Electric vehicle (EV) road trips might not raise eyebrows today as they have increasingly become the norm. Yet, it’s undeniable that a fraction of the population still ponders on the feasibility of long-distance travel in an EV. This curiosity is why I once again delve into narrating a European EV journey, showcasing the substantial progress in the region’s EV charging infrastructure. This expedition involves the stylish Ford Mustang Mach-E traversing Central and Eastern Europe, affirming the advancements in the EV charging landscape.
The trailblazer for this adventure is Tomasz Gać, a forerunner in the Polish EV scene who embraced electric mobility with his Nissan LEAF acquisition in 2013. He has since ventured throughout Europe in a plethora of electric vehicles, including the Nissan e-NV200 and Tesla Model S. Our narrative has followed his escapades across Sicily and Albania, but today, our focus shifts to his journey in a radiant orange Ford Mustang Mach-E GT setting off from Poland to Sparta, Greece— highlighting the leaps made since 2018 in EV infrastructure and paralleling it with the recent Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) targets in Europe.
Charging Ahead in Slovakia
In Slovakia, the clear frontrunner is GreenWay, a notable charging network and a longstanding ally of the EV community. Significantly, chargers with 100 kW or more are now commonplace, though they haven’t forgotten about older models with ChaDeMo plugs, such as certain Nissan cars. With other providers like Shell and Lidl contributing to the network, Slovakia’s charging foundation confidently meets the forthcoming 2024 and 2025 benchmarks.
Powering Through Hungary
The Hungarian EV charging network has evolved markedly, erasing memories of restricted charging access for non-Nissan EVs back in 2018. Today, Hungary greets electric travelers with a robust array of fast chargers dotted across motorways and populated by chains such as MOL and OMV. This surge isn’t enough, though, as Hungary must accelerate its network expansion to align with Europe’s impending targets.
Revitalized Romanian Roads
Once reliant only on supermarket chargers, Romania’s landscape has changed with Rompetrol leading the charge in expanding the infrastructure. Despite a slower EV adoption rate, Romania is on track to meet the 2024 goals. Nonetheless, it faces significant investment requirements to cater to the anticipated EV growth.
Bulgaria: Potential Unleashed
Bulgarian efforts have resulted in an impressive rollout of public chargers, predominantly within urban regions. However, the low number of EVs on the road signifies an untapped potential for e-mobility, despite Bulgaria exceeding its charging station targets for 2026. The focus now should be on escalating EV ownership to make full use of the available infrastructure.
Greece: The Current State of Charge
Greece’s current EV charging network facilitates comfortable travel for modern EVs, the Mustang’s 98 kW battery being a testament to that. With networks like DEI Blue prevalent, yet lacking certain roaming services, there’s an evident need for an infrastructure push to meet European goals. What is clear, though, is that the country offers sufficient charge points for current needs.
Concluding this overview, electric explorations continue to be replete with discovery, not least when overnight charging at accommodations adds a leisurely dimension to one’s travel. Tested thoroughly, it’s evident that Europe is galvanized towards EV adoption and infrastructure enhancement is critical to this ambition. As the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation propels us forwards, the electric journey promises an increasingly seamless experience across the continent.
