PR96333

ENDSEE, Germany, June 3, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

A new era has begun for drivers of electric cars. The first bk World opened

today, Friday, in Endsee, Bavaria. By creating charging havens, this subsidiary

of bk Group AG is revolutionising long-distance travel by electric car.

From idea to reality

For drivers of electric cars, charging time is mostly wasted time. It's 20 to

30 minutes they have to spend consuming fast food in a remote car park, killing

time on their mobile phone, enjoying the charms of service station bathrooms,

writing emails on a precariously balanced laptop – and longing for the time to

pass.

This is something that Gerold Wolfarth and Marc Arnold, the founders of bk

World, want to change. The idea for bk World was born during a charging stop in

the middle of the night, they recounted at the grand opening of the first bk

World. "There had to be a better way – and we wanted it to be unique," Wolfarth

said.

Now, right at the Tesla Supercharger Park with its 20 rapid charge spots in

Endsee, the first location has been opened: a lounge for drivers of electric

cars that turns waiting time into quality time.

In bk World, charging time becomes quality time

"The whole idea for bk World was conceived from the user perspective," Arnold

explained. "In other words, as the driver of an electric car, what is it that I

really need during a charging break?"

bk World of course offers bathroom facilities, while a comfortable lounge area

invites drivers to linger. But the concept is far more extensive. For instance,

it makes extremely efficient use of the small footprint. Various products are

dispensed in a fully automated way. The food that drivers can purchase on site

is healthy, fresh, and low in sugar. When selecting the product portfolio, the

planners deliberately avoided working with large corporations and chose instead

to focus on keeping things regional and sustainable. Together with entrepreneur

and investor Marcell Jansen, work is even going on to develop an innovative and

healthy food portfolio especially for bk World.

Small office areas for business meetings, a children's play area to entertain

the little ones, and green surroundings turn a necessary stay into a welcome

break.

A unique spatial concept

bk World is made up of what are known as Qubes – modular, transportable room

elements that can be combined in a number of ways to meet a wide variety of

space requirements on site. When a charging facility grows, its bk World can

grow with it. Qubes can be assembled, disassembled, and relocated in a very

short time. This is particularly good news for property owners, but also for

charging facility operators. If a lease expires, bk World offers the greatest

possible flexibility. The smallest version, with a lounge area and bathroom

Qube, takes up around 50 square metres – but there is no upper size limit to bk

World. This reduces material waste and makes demolitions a thing of the past.

And bk World's inherent adaptability makes it easier to find suitable locations.

"With bk World, charging park operators no longer have to rely on existing

infrastructure. We simply come to wherever a charging park has been set up. All

we need is a connection for water, wastewater, and electricity, which means we

can put our lounges in practically any location," Wolfarth said.

Supporting regional retailers

bk World is also committed to strengthening the regional retail trade. Its

online shop hosts a platform on which regional retailers can present

themselves. As the locations expand, the portfolio of regional specialities

will continue to grow. In Endsee, visitors to the charging park will find

delicacies including Franconian wines, award-winning chocolates, and

exceptional cooking oils.

"For most retailers, bk World is a touchpoint with a new target group that

would otherwise be very hard, if not impossible, for them to reach. After all,

people stopping for a break right on the motorway won't be aware of the great

shops in nearby towns. The visibility that companies can now achieve through

our platform is enormous," Wolfarth said.

Each bk World location will offer a maximum of 80 selected products from the

surrounding region, making every bk World unique. It is also possible to

purchase regional products in the bk World online shop.

Taking sustainability a step further

bk World is climate positive over its lifetime. That means it offsets more CO2

emissions than it causes.  This is thanks to the interplay of various

structural considerations and construction techniques. The solid lounge

elements are made of spruce wood. One property of this building material is

that it naturally binds CO2. In addition, the bk World Qubes feature a

sustainable insulating material that is not only ecological, but also has

properties that make a positive impact on the bk World's carbon footprint: the

Qubes are designed to withstand all weather conditions. From sweltering heat in

southern Europe to extreme cold in the north – all visitors to bk World will

experience the same climate. Many of the electrical consumers in each bk World

draw their power from the on-site PV system on the roofs of the Qubes.

The future is electric

"To make a success of the mobility revolution, we need innovative concepts like

bk World. And committed players who don't wait for government initiatives, but

instead take action themselves. I'm already looking forward to discovering the

Qubes at more and more charging parks soon," praised Wolfgang Bosbach, a former

member of the German Bundestag, at the opening in Endsee.

"My partnership with bk World is based primarily on shared values.

Sustainability is just as important to me in the food area as it is to bk World

in the overall design of the lounges. Together, we are striving for innovative

solutions – and we're already developing a comprehensive concept around the

topic of healthy nutrition," Marcell Jansen, former National Football Player

promised.

The bk World in Endsee is now open and ready to welcome all visitors to the

Tesla charging park. But this first location is just the beginning: in the next

five years, bk World Holding GmbH plans to open 300 locations across Europe. bk

World is coming soon to charging parks run by the largest charge spot operators

and energy providers – to the benefit of customers, retailers, and the

environment.

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) and Presseportal

[ https://www.presseportal.de ] -

Contact

Elina Ranki

PR & Brand Marketing Manager

+49 9843 9801 104

presse@bk-world.eu

Source: bk Group AG