be difficult to install in older or protected streets. Here, the street furniture almost disappears into the landscape. But that discretion becomes a drawback: during testing, Rheinmetall found that the charging points were difficult to identify. Road markings and apps are intended to help drivers find them.

The other test concerns water. Installing electronics just a few centimeters from the gutter exposes the system to the elements. The module is certified IP68, which protects against dust and water, and has drainage outlets as well as a sensor capable of stopping charging if too much liquid accumulates.

So what does this mean in practice? For residents of a building without access to a home outlet, installing more of these points along the streets could bring charging closer to home. They could plug in their car in the evening and pick it up charged the following morning, rather than searching for a distant public charger or one that is already occupied. Düsseldorf is thus showcasing an approach that cities such as Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg could consider: charging that is less visible but more present in everyday public space.