Finland’s first street charging station for electric vehicles
Helsingin Energia’s electric vehicle charging station. Photo Juhani EskelinenHelsinki’s energy company Helsingin Energia has opened a charging station for electric vehicles on a downtown Helsinki street. The station is a pioneering experiment to test technologies as Helsinki paves the way for rapid growth in the city’s electric vehicle stock.
Ensto of Finland has supplied the new station and uses it as a pilot project to test the company’s battery charging technologies. The pilot is controlled by mobile phone. In the first months of use, charging at the station is free of charge.
Helsingin Energia partners in this electric-vehicle infrastructure project with automotive manufacturer Peugeot, Helsinki car dealer Easy Km Oy, which has supplied electric cars for its customers since the early 1990s, and the Aalto University School of Science and Technology.
The partners make estimates on the potential for electric vehicles in Helsinki. Their forecasts for growth vary from minimum 30% to almost 70% of the current vehicle stock by year 2030. According to Helsingin Energia, growth can be rapid as long as there is an effective network of charging stations.
