The owners of electric cars should be energized by the news that there are plans for about 200 charging stations to be built in Iceland in the next three years, RÚV reports. A lack of charging stations has prevented electric cars from becoming popular in the country.
Today, there are 13 charging stations in Iceland, all of them operated by Orka náttúrunnar. Six of those are in the capital area, the others in Reykjanesbær, Akranes, Borgarnes, Selfoss and by Hellisheiði Geothermal Plant.
The Ministry of Industry and Innovation recently approved a proposal from the Energy Fund for providing financial support for building charging stations. The grants amount to ISK 200 million (USD 1.77 million, EUR 1.64 million) over a three-year period. They will be allocated to energy utility companies, oil companies and municipalities.
Already, about a third of the funds have been paid out, intended for 19 charging stations all over the country, to be built this year. All but three will be fast-charging stations.
This year, an additional third of the funds will be allocated for 18 stations, to be built this year and the next, all but two of them fast-charging.
In 2018, the plan is for close to 70 stations to be built, but only a small part of them will be fast-charging. More than 30 stations will open in Reykjavík, some by parking garages.
The energy supplier Orkusalan, a subsidiary of RARIK, announced in October that it would donate about 80 charging stations to municipalities, with the goal of having one station in every municipality.
According to Runólfur Ólafsson, who directs the Association of Icelandic Car Owners, the sale of electric cars did not increase as much last year as it did before. The sale of hybrid cars, which run on gas and electricity, did, however, increase substantially last year.
Runólfur stated that although electric cars are more expensive than others, their advantages include: the low price of electricity to keep them running, no value-added tax and no tariffs.
