1st Nationwide EV Fast Charging Network — In Estonia

The first nationwide system of fast charging stations for electric vehicles has now been completed in Estonia. The nationwide system was installed in order to speed the adoption of EVs in the country, and to help reduce the country’s carbon emissions.

The system consists of 165 fast chargers that were built and installed by the engineering firm ABB. The installation and construction was financed “from the government’s sale of 10 million surplus CO2 emission permits to Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation,” Reuters reports.

As part of that deal with Mitsubishi, the Estonian government also received more that “500 electric cars and the financing of a subsidiary system for people to purchase electric cars,” Reuters adds.

“Now is the time to really press the pedal and move forward in electrical mobility. We have proved that there is a real possibility to set up a network in a country, and there are no technical barriers,” said Jarmo Tuisk, the head of the program that set up the plan for the network.

“The network of fast chargers strategically placed along roads and in towns means that users need not worry about running out of power during their journeys. It also features a nationwide unified payment system.”

Now that the country has such a comprehensive fast charging network, the already significant benefits of EVs should seem even more appealing. The government in Estonia is hoping for the number of privately owned EVs in the country to double by the end of the year.

Image Credit: ABB