Battery‑buffered fast charging in the retail environment: Allego opens a charging hub with KREISEL CHIMERO

“Thanks to a combination of battery storage, intelligent load management, and KREISEL technology for efficient power distribution, high charging speeds are possible using existing grid connections.”

Emiel van Steenselen, Allego (NL)

15.04.2026, 11:12 CEST

#allego

Allego and Hornbach have officially opened their first joint fast charging station in Tilburg (NL). The new charging infrastructure enables customers to charge their electric vehicles quickly and efficiently while shopping, even with limited grid capacity. Two CHIMERO 180 units are in operation. These are powerful DC fast charging systems with integrated battery buffering from KREISEL Electric.

The new location marks the start of a large scale partnership between Allego and Hornbach. In total, up to 20 fast charging stations are planned at Hornbach locations across the Netherlands. This will result in at least 160 DC fast charging points installed on the parking areas of the DIY stores.

Fast charging despite grid constraints

The charging hub in Tilburg is equipped with two CHIMERO 180 DC fast chargers, each supplying two charging points with up to 180 kW. Thanks to the combination of intelligent load management and an integrated battery storage system, high charging power can be delivered without overloading the existing power grid. Vehicles can be charged sufficiently in around 20 minutes to continue their journey.

Growing demand for charging infrastructure

The number of electric vehicles is growing rapidly. Currently, around 7 percent of all passenger cars in the Netherlands are fully electric. For light commercial vehicles, the share of electric new registrations has already reached 76 percent. This development naturally leads to increasing demand for charging stations that can be installed quickly. The fast charging stations at Hornbach are suitable for almost all electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

Especially in regions with rising electric mobility and limited grid availability, this type of charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. The concept enables fast, grid friendly, scalable and future proof integration of fast charging points at high traffic locations using the existing grid. One advantage is clear: no grid expansion means no additional grid connection fees.

Charging while shopping

With the new charging infrastructure, Hornbach is responding to the changing mobility behavior of its customers. In addition to private electric vehicles, electric vans and light commercial vehicles are increasingly using the parking facilities of DIY stores. Combining shopping and charging saves time and adds convenience for customers. This is especially beneficial for those who depend on short charging times in their daily routines.

Easy charging and compatible infrastructure

The opening in Tilburg marks the first step of a nationwide rollout. Additional locations are planned to follow in the coming months. The underlying technology makes it possible to implement fast charging stations even in areas where grid expansion is limited or delayed.

With battery buffered fast charging systems, KREISEL Electric, together with Allego, is making an important contribution to widespread, grid compatible charging infrastructure in public and semi public spaces, particularly for commercial, logistics, and retail applications.

About Allego

Allego is a pan European provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure with the goal of accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility. The company was founded in the Netherlands in 2013 and has been part of Meridiam since 2018. Allego already operates more than 35,000 charging points across Europe. They offer smart charging solutions for passenger cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks. All charging points are connected to the Allego EV Cloud platform, enabling reliable and scalable charging for consumers, businesses, and cities.

For more information about Allego, please visit www.allego.eu/about-us/.