This is what matters when it comes to new charging stations
More electric cars need more ways to recharge the battery – a simple calculation. The implementation is therefore not simple and harbors some pitfalls. The head of the energy supplier EnBW points this out. He warns against too many charging stations and makes it clear what the charging network really needs.
Charging stations for e-cars: EnBW wants more cooperation
Too many charging stations in Germany? As things stand at present, this seems more like an unfounded concern that concerns Frank Mastiaux, head of the utility company Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW). But he thinks the political goal of 1 million charging stations by 2030 is exaggerated. instead of one unnecessarily large number of charging stations to build, he wishes for better tuning.
Charging stations should be built where they are actually needed. According to Mastiaux, charging providers and the government should communicate better. The latter wants to create its own charging infrastructure with the Germany network. You should look out for each other, says the EnBW boss. The energy supplier from Baden-Württemberg and other utility companies need it do not plan charging stations at locations that are covered by the German network should and vice versa.
A joint plan could definitely help the progress of the charging network for e-cars. This could also avoid Mastiaux’s concern that more charging stations would be built than are actually needed: “We don’t necessarily need charging stations on every corner”according to the manager (source: FAZ via Ecomento). According to EnBW, around 120,000 to 150,000 charging stations will be needed by 2030 – a fraction of what the government expects.
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Card payment at charging stations will be mandatory in 2023
According to Mastiaux, while there should be more cooperation in the expansion, he is in favor of less cooperation and regulations when it comes to paying at charging stations. Man would not need any readers for credit and debit cards here, at EnBW, 98 percent of customers would pay with an app or charging card. However, this is probably related to the fact that e-car drivers usually have no other choice. The obligation for card readers at new charging stations should apply from summer 2023. Charging providers criticize that the card devices would make charging stations more expensive to set up.
Mastiaux believes that the current chaos between different store providers and tariffs is temporary. The market will regulate itself. That it more transparency for consumers and simple payment options should give, supports the EnBW boss.
