Test Winner in Austria: SMATRICS EnBW Focuses on Quality of Stay and Expands its Nationwide Network to 815 Fast-Charging Points

A successful third quarter of 2026 for SMATRICS EnBW: The company was named the best Austrian provider in the connect charging network test. At the same time, 74 new ultra-fast charging points went into operation over the summer months, bringing the total number of points in the SMATRICS EnBW fast-charging network across Austria to 815.

Victory in the connect charging network test

Anyone stopping at a fast-charging park expects more than just a charging pillar: cleanliness, safety, food and beverage options, and sanitary facilities. This is precisely what SMATRICS EnBW, Austria’s leading provider of fast-charging infrastructure, focuses on. In the renowned connect charging network test, the company secured the top rating among Austrian providers for the first time, scoring 785 out of a possible 1,000 points.

Additional services at major charging parks

SMATRICS EnBW performed particularly well in the "During Charging" and "Payment" categories, impressing not only with its widespread coverage, but also in terms of quality of stay and customer experience. “Requirements regarding the quality of charging parks have risen significantly. Charging should no longer just be fast – a modern charging park must meet a wide range of needs. From easy findability and a secure environment, video surveillance, food and beverage options, and restrooms to a variety of payment methods, customers factor all parameters into their choice of charging stops,” explains Thomas Landsbek, Managing Director at SMATRICS EnBW.

For example, at the newly opened charging park in Altlengbach, SMATRICS EnBW offers the first self-cleaning restrooms as well as additional car care amenities, including vacuums, tire pressure gauges, and mat beaters. “The additional services that customers are familiar with from petrol stations will increasingly be found at charging parks as well. This allows charging breaks to be used effectively, for instance, to care for vehicles during charging without wasting time,” adds Landsbek.

Strong expansion in the west

During the third quarter of 2026, the expansion of the Austrian SMATRICS EnBW fast-charging network was driven forward at a particularly rapid pace: a total of 74 charging points at nine locations went into operation over the past three months. Vorarlberg led the way, with 18 of the new fast-charging points alone distributed across two large HPC (High Power Charging) parks in Rankweil and Dornbirn. Furthermore, 16 new charging points each were connected to the grid in Lower Austria (Altlengbach and Wiener Neustadt), Styria (Leoben and Seiersberg), and Salzburg (Bad Hofgastein, Kaprun, and Zell am See), alongside eight additional ones in Upper Austria (Asten). This brings the total number of HPC charging points across Austria to 815.

Strengthening the acceptance of e-mobility

The expansion of the charging network at retail locations continued in the third quarter: a total of 46 new charging points were created across six locations. “Strategic expansion in previously underserved regions, in particular, is essential to further strengthen the acceptance of e-mobility. Consequently, the new SMATRICS EnBW locations are not only situated along motorways, but also purposefully in towns and municipalities as well as in tourist areas – such as at supermarkets and car washes,” explains Landsbek.

Regardless of location or the number of available charging pillars, 100 percent of the electricity used to operate the SMATRICS EnBW network comes from renewable energy provided by VERBUND. By the end of 2026, over 880 ultra-fast charging points are expected to be available in the SMATRICS EnBW network.