Swedish county sees surge in car charging stations

swedish-county-sees-surge-in-car-charging-stations
An electric car is plugged into a charging station. (David McNew/AFP/Getty Images)
The number of vehicle charging stations has increased dramatically in the Sörmland area of central-eastern Sweden, where there are now six times as many stations compared to the autumn of 2015, Swedish Radio reports.

While the increase has been welcomed, the rise is relative. Sörmland went from just four charging stations in 2015 to around 30 today, offering drivers a total of 70 outlets.

Fast charging stations have been installed along the E4 and E20 motorways, as well as A-roads. So-called “destination chargers” have also been installed at tourist stop-offs.

“This increase has been primarily driven by the Klimatklivet investment initiative,” says Emelie Österqvist, energy and climate strategist with the Sörmland municipality. The central government-funded initiative, to date worth around SEK 700 million, was boosted by an additional SEK 500 million in the government’s proposed spring budget.

According to Österqvist, there are now very few areas in Sörmland that lack car charging coverage. Furthermore, the jump in demand has not primarily been driven by local authorities, but rather it is private actors such as hotels, stores, and tourist destinations that have led the increase.

While the overall number of car charging stations in Sweden is growing, the number remains considerably lower than neighbouring Norway.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada:  Driving on the ice road in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Finland bets on electric cars, more renewables in new energy and climate strategy, Yle News

Norway: Norway reaches 50,000 electric cars sales, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Wireless charging of electric cars tested in Sweden, Radio Sweden

United States:  Alaska warms to solar power as prices fall and benefits grow, Alaska Dispatch News

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