Europe could slash the cost of preparing its electricity grids for electric vehicles by 40% through smart charging, a newly published study suggests. The research, reported by TimesLIVE, indicates that intelligently managing when and how EVs draw power would dramatically shrink the grid investment needed as electric fleets grow. The investment requirement would be highest in Germany, followed by countries that already run significant EV fleets — Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands.
For Eastern Europe, the study carries a particularly striking forecast: the fastest spread of electric vehicles is expected in the region, albeit from a lower starting base. That combination of rapid projected growth and less entrenched infrastructure suggests the region has an opportunity to build smart charging in from the outset rather than retrofitting its grids later.
The charging landscape is shifting at the corporate level as well. As InsideEVs reports, an automaker has in a silent transaction sold its EV fast chargers to a local player, exiting the European market altogether. The move underlines how quickly ownership of charging networks is changing hands as the sector matures.
