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E-Mobility report shows EU’s distribution of charging stations is lopsided

In South Africa we often lament the fact that we have a long ways to go before we catch other parts of the world in terms of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with a lack of infrastructure and unreliable power grid being cited as significant hurdles compared to regions like Europe. As it turns out, there are in fact some discrepancies in how charging stations are dispersed in the EU, as a recent E-Mobility Report highlights.

Conducted by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), it showcases an imbalance as far as how many charging stations are available across the region, with three countries accounting for 70 percent of all stations despite only taking 23 percent of the land mass in the EU.

Those countries are the Netherlands, France and Germany with 29.7 percent, 20.4 percent and 19.9 percent respectively.

While France and Germany having as many charging stations as they do, is not all that surprising given the number of carmakers within their borders, many of which have pledged to go fully electric, as the ACEA points out, this discrepancy could lead to larger issues down the line if EVs are indeed to become more mainstream.

“This two-track infrastructure roll-out is developing along the dividing lines between richer EU member states in Western Europe and countries with a lower GDP in Eastern, Central and Southern Europe. Countries with a sizeable land mass but a lower GDP, such as Poland (0.8% of EU chargers) and Spain (3.3%), seem to be left behind,” the report notes.

“This patchy EU roll-out of both charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternatively-powered cars has been evident since ACEA started its annual analysis in 2018. Without decisive action now, it is unlikely to improve in the years to come,” the organisation warns.

In order to address this, the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive is expected to be reviewed in two weeks time, and there the ACEA is hoping that a plan can be hashed out.

“Anyone who wants to buy an electric or fuel cell car depends on having reliable charging or refuelling infrastructure – whether that is at home, at work and on the road,” noted ACEA director general, Eric-Mark Huitema.

“The time has come for governments across Europe to pick up speed in the race to greener mobility,” he urged.

Should nothing be done, the EU may face a problem of e-mobility, EVs and the associated cleaner energy only truly being available in richer nations.

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