site.btaSix Contracts for Construction of Fast Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles Signed

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov signed the first six contracts for the construction of fast charging stations for electric vehicles along the country's main road routes. The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Transport and Communications here on Friday.

Karadjov said that the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure outside major cities is still a major reason why many drivers perceive electric vehicles as inconvenient for travelling between settlements. He added that the new projects will enable electric cars to be used to their full potential on long journeys—on motorways, expressways, and first-class roads, where traffic is heaviest and the effect of the investments will be greatest.

The six projects have a total value of around EUR 1.4 million and are funded under the Transport Connectivity Programme. They were approved after 11 project proposals were submitted for funding. "This shows a clear interest on the part of businesses in investing in electric charging infrastructure," Karadjov noted.

The charging centres will be built at key points along the main Trans-European Transport Network and on busy road sections in the country. The contracts provide for the construction of centres on the E-79 main road to the town of Mezdra (Northwestern Bulgaria), in Aksakovo (on the Black Sea), on the Trakia Motorway in the Chirpan area (Southern Bulgaria), on Asenovgradsko Shose Boulevard in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria), on the Trakia motorway near the village of Kabile (Southeastern Bulgaria), and near the village of Zavoy (Southeastern Bulgaria).

The stations will have a capacity of 150 to 400 kilowatts, which should allow for a vehicle to be charged over a standard break. Leisure areas will be built at each station.

According to Karadjov, this is the first time that a European transport program has provided targeted funding for charging infrastructure. The total budget for this measure is EUR 15 million, which will enable the construction of an initial national network of fast charging stations in the country.

The Minister reported that a second procedure with a budget of EUR 10 million and a six-month application period began a week ago. It is expected that even more companies will participate in order to fully utilize the available funds.