Faster replacement, faster scaling

At the Connectr Innovation Lab in Arnhem, ElaadNL tested a new generation of smart charging-station foundations. The central question: can a public charging station in the future be replaced within half an hour? The first results clearly point in that direction. Whereas a replacement currently still takes around ten hours, the test day shows that smart foundations can drastically shorten the process. In the shared video, Gerben Spies (ElaadNL) explains how these practical tests took place.

An innovation that relieves the chain

The smart foundation makes it possible to replace charging stations without extensive excavation work and without repeatedly opening the underground infrastructure. This means less physical strain for technicians, less disruption in public spaces, and a much higher execution speed. With the expected growth to hundreds of thousands of public charging points, this efficiency will become crucial for municipalities, grid operators, and contractors.

Arnhem as a testing ground for the new standard

The practical setups directly contribute to NTA 8042, the new standard for future-proof charging-station foundations. By testing under realistic conditions (with real excavation conditions, drainage, and installation procedures), a standard is created that is both technically sound and workable at street level.

The test day shows how collaboration accelerates innovation: experts, standards developers, and executing parties were able to observe and adjust immediately. In this way, ideas are directly tested, refined, and further developed in conditions that closely resemble practice.

Looking ahead

ElaadNL is working with market parties on finalizing the standard and the next steps toward implementation. The smart foundation could grow into a national standard that saves millions of labor hours and significantly accelerates the rollout of public charging infrastructure. The Connectr Innovation Lab will continue to be the place where innovation and practice reinforce each other.