‘Just as easy as charging a phone’
Charging an electric car should be as easy as charging a mobile phone. To achieve this in the Netherlands, governments have made new agreements. For example, it is necessary to better identify where there are still gaps in coverage.
The provinces, the national government and the municipalities have made new agreements about realizing a nationwide charging network for all electric transport. The authorities previously agreed on setting up a charging network for passenger cars and vans. At a conference on sustainable mobility in Utrecht on Monday, agreements were also made about creating a comprehensive charging network for companies.
The Climate Agreement stipulates that from 2050 all transport must be completely clean. This requires a nationwide charging network. To achieve this goal, governments, network operators and knowledge institutions work together in the National Charging Infrastructure Agenda (NAL). “The starting point for the NAL collaboration is that charging an electric vehicle should be as easy as charging a mobile phone: simple, smart and everywhere,” the collaborating parties write.
Since September 1 this year, there are almost 590,000 charging points in the Netherlands. Six cooperation regions have been formed to expand the charging network for electric transport. Provinces work together with municipalities and grid operators to install sufficient charging points. Together, the parties examine, among other things, where the charging points should be placed and how much electricity is needed. The latter seems to be the biggest issue at the moment. The power network is very busy and there are concerns about the role of electric cars in it.
During the meeting in Utrecht, outgoing State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen (Infrastructure and Water Management) said that “the rollout of charging infrastructure for logistics” will have her specific attention in the coming years. “More and more electric trucks will be added in the coming years; by 2030, 10 percent will be electric. This will require sufficient charging infrastructure.” A comprehensive charging network is very important to increase the acceptance of electric driving. Research has previously shown that a lack of charging options can deter people from driving electric.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl