The number of public chargers for electric vehicles has tripled in the previous three years in the EU. Data collated by the European Federation for Transport & Environment showed that at the end of 2023, there were more than 630,000 chargers in total. What’s more, the charging network has grown at a faster rate than electric vehicles themselves over the past year.
In 2024, most Member States have already met the set goals, while only Portugal, Hungary, and Lithuania have not. However, they are expected to do so by the year-end. As stated, Greece and Ireland have to continue investing more effort.
The data also show that Bulgaria occupies first place in terms of good results in the accomplishment of set goals, followed by Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Last year, the European Union adopted the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, which recently entered into force in all Member States.
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The Directive prescribes several main goals for the period from 2025 to 2030.
First, as of 2025, fast charging stations of at least 150kW for cars and vans will have to be installed every 60 kilometers along the main transport corridors of the European Union (TEN-T).
Second, as of 2025, stations with a minimum power of 350kW for heavy-duty vehicles should be located every 60 kilometers along the basic TEN-T network and every 100 kilometers along the extended TEN-T grid. By 2030, the grid will have to be fully covered.
In terms of hydrogen filling stations, both for cars and trucks, they must be deployed from 2030 in all urban areas and every 200 kilometers along the TEN-T core grid.
Seaports that receive a minimum number of large passenger vessels or container ships must provide access to shore power by 2030.
By 2025, airports will have to provide electricity at all exits for all docked planes.
Electric vehicle drivers will also have to be able to easily pay for the service at the stations. At the same time, the operators will be obliged to provide full information about the availability of chargers, waiting times, and prices.
Furthermore, if the set goals are accomplished, a total of one million charging stations will be installed by 2025, and 3.5 million are expected to be installed by 2030.
Katarina Vuinac
