[NEWS] Fast charging network in Latvia

Latvia is developing a network of charging stations at the national level. A total of 110 electric car fast charging stations have already been built.

In accordance with the agreement concluded on 11 April 2016 on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) co-financed project no. 4.4.1.0/16/I/001 Implementation of “Development of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure”, the “Road Traffic Safety Directorate” (CSDD) is developing a network of charging stations at the national level.

The second phase of the project was completed in the second half of 2020 and another 40 new electric car fast charging stations started operating in November. The newly opened charging stations are located in the regional road network and in populated areas. Until now, the busiest charging stations have been in Riga, therefore 12 new stations have started operating in and around the capital. In addition to these stations, electric car fast charging stations have also been opened in major Latvian cities and other important points.

A total of 110 electric car fast charging stations have already been built and installed within the project. From these, 7 charging points are in Zemgale – in Auce, Jaunjelgava, Vecumnieki, Valle and three in Jelgava. They provide both local and foreign registered electric car users with the opportunity to travel in a large part of the territory of Latvia and Zemgale.

An accessible charging network is one of the preconditions for the successful development of electro-mobility. Thanks to both the availability and development of charging infrastructure, as well as the ever-widening range of electric cars, in the first three quarters of 2020, the number of electric cars in Latvia increased by 56%, reaching 1,049 electric cars.

CSDD continues the implementation of the last round of the ERDF project. Work is currently underway to prepare the installation sites for the next 29 electric vehicle fast charging stations, including the development of construction projects for charging stations and the electrical connections required for their operation.