Volkswagen Demonstrates Kite-Powered EV Charging, Hannover Messe 2024

Volkswagen subsidiary Elli, in collaboration with wind turbine manufacturer EnerKíte and the Technical University of Braunschweig, has unveiled a new research project to create energy-autonomous electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions.

The project was presented at this year’s Hannover Messe, taking place April 22-26 in Hanover, Germany. 

The project uses kites to harvest wind energy and convert it into electricity that is stored in Elli's Flexpole fast charger and used to charge EVs. 

According to the team, the project meets a current accessibility problem for EV users, expanding charging capabilities to remote regions and diversifying energy generation and charging infrastructure available to customers. 

“The collaboration between EnerKíte's base-load-capable airborne wind turbines and Elli's charging and storage technology enables grid-independent and constant power supply,” the companies said in a statement. 

The team said Elli’s Flexpole can be installed as a fast-charging station and connected to the low-voltage grid without requiring costly construction work or special equipment.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and coordinated at the Open Hybrid LabFactory Campus in Wolfsburg, Germany.

"We are pleased that…Flexpole can support this groundbreaking initiative to redefine the limits of electromobility,” said Mark Möller, Elli’s chief technical officer. “By combining innovative technologies, we can make a sustainable contribution to the mobility of the future.”

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"EnerKíte systems provide constant power, converting green energy into a reliable source of electricity,” said Florian Breipohl, EnerKíte’s CEO. “With a yield four times higher than conventional wind turbines with the same power, EnerKíte presents an outstanding alternative. This opens up new possibilities for decentralized energy supply and supports the spread of electromobility in regions that were previously difficult to access."