Pininfarina is designing the future of sustainable EV charging
Pininfarina’s off-grid ultrafast charging column—and the domestic Residenza charging station—offer versatile and sustainable solutions that take the future of electric vehicles into consideration.
Kieron is a freelance writer and Digital Consultant who doesn't consider himself a design lover but a user of design - which to him is more than enough.
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Mobility has always shaped the landscapes around us, from city streets to rural highways, all deeply tied to infrastructure that keeps vehicles in motion. While roads remain constant, it’s the fueling stations—long synonymous with gas—that have anchored our dependence on fixed points for mobility. But as electric vehicles take centre stage, the landscape is poised for change. This shift is no longer just about how we move but about the very infrastructure that powers that movement.
Electricity, unlike petrol, presents a unique challenge and opportunity. As the European Union sets bold targets for electric vehicle adoption, the question becomes whether our current electrical grid and charging infrastructure can keep pace. The answer lies in the hands of car manufacturers and energy providers with forward-thinking designers who understand the need for more adaptable, sustainable solutions.
Italian design studio Pininfarina has stepped into this evolving landscape, focusing on the need for adaptable solutions that meet the growing demands of electric mobility. The company is ensuring that infrastructure evolves alongside electric vehicles, developing designs that are helping shape a future where mobility is no longer tied to static charging points, but instead embraces more flexible, responsive options that can keep pace with a changing world.
The company’s vision is to create distinctive, user-friendly products that address a need for charging devices that work in both domestic and off-grid environments. An integral part of this vision are Pininfarina’s collaborative designs, like the Residenza charging station for homes and the E-Gap off-grid solution, ensuring that drivers have reliable options no matter where they are, supporting the changing landscape of electric vehicle infrastructure.
“Residenza was designed with user experience in mind, prioritising intuitiveness and ergonomics,” explains Pininfarina. Developed in partnership with electric charging specialists Green Motion, Residenza was designed as a solution to at-home charging aimed at a high-end international market. “The project stems from the will to revolutionise the market by challenging the current charging experience with new functionalities and redefining the aesthetic standards in the residential segment.”
Residenza comprises a wall-mounted EV charger that integrates a seamless user experience with features like automatic cable management, voice control, and an intuitive companion app. The station’s minimalist, elegant aesthetic allows it to blend harmoniously into residential spaces while offering a high-end solution for electric vehicle owners. “We aimed to create a product that was distinctive and forward-thinking,” adds Pininfarina.
The main challenge in designing the Residenza charging station was ensuring that users could easily understand how to interact with the product without confusion. To avoid situations where the user didn’t know how to proceed, Pininfarina applied a vertical development approach to product architecture. This method focuses on organising features and elements in a clear, step-by-step structure, ensuring intuitive usability.
By arranging components in a logical, error-proof sequence, the design helps guide users through the process with ease, ultimately creating a seamless and straightforward charging experience. As Pininfarina notes, “To make charging a pleasant and straightforward experience, we incorporated those features into the process, prioritising intuitiveness with extreme simplicity.”
Beyond usability, the Residenza charging station is designed with sustainability at its core. It is built to charge all Pininfarina vehicles, offering a unified and convenient solution for owners; and it uses organic, recycled materials, ensuring that its environmental impact is minimised. The charging station is also developed using a modular approach, allowing for adaptability and long-term viability as electric vehicle technology evolves.
On the other hand, the E-Gap Fast is a mobile off-grid charging solution that Pininfarina co-designed with mobile charging company E-GAP. This ultrafast charging column is capable of delivering up to 120 kW of power to two vehicles simultaneously and offers dynamic charging management that optimises the power load.
“We focused on creating an intuitive user experience for the E-GAP FAST, allowing two vehicles to charge simultaneously in off-grid contexts,” says Pininfarina. “The design includes easy-to-use interfaces, long charging cables, and large LED screens for both interaction and media display.”
With its user-friendly interface and large LED screens to display charging statuses and media, the E-Gap Fast is an urban, on-demand charging service designed to meet the growing demand for flexible and sustainable solutions in electric vehicle infrastructure. The column can be used in off-grid contexts, where conventional infrastructure is unavailable, and integrates seamlessly with E-GAP’s mobile service platform, including zero-emission vans and portable battery systems.
“E-GAP FAST is dedicated to all those who need to enable their market to use electricity and to those who, for technical reasons, timing and opportunities need to use off-charging solution grid,” explains Pininfarina. The E-Gap Fast integrates into a unique service platform that also allows users to take advantage of the services offered by vans, called E-GAP Fast Delivery, and from E-GAP Trolley, a portable charging system with integrated battery capable of providing a range of about 25 km in 30 minutes.
“Charging devices are integrated into the sustainable mobility ecosystem, and we prioritise their design as carefully as we do for electric vehicles, paying attention to every detail,” says Pininfarina.
As the shift toward electric vehicles accelerates, so must the infrastructure that supports them. This is reflected in designs like Residenza and The E-Gap Fast, which show how the future of electric vehicle charging can be sustainable, adaptable, and user-centric. With a focus on intuitive usability and integration of advanced technologies like voice control, modular designs, and off-grid functionality, Pininfarina champions the prospect of a flexible and reliable charging ecosystem. Whether at home or on the go, their designs not only meet the immediate needs of today’s electric vehicle owners but are also poised to evolve alongside the growing demands of tomorrow’s mobility.
