To develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Latvia

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Narrative

The goal of the project is the creation of a network of national-level electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure stations, ensuring the possibility of using EV throughout the territory of Latvia. The target group of the project is all existing and potential EV users, such as companies, municipalities or private individuals, as well as foreign residents, e.g. tourists. The aim of the project is to reduce the dependence of the Latvian transport system on oil, improving its efficiency, ensuring mobility and promoting the creation and use of innovative technologies in the Latvian transport sector. During the project, research was carried out on determining the locations of potential EV charging stations, the construction of EV charging station locations and electrical connections, and the installation of EV charging stations, as well as creating a management and monitoring system for charging stations, which ensures the management and control of the operation of charging stations, the accounting of services performed, as also settlement of EV recharge.

Financial data

Total investment: 7 537 465.23 €. EU investment: 6 406 845.43 € (84,9%).

Recommendations

Since the project is already closed, the suggestions are meant as feedback:

+ Normally, countries are not pioneers, but this time Latvia is setting an example by creating a national electric vehicle (EV) fast charger charging network. This allowed for a healthy increase in demand for EVs.

+ The chargers are capable of charging almost all EVs, which means there is no technological discrimination.

+ The chargers are of a decent capacity (50kW) which is fast but not too fast that private EV charging network operators (which are starting to enter the market) fear competition from the government.

- The chosen pricing model (charge for charging time) discriminates against those who cannot afford more expensive cars. A fair price would be payment for energy used or a combination of time and energy.

- Covering the whole country, some charging points are in the middle of "nowhere" and some are in places that will not be profitable to use in the foreseeable future.