Electric car charging stands installed at regular intervals along the motorway network is hoped to increase the demand for the vehicles.
Electric cars have suffered disappointing sales in Denmark, which is a blow to the government's climate targets that hinge on more vehicles running on alternative fuels.
The government has now endorsed a recommendation by the national road authority Vejdirektoratet, the national transport authority Trafikstyrelsen and the national energy officials Energistyrelsen to prepare a tender for electric car charging stands on at a significant number of locations along motorways.
“Optimising the scope for electric cars in Denmark is a top priority for the government,” the climate, energy and buildings minister, Martin Lidegaard (Radikale), wrote in a press release. “Our long-term goal is to be independent of fossil fuels by 2050 so we must start preparing the service areas for alternative fuels.”
During the start-up phase, operators will pay no fee to have a charging station at Vejdirektoratet service areas until such time as it is profitable to have one.
The charging station tender is just one aspect of a joint action plan devised by Vejdirektoratet, Trafikstyrelsen and Energistyrelsen and endorsed by Lidegaard and the transport minister, Pia Olsen Dyhr (Socialistisk Folkeparti).
The plan charts the journey towards a motorway infrastructure that makes it possible to operate a wide variety of vehicles running on alternative fuels, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen.
“We are pleased to endorse the action plan,” Dyhr stated in the press release. “It shows how we can build an efficient infrastructure that allows motorists in electric, natural gas and hydrogen cars to refuel at regular intervals across Denmark.”
She added: “This initiative will encourage people to buy these cars and that will be good for the environment.”
Initially, the action plan recommends drafting a tender for charging stations, as this is the most popular alternative technology on the roads today. The aim for the years ahead is to provide charging stations for natural gas and hydrogen vehicles as well.
