Private Energy Company E.ON, Charging Provider Clever to Build Charging Stations Across Europe

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Now that electric vehicles are mainstream, the major problem involving the fuel-efficient cars isn't their range, it's where to find a place to charge the vehicle. While the charging situation in the United States isn't too bad, some Tesla owners have stated that they've had to wait two hours before getting an open spot to charge their cars. But a report by Electrek earlier this year claimed that there were roughly 16,000 public EV charging stations with approximately 43,000 connectors in the country. 

Europe's Late Plan For EV Chargers

While not exactly ideal, the charging situation in the U.S. could be a lot worse. Other countries don't have nearly as many charging stations as the U.S. does, which is causing them to play catchup. As Bloomberg reports, two large companies have teamed up to bring fast-charging stations to bring European highways from Norway to Italy.

According to the outlet, E.ON SE, an international private energy company, and Clever, a charging provider based out of Denmark, have partnered to create a network of fast-charging stations along an expansive stretch of highway. The move to install fast chargers to the region's highways, as Bloomberg claims, is to help curb the demand for electric vehicles. 

The upcoming network will initially see the companies add approximately 180 fast-charging stations from Italy to Norway, stated Clever in a statement, and is supported by roughly $12 million in funding, which came from the European Union. The first stations from the project will be placed in Germany and Denmark and are expected to open before this summer. The rest of the chargers, as Bloomberg reports, will be placed roughly 112 miles apart from each other. This, as the outlet claims, would allow for cross-continental road trips. 

Helping A Lending Hand To Automakers And Tech Companies

Besides helping EV owners to get from one point to another without having to worry about range or finding an open charging spot, the addition of more fast chargers to the region will also help automakers meet tightening emission standards. As Bloomberg points out, stricter carbon-dioxide limits are set to go into effect in 2021, forcing automakers to move towards electrified vehicles. Specific countries and regions are making things even more difficult for automakers, as well, as the EU recently proposed an even more drastic 30-percent reduction in auto emissions by 2030, reports Bloomberg. 

"We have to be ready for the mass adoption of electric vehicles," said Casper Kirketerp-Moller, chief executive officer of Clever, in a phone interview with the outlet. "We need infrastructure and we need to reduce range anxiety. What we lack is a network connecting cities and countries." 

As far as the charging stations go, they will be able to accommodate for between two and six vehicles and will be purposefully placed at rest stops on the highway. Bloomberg claims that the fast chargers will be able to recharge an EV's battery in just 20 minutes. With other companies, like Volkswagen, planning to build charging stations globally as well, getting enough juice to get your EV to another country shouldn't be an issue.

via: Bloomberg

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods