ZAGREB, 8 July (Hina) – The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) has formed the Group of Networks of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Operators with the goal of having electric vehicle charging stations every 60 kilomtres on Croatia’s main roads by 2025, which is an estimated investment of €200 million.
The group combines companies that provide electric vehicle charging services registered in the Croatian Office for Registration of Charging Stations and Supply of Alternative Fuels (CRO IDRO) at the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.
The group’s head Dino Novosel underlined that it has been formed at a time when Croatia has set ambitious goals to establish a critical infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.
“This is an investment cycle of at least €200 million until 2030, and comes as a result of the recently adopted AFIR regulation. This investment cycle will contribute to achieving Croatia’s goal of increasing the share of renewable energy sources in traffic from below 3% now to a minimum of 21%,” Novosel said.
HGK recalled that the regulation to introduce infrastructure for alternative fuels (AFIR) entered into force on 13 April this year and brings numerous obligations for Croatia.
It will remain in force until the share of electric vehicles in the EU reaches 15%, which would mean about 200,000 registered vehicles for Croatia.
The measures are key to ensuring the flawless mobility of electric vehicles across Europe, encouraging the transition to a more sustainable transport system, which is also a key goal of the group.
AFIR obliges EU member states to provide charging stations for passenger vehicles on all main roads every 60 kilometres by 2025. The same obligation applies to heavy goods vehicles, with a 2030 deadline.
AFIR’s goal is to equip at least 50% of roads connecting to the TEN-T corridor with charging stations for light electric vehicles by the end of 2027, and all roads by the end of the decade.
It will be necessary for Croatia to provide an additional 100 to 150 MW of connections by 2030 to meet the regulation’s requirements. There are currently around 20 MW in Croatia.
In 2022, the share of renewable energy sources in traffic at the EU level was 9.6%, while in Croatia it was only 2.4%. The EU Directive 2023/2413 on the promotion of energy from renewable sources has set a target of 29% by 2030.
(Тази информация се разпространява от БТА по договор с хърватската агенция ХИНА)
