Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) and E.ON announce the extensive expansion of EV charging infrastructure across four retail and lifestyle destinations: Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, Westfield Centro, Westfield Ruhr Park, and Paunsdorf Center.
The partnership, which includes more than 300 new DC fast-charging points in total, aims to make sustainable mobility more accessible, attractive, and practical for everyday use by visitors of the shopping centers.
As part of the project, the charging infrastructure at the four URW assets will be significantly expanded: with 308 new charging points, the existing charging infrastructure will more than quadruple.
- Westfield Centro, Oberhausen: 100 new DC fast-charging points
- Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, Hamburg: 48 new DC fast-charging points
- Westfield Ruhr Park, Bochum: 98 new DC fast-charging points
- Paunsdorf Center, Leipzig: 62 new DC fast-charging points
URW and E.ON plan to have the first charging points operational by the end of 2026 at Westfield Hamburg- Überseequartier, and from mid-2027 at Westfield Centro, Westfield Ruhr Park and Paunsdorf Center.
To ensure that the e-charging infrastructure is in line with visitor habits, the charging concepts at each centre are specifically tailored to the average dwell time. Both 50-kilowatt (kW) fast chargers and ultra-fast chargers with outputs of 200 kW and 400 kW will be deployed, in order to optimally support both short stops and longer stays. Visitors benefit from clear synergies: a reliable charging infrastructure and green electricity, as well as well-maintained parking areas, a wide range of shopping, dining, and leisure options, and the high quality of stay at the destinations.
Jakub Albert, Head of Property Management, Purchasing and Sustainability (PMPS), Central Europe, at URW, says: “With the expansion of EV charging infrastructure across our sites, we are sending a clear signal for the future of mobility. We are consistently driving forward our sustainability plan while placing an even greater focus on our customers’ needs. We see it as our responsibility to create the necessary conditions for a growing share of electric mobility. With E.ON Drive Infrastructure, we have a strong partner at our side who supports us with extensive expertise in advancing sustainable mobility and implementing innovative solutions. We are very pleased to be able to jointly realize this important milestone across our destinations.“
Timo Sillober, CEO at E.ON Drive Infrastructure, says: “Large-scale shopping and leisure destinations such as those operated by URW are ideal locations for fast-charging infrastructure: visitors’ dwell time aligns perfectly with charging needs — whether for a short stop or an extended shopping visit. A summer 2025 survey by E.ON shows that 70 percent of EV drivers expect to be able to charge at shopping centers. With more than 300 new charging points across four centers and electricity from 100 percent renewable sources, we are making exactly that possible and, together with URW, are providing a tangible contribution to the mobility transition in everyday life.“
Sustainability at URW
The expansion of EV charging infrastructure contributes significantly to URW’s group-wide sustainability plan, “Better Places”. As part of this plan, the Group aims to install a total of 4,000 charging points across its sites by 2030.
URW is a committed partner to the environmental transition of cities and the sustainable evolution of retail. Our Better Places plan sets a clear science-based net-zero target on Scopes 1 & 2 by 2030, and on scopes 1, 2 & 3 by 2050. “Better Places” is integrated in all key decision-making processes, from the design of development projects to their construction, from everyday maintenance of the assets to regular improvements, from URW’s relationship with retailers to the final experience provided to visitors. URW partners with local authorities, start-ups and industry leaders, and the communities in which the Group operates to support the sustainable transition of cities.
More information on URW’s sustainability plan: https://www.urw.com/sustainability
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