The construction of a network of fast charging stations for electric vehicles along the main roads in the country begins. The cost of the first 6 stations is nearly 1 million and 400 thousand euros, provided under the “Transport Connectivity“ program. The rest of the necessary amount will be borne by the project contractors.
Dimitar Mihaylov has owned an electric vehicle for 6 years. He lives in Plovdiv, but works in Sofia and travels hundreds of kilometers on electricity every week, writes BNT.
Dimitar Mihaylov, owner of an electric car: “This car is already almost a year and a half old and has almost 60 thousand kilometers.“
Dimitar Mihaylov, owner of an electric car: “If a person charges in the garage, it charges in about 5-6 hours, but since there is a charging station, if you charge on the highway at a fast station, it charges in about half an hour.“
The new fast charging stations will be built on the “Trakia“ motorway at the exits for Chirpan and the village of Kabile, on Asenovgradsko Shosse Boulevard near Plovdiv, on the E-79 road near Mezdra, in the “Chanlaka“ area in Aksakovo and near the village of Zavoy, Yambol region.
Grozdan Karadjov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport in resignation: “This is the first step towards creating such a network, as the state, through the “Transport Connectivity“ program, allocates funds for the construction of such facilities. One project can receive a maximum of 256 thousand euros, the remaining funds go to the contractors themselves. So far, we have signed 6 contracts worth a total of 1 million 400 4000 euros.“
According to electric vehicle owners, one of the most important factors is the choice of the location for building a charging station.
Denitsa Daverova, Association of Electric Vehicle Owners in Bulgaria: “The only thing that determines where the charging stations are is where the electricity is, so if the state wants to do something, it must make the electricity distribution companies arrange the distribution so that there are points that have the necessary power to power such hubs.“
According to the photovoltaic association, however, there are several obstacles to the mass construction of charging stations.
Meglena Rusinova, Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association: “First of all, regulatory predictability or the elimination of administrative obstacles and clarity in the deadlines for the connection and, of course, the product fee, which should be comparable to that in other European countries.“
The new stations will have a capacity of between 100 and 400 kilowatts, which will allow the car to be charged in 15-20 minutes.