Fast charging of electric cars requires a lot of energy in a short period of time. These peak loads lead to bottlenecks in the power grid, and are one of the problems facing the expansion of electric mobility. The many challenges of the energy transition require a flexible and reliable power grid, which can accommodate fluctuations in the consumption and production of energy. A key element of this could be the smart transformer, which is being researched by the Power Electronics working group at Kiel University. On the basis of power semiconductors made of silicon carbide, they have developed a prototype which automatically regulates the current flow. It could be used not only for a better integration of charging stations into the power grid, but also for the connection of direct current networks and in data centres. The researchers will present a part of the prototype for the first time at the Hannover Messe.