Despite the fact that the European economy is certainly under a cloud, the European Union has today come out in favour of electric vehicles and also suggested a large increase in the number of charging points could kickstart the industry. This is certainly just what the doctor ordered with regards to the electric vehicle market which has come under pressure of late after a number of high-profile recalls.

What is the European Union suggesting?

The European Union is one of the first major groups laadpaal installatie echarge installs the world to suggest that charging points will solve the “chicken and the egg” conundrum which the industry is so far struggling to accommodate. European Union Climate Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, who hails from Denmark, is encouraging her country and her government to provide 5,000 charging points by 2020. While this is obviously an ambitious target it is something which the European Union seems set to promote.

The idea now is that if the Danish government takes on the proposals from the European Union, with regards to 5,000 charging points by 2020, other EU members will be obliged to follow suit. This would create a massive investment in the charging point industry, increase the number of charging points around Europe and also bring down the cost of introducing these services. Neither the car industry nor the charging point industry have yet reached critical mass therefore there is still scope for significant cost savings in the short, medium and longer term as and when demand improves.

Will this help?

There is no doubt that one of the major concerns amongst consumers, with regards to EVs, has been the lack of investment in charging points. You can have the best electric vehicle in the world but if it is only able to take you 100 miles before it needs recharged then this is a major problem.

If we can create something of a petrol station type network with regards to charging stations, which should be cheaper and quicker to install, this will give confidence to consumers, increase sales of electric vehicles and ultimately help the environment. The European Union has for some years now been supportive of the electric vehicle industry and the assistance which this gives to the environment when compared against traditional fuels. It will be interesting to see how many EU member states take up the baton with regards to charging stations and indeed how quickly these can be installed.