TECHNOLOGY
Research indicates that the likelihood of consumers purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) rises substantially when there is improved charging infrastructure. The EAST-E project, which studied the deployment of recharging facilities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), highlights this trend. For example, in Slovakia and Czechia, just the awareness of adequate charging networks increased the willingness to buy EVs—from 45% to 64% in Slovakia and from 25% to 48% in Czechia.
Millions of diverse charging stations are required to meet the European Union’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. Urban areas will mostly have normal power charging points (up to 22 kW) in private or semi-public spaces, with a mix of normal and high-powered stations in public areas. There should be a “right to plug” for every new construction or retrofit, including necessary infrastructure like ducting, cabling, and, ideally, smart charging systems. These systems could lower individuals’ costs and help balance grid electrical loads.
The focus of infrastructure development has shifted from merely increasing the number of charging stations to enhancing customer satisfaction. Factors such as charging availability, ease of use, and service quality are critical. This is particularly important for ultra-fast charging on highways, where seamless travel, effective roaming across borders, and charge point operators are essential.
Grid Capacity Challenges Could Hinder Charging Infrastructure Development
Past infrastructure projects show that grid capacity is a major hurdle in urban and highway scenarios. Many accessible sites with ample capacity are already developed, and new sites often require grid upgrades. This challenge extends to highway hubs needing significant additional capacity. Collaboration among stakeholders like private operators, city and highway authorities, and electricity distribution system operators (DSOs) is necessary to overcome this.
DSOs are crucial but often hindered by conservative regulations that delay access to grid capacity information and infrastructure upgrades. For instance, projects in the CEE region, like the NEXT-E project, have experienced delays of over 600 days in establishing grid connections.
Risk of Uneven EV and Infrastructure Deployment Across Europe
A divide in EV and infrastructure deployment across Europe is becoming evident, potentially threatening EU emissions targets. The disparity is stark between countries like the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, and Austria, which have the highest charger density, and those in the CEE and southern Europe with the lowest. Economic factors significantly influence the pace of green transitions, as lower GDP per capita regions often end up with older, second-hand internal combustion engine vehicles.
The EU’s proposed regulations, like the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation in the Fit for 55 Package, should address the needs of less-developed areas by setting ambitious charger deployment targets based on overall fleet size rather than current EV stocks. This adjustment will ensure that the infrastructure is in place as the number of EVs increases.
Additionally, to support the green transition in economically weaker regions, the EU might consider establishing a Green Transition Fund to help citizens afford EVs.
