Encourages mandatory provision of electric car charging point in new petrol stations / Article / LSM.lv

It is mandatory to provide an electric car charging point at new petrol stationsLinda Zalane00:00 / 00:00

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The Ministry of Transport is also participating in the development of the draft law with its proposals, stating that the mandatory requirement to establish an electric car charging station at petrol stations is an incentive for the state to develop electric car charging infrastructure connected to other European countries.

Fuel retailers will have to be able to charge electric cars at their own expense. Tālivaldis Vectirāns, Director of the Road Traffic Department of the Ministry of Transport, said that we cannot wait for the market to develop itself and businesses will want to include such charging options alongside traditional refueling.

“State co-financing, at least for the time being, is not expected. This business needs to develop, and this is the tax of the new times. The bill has been announced as public participation. Most likely, we will get from the relevant associations the proposals they would like. What would be those carrots so they can get involved faster Then also be able to decide how to do it better together, “said Vectirans.

“Circle K Latvija” communication consultant Ieva Stūre pointed out that the company supports the development of electric car infrastructure and also plans to establish more and more electric car charging points at its stations. However, there are concerns that such a requirement could be mandatory.

“If the State imposes this as a mandatory requirement and given that a similar network is being developed with the CSDD,

then the state should come with its own co-financing, if such a requirement is mandatory.

Otherwise, it would be sensible and fair to leave it in the hands of fuel traders to see how demand develops. Currently, the number of charging points versus the number of electric cars is large. Of course, the number of electric cars will increase, and we are ready to participate in it as soon as there are more electric cars in Latvia, “said the representative of” Circle K Latvija “.

She pointed out that the big car manufacturers in Europe have already started an ambitious project in cooperation with gas stations. It is planned to develop the fast electric car charging network so that the distance from each other will not exceed 150-200 kilometers. “Circle K Latvija” will also participate in this project.

Pauls Beinarovičs, Head of the Electromobility Management and Coordination Division of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD), said that there are currently 70 charging points for electric cars throughout Latvia, but by the end of 2021 their number will be 139. The project is co-financed by the European Union. 8.5 million euros.

“Currently, the number of charging stations for 1000 electric cars will not only be more than the existing one, but also the planned one. It is expected that by 2030 there will be 18 thousand electric cars in Latvia, then the number of charging stations will not be enough.

In the name of the future, the establishment of additional charging stations must be promoted, “said Beinarovich.

Kristaps Stepanovs, a member of the board of the Latvian Renewable Energy Federation, emphasized that the costs of installing electric car charging stations are small in comparison with the investments that stations make in developing their filling stations.

“Of course, the development of an electric charging network does not only depend on the owner of the service station, but also on the distribution network or the high-voltage network. Depending on who will supply the electricity. These costs can, of course, vary widely. “It is necessary to develop a reasonable methodology – what is necessary and how much does it cost to install such a charging point on the part of the electricity supply system operator. This would be a question to start with,” Stepanov said.

He predicted that fuel consumption would decrease in the future and electric car charging stations would be a good alternative to gas stations. It will be like a standard offer, not something special.

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