The Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) is ready for promoting green energy through an increasing number of electric vehicles (EV) along the country’s motorways. As The Local Switzerland understood, the government supported five firms’ intention to expand new electric vehicle charging stations network at 100 rest areas.
FEDRO reported last week that the first 25 such stations planned to be built by next March with the remainder to follow within a decade. The FEDRO official statement reads as well that expanded network of the charge points will have a big impact on increasing the number of electric cars across the country. In fact, the Swiss motorways are known as the extremely good ones but there is still not so many electric charging stations, said FEDRO.
According to the recent reports, less than 2 percent of all new car registrations in Switzerland are suitable for electric vehicles. Last year, the Swiss government said it wanted to raise this figure substantially – to 15 percent by 2022.
Switzerland makes its motorways comfortable for electric cars
Under the plans unveiled by FEDRO on Thursday, each of the five firms awarded concessions to build the new charging stations in Switzerland has been allocated a range of more lucrative and less lucrative locations. Four of the firms awarded concessions to build the charging stations are Swiss and one is Dutch. The concessions have a lifespan of 30 years.
The move to help create a nationwide network of charging stations is part of an attempt by the Swiss government to boost the number of electric cars on Swiss roads in line with environmental targets.
FEDRO says each charging station will have a set-up cost of around half a million Swiss francs. The agency is to finance the initial installation and firms will pay back this amount when the stations are operational.
