AUSTRIAN and Slovak partners in the VIBRATe project are extending their network of electric vehicle charging stations in the cross-border region. During European mobility week, from September 16 to 22, they opened the first fast-charging station in Slovakia. Electric car owners may now charge their vehicles in 20 minutes at a Slovnaft petrol station in Petržalka, Bratislava. Charging is free until the end of the year, Slovak electricity distribution firm ZSE wrote in a press release. VIBRATe is a cross-border project between ZSE and Austria’s EVN, Wien Energie and VERBUND.
“Creating a network of charging stations and putting electric cars into everyday operation, the VIBRATe project represents a complex and functional e-mobility model,” said Andrej Devečka, member of the board of directors of ZSE, as quoted by the press release. “Moreover, by building fast-charging stations we are contributing to greater comfort behind the steering wheel while offering further possibilities to effectively use emission-free vehicles in both city transport and regional transport.”
The station provides a 50 kW power supply, enabling fast charging of accumulator batteries using direct current in 20 minutes for all electric cars using the CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve) standard.
According to ABB, the manufacturer of the charging station, most producers of electric cars prefer this standard.
Recently a similar charging station was opened in Vienna. The partners plan to launch two more fast-charging stations in Austria by the end of the year.
Peter Ševce, the VIBRATe project manager, presented the results of an analysis of six months’ operation of 15 electric cars. The cars, having driven 56,000 kilometres between January and June, consumed 9 MWh of electric energy and saved about 5,600 kg in local CO2 emissions. The average daily distance driven was between 33 and 38 kilometres, confirming that electric cars are suitable for city usage, he said.
