Estonia Launches Car Charging Network
First nationwide electric initiative
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Estonia has proudly launched the world’s first nationwide electric vehicle charging system powered by technology from tech company ABB.
The system is made up of 165 stations that run on direct current fast chargers placed in urban centers on major roads throughout the country. On highways, the stations are never more than 60km apart, which makes it easy for drivers to reach any location in the country without fear of running out of juice. Estonia’s network forms the highest-density concentration of electric charging stations in Europe.
ABB’s Terra 51 fast chargers can completely charge a vehicle in 15-30 minutes. This is lightyears ahead of traditional residential outlets, which can take almost eight hours to charge a car. The reduction in time for charging could change the economic costs to companies and potential customers who are thinking of buying electric vehicles.
“The fact that recharging is so easy is one of the main reasons more and more Estonians will decide in favor of electric cars in future,” said Estonia’s Minister of the Environment, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus. “Our entire transport policy should be based on the notion that environmentally-friendly travel is the cheapest and simplest option there is.”
Via Washington Times
