[NEWS] Latvian experts for e-mobility future goals

[NEWS] Latvian experts discuss e-mobility future goals

The Latvian experts discussed the development of e-mobility during the talk "Charging Network Connecting Latvia".

"In order to achieve European Union’s objectives in the development of e-mobility, the expansion of electric charging infrastructure in Latvia must be developed rapidly and this will not be possible without state support and European funds" concluded the participants of the discussion “Charging Network Connecting Latvia”.

Effective cooperation between the state, local governments, electricity traders and JSC “Sadales tīkls” as an electricity supplier is essential for the development of a wide charging network. Public demand and the European Green Deal also make Latvia think more actively about the development of electromobility. Its development is also included in the Latvian National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030. By 2025, 1 million electric charging stations will have to be set up in Europe in order to serve around 13 million electrical cars and to meet the objectives of the Green Deal. As the experts discussed, the creation and development of the necessary infrastructure in Latvia is a challenge, as it is an expensive and time-consuming process, and currently it falls primarily on the shoulders of local governments.

“Our goal is to minimize the number of cars in the city and invest in the development of convenient, modern public transport. When it comes to electromobility, citizens should be able to charge private e-cars at home and in companies, while city guests should be able to charge in public places. Therefore, financial support would be needed for the construction of charging infrastructure and stations in the yards of apartment buildings and in public areas.” said Gunārs Ansiņš, Deputy Chairman of Liepāja City Council for City Development and Cooperation. Zemgale Planning Region also agrees with this position, as this opinion that local governments should be stimulated to support and promote the establishment of charging points in apartment house districts has been expressed in stakeholder meetings, Raitis Madžulis, e-MOPOLI project manager points out.

The need for an extensive electric charging network is dictated not only by the need to achieve the EU climate neutrality targets (which plans a 90% reduction in total transport emissions by 2050), but also by the rapidly growing demand for electric cars. According to the data of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, the number of electric cars registered in Latvia has quadrupled over the last five years.

JSC “Sadales tīkls” emphasizes that in general the state electricity supply infrastructure is ready for the increase of the volume of electric cars, and, thinking about the development of electromobility in the future, the modernization of the electricity network is also underway.

Zemgale Planning Region is also developing a mobility (regional action) plan, which is planned to be completed this year, approved and soon to be put into practice. ZPR specialists listened to this discussion, as the topics covered are relevant for the improvement of the plan.