Electric Mobility Sets Another Milestone

Electric mobility is taking a significant next step. Within the framework of the "Central European Green Corridors (CEGC)" project, a dense, speedy-charging network will be constructed in Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia, with the involvement of Munich and Zagreb.

Coordinated by VERBUND, eleven strong partners such as car manufacturers (BMW, Nissan, Renault and VW), location partners OMV, energy suppliers ZSE (Slovakia) as well as the Slovenian government, will rapidly increase the density of the network of speedy-charging stations in Central Europe and create a more comfortable way of utilizing e-cars on a daily basis.

ASFINAG and AustriaTech will support the project in its capacity as associate partners. With the backing of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, CEGC was submitted to the European Commission in order to receive support from the TEN-T European Transport Network.

The partners constructed altogether 115 speedy charging points with multi-standard technology, which allows speedy charging for almost all electric vehicles. The regional speedy-charging networks in Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia as well as the additional charging points in Croatia and Germany will allow all drivers of electric vehicles to smoothly drive across borders.

CEGC is taking an important step for coordination and cooperation for different European projects. In this way Europe is growing together with e-mobile. European roaming is no longer just a vision, but a reality. Studies conducted on integration with energy systems and the needs of drivers as well as vehicle manufacturers' integration with IT systems will, moreover, further strengthen the acceptance of electric mobility.

A strong motivational force and strong partners for a cross-border speedy-charging network

"Electricity is the fuel of the future. We are investing all we have in it in order to speed up the ecological-friendliness of the transport sector. Therefore, for many years already, we have been pushing electric mobility forward through national and international projects and actively dedicate ourselves to developing future-orientated, energy-efficient and clean mobility solutions. Electric mobility needs strong partners and motivational force, this is why we are particularly pleased with the new cooperations springing up for speedy charging in all sectors and countries across borders and beyond", emphasis Wolfgang Anzengruber, CEO of the Austria's largest electricity producer VERBUND.

"Our motorways and expressways are not only open to petrol and diesel, but also to electricity and other forms of alternative fuels. And so that no hollow words have been spoken, we will be installing altogether 16 electricity speedy-charging stations, together with our partners. Four of them are already up and running and the rest will follow in the course of the coming years. This is because one thing is for certain: electric mobility is constantly gaining in importance and this is great", says Klaus Schierhackl, CEO of ASFINAG.

Speedy-charging network in Slovakia

GreenWay Operator will be operating the largest part of the Slovakian speedy-charging network in the CEGC project. E-car users now have the possibility to travel 120km across the country. "In collaboration with the partners of the CEGC project, we will strengthen our network, extend it to our neighbours and make trans-European travel for e-cars a reality. Pretty soon we will be travelling emission-free from the Atlantic to the Eastern borders", Peter Badik, co-founder of GreenWay, Operator SK is excited about the new European initiative.

European continuation of the beacon project "CROSSING BORDERS".

The CEGC project is the logical continuation of the CROSSING BORDERS project, which was initiated in 2013 and it is within this framework that the route between Bratislava - Vienna - Munich is being built using modern charging infrastructure. The electric mobility beacon project CROSSING BORDERS, funded by the Climate and Energy Fund, will be financed by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology.

"Our goal is to sustainably transform the energy and mobility system in Austria.

E-mobility is a central aspect of this. With our recently newly started calls for tender for further beacon projects in e-mobility, for the first time we now have a fixed strategic outlook over a period of several years- a significant step in supporting speeding up the introduction of electric mobility on the market as Climate and Energy Funds in the following years", emphasises Theresia Vogel, Managing Director of the Climate and Energy Fund.

Speedy-charging network in Austria

Speedy charging means a new quality of service for drivers of electric vehicles as electric vehicles can be used without limits with a connected network of speedy-charging stations. SMATRICS will operate the Austrian part of the speedy-charging network for the CEGC project as well as the CROSSING BORDERS project.

"In all of Austria there are SMATRICS charging stations right now already. Together with our project partners, we will gradually expand and develop our network along the long-distance transport route with a focus on speedy-charging. For our customers, depending on the vehicle, this means speedy charging and unlimited travel over borders and beyond" says a pleased Michael Viktor Fischer, CEO of SMATRICS.

As it uses green electricity, electric mobility is the most efficient and environmentally-friendly form of motorised movement. Austria is predestined for electric mobility, due to its high percentage of electricity, around two thirds, generated from renewable sources. In this way, cars' CO2 emissions should dramatically decrease by 2050. Electric mobility is the key to sustainable reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions of individual transport. The CEGC project contributes to the expansion of high quality charging infrastructure in Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia, which is funded by the European Parliament and the member states within the new guidelines regarding the expansion of infrastructure for alternative fuels.