Charging Solutions with a System: Making Electromobility Reliable
Interview with Konrad Benze, Managing Director of ChargeHere GmbH
Electric cars are booming - but without a reliable charging infrastructure, progress stops halfway. Above all, companies need solutions that not only work technically but are also economically and operationally convincing. This is exactly where ChargeHere GmbH from Stuttgart comes in: with well-thought-out concepts, digital processes, and a clear focus on operational safety. Managing Director Konrad Benze explains in the interview how intelligent load management works, why the housing industry will play a key role in the future, and what reliability and digitalization really mean in everyday life.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Benze, how do you assess the current market situation for charging infrastructure?
Konrad Benze: The market is in a dynamic growth phase, driven by regulation, customer interest, and climate awareness. At the same time, there is uncertainty: many do not know how to implement charging infrastructure concretely. Network capacities, standardization, and a shortage of skilled workers are challenges that require intelligent planning and sustainable implementation. That's exactly where we come in – with technically and economically convincing complete solutions.
Wirtschaftsforum: What exactly does your range of services include?
Konrad Benze: ChargeHere was founded in 2017 as an innovation project by EnBW and was later spun off as an independent GmbH. As a subsidiary of EnBW, we have since been developing reliable, comfortable charging solutions for businesses, hotels, multi-family homes, commercial locations and project developers – wherever infrastructure is operated on a long-term basis.
We not only supply hardware, but a complete operational model: from planning and installation to monitoring, maintenance, and billing, all the way to operational management with load control. Our reliability guarantee ensures that the charging infrastructure works smoothly in everyday use.
Wirtschaftsforum: What technical focuses do you set in this regard?
Konrad Benze: A major focus is on the consistent monitoring of all charging points. This allows us not only to detect disturbances early but also to actively intervene. Especially in terms of load management—i.e., controlling when and how much electricity flows through the individual charging points. This flexibility is necessary to prevent overloading buildings while still meeting the needs of the users. Our systems are designed to automate complex requirements both technically and operationally.
Wirtschaftsforum: Who makes up your target audience?
Konrad Benze: Our customers are mostly companies with their own parking areas—from medium-sized businesses to large corporations. They look for charging infrastructure as a service, not as a technical challenge. Hotels, housing industry, and project developers are also among them. The key is tailor-made solutions—whether for 50 charging points at an office location or ten in an underground garage.
Wirtschaftsforum: What do typical customer projects look like for you?
Konrad Benze: We realize projects nationwide – from industrial environments to service companies and retail. Currently, new buildings and the retrofitting of charging infrastructure in existing residential areas are particularly in demand. It's not just about the technology itself, but about its smooth, precise integration into existing structures. If desired, we can take over the complete operational management – our customers charge, we take care of the rest.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does digitalization play in your business model?
Konrad Benze: A central one. Our entire operation management is digitally controlled – starting from the user app to the real-time monitoring of charging points. We enable both the tracking of charging processes and the automatic billing. For us, digitalization is not an end in itself, but a tool to make operations efficient, scalable, and trouble-free. Especially for larger customers with multiple locations, this transparency is a real added value.
Wirtschaftsforum: Are there any international activities or ambitions?
Konrad Benze: Currently, we are consciously focusing on the German market. We are very familiar with the regulatory conditions, network specifications, and funding landscape here. This is an important advantage. However, the expansion of charging infrastructure also depends on reliable political frameworks in the long term – such as comparable subsidy models as in other countries. We are keeping a close watch on these developments.
Wirtschaftsforum: Where is ChargeHere heading strategically in the coming years?
Konrad Benze: We still see great potential in the corporate environment, but also in the multi-family housing sector. The housing industry will need to invest more in charging infrastructure in the future – and we are already developing suitable models for this today. Our ambition is to become the standard provider of charging infrastructure in the commercial and residential sectors – with high technical competence, operational excellence, and a service promise that delivers what it promises. Our team currently comprises around 30 employees, and we generate a single-digit million amount annually – with further growth in sight.