Czechs to invest Kc6bn in charging infrastructure in next yrs-Kupka

Prague, Jan 31 (CTK) - The Czech state plans to invest Kc6bn in electric car charging infrastructure on motorways and in towns over the coming years, using European funding, Transport Minister Martin Kupka told the press today.

At the end of 2022, there were about 1,360 charging stations in Czechia, with approximately 2,600 charging points, according to statistics.

The whole automotive industry will undergo a large transformation in the years ahead, and aware of the sector's significance for Czechia's economy, the government wishes this change to happen in the best possible way, Kupka said.

Besides the key gigafactory project in Czechia, the government is involved in enhancing the number and quality of charging stations via its subsidy programmes, Kupka added.

Czechia has 22 charging stations per 100 electric cars, compared to the EU's average of 15 stations, statistics show.

The EU is preparing a directive that will oblige member states to build charging hubs every 60 kilometres on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), Kupka noted.

The trend in the construction of charging stations is mainly towards ultra-fast charging racks.

Today, Kupka presented such a unit in cooperation with semi-state energy group CEZ in Prague.

"Ultra-fast stations can deliver emission-free energy for more than 200 kilometres of driving during a short refreshment break," CEZ board deputy chairman Pavel Cyrani said.

CEZ is now planning to add high-performance racks in the busiest locations.

The proportion of fast and ultra-fast stations in Czechia is about 60 percent, compared to the European average of around 10 percent, Cyrani added.

Last year, hundreds of new charging stations were set up in Czechia and the consumption and number of charges also rose, having more than doubled within some providers' networks.

Besides CEZ, Prague-based energy utility Prazska energetika (PRE) and energy group E.ON run hundreds of stations and many more are set to be built this year.

The steep rise in the usage of charging stations goes hand in hand with rising demand for electric cars.

At the end of 2022, there were 14,316 electric passenger cars registered in Czechia, 5,075 more yr/yr. Furthermore, there are tens of thousands of hybrids on the country's roads, combining electric drive with internal-combustion engine.

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