As I reported earlier this month, the Netherlands is about to get a new recharging network of 200 Fastned roadside charging forecourts, meaning that EV drivers will never be more than 50 miles from a charge point.
The distinctive yellow stations are about 100 feet across, and covered in solar panels to power things like lights and cameras. Each station, which Fastned is constructing at existing gas stops, will have four to eight charging points. If all goes well, they could make vehicle charging as convenient as filling a tank, though drivers will still need to wait 15 to 30 minutes before the task is completed.
EVs currently make up less than 1% of new sales in Holland. But Streng says new models, including the Renault Zoe, the BMW i3, and Volkswagen’s E-Up! should help raise that level. He reckons 2014 will be a "tipping point," and that by 2020, sales should be in the 5% to 10% range.
Drivers will pay a subscription (either annual or lifetime), and have a choice of two charging systems: one based on Japan’s CHAdeMO standard, the other on the Combined Charging System, from the U.S. Society of Automotive Engineers. Streng says it was necessary to offer both, as nobody knows which standard will become dominant (or if they can exist together).
