Electric cars: recharging at home
TREND Most Swiss charge their e-car at home. This is shown by a survey of Rhine Valley e-charging stations. But more and more motorists are charging at e-stations - yet usage remains at a low level. In recent years, only isolated motorists charged their cars at one of the local charging stations, but all providers recorded almost a doubling in 2019. Payment models and [...]
In recent years, only isolated motorists loaded their vehicles at one of the local charging stations, but all providers recorded almost a doubling in 2019.
Payment models and charging costs
Whether in Thal, St. Margrethen or Altstätten - the monthly frequency of e-charging stations is still in the low double digits. Those who can charge at home or in the store do so.
Charging costs and charging speed play just as much a role as confusing payment models and memberships. In addition to regional garages and national retailers, the St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke (SAK), the St. Galler Stadtwerke, swisscharge.ch and Gottardo Fastcharge (Gofast) are the main companies fighting for market share in the canton.
More charging in winter
According to Romano Ingold, head of mobility at the St. Gallen municipal utility, there are more charging operations in winter than in summer.
Romano Ingold: "With chargeable stations, as is the case in St. Margrethen, you generally have to assume a lower utilization rate. But because it is a fast-charging station on a transit road, it is one of the more highly frequented stations."
Car world is in upheaval
An increase in usage is noticeable not only in Altstätten and Walzenhausen, but across the entire network, explains Moritz Fischer, who works in Business Development at swisscharge.ch is active. The Corona crisis and the associated lower mobility had a negative impact.
But the automotive world is in a state of upheaval and e-mobility continues to gain in importance.
Domenic Lanz, Managing Director of Gofast: "I am satisfied with the frequency in Thal. Together with local, regional and national partners, we are investing in the development and operation of the Swiss fast charging network."
The loading speed was improved
Although both the number of public charging stations and their charging speed have improved significantly over the past few years, Urs Schwegler, project manager of the e'mobile specialist association, points out:
"Public charging stations are overrated. For local everyday use, the car is charged at home. For vacations or long-distance travel, fast and efficient charging stations are needed along travel routes and long-distance roads."
100 fast-charging stations by 2029
Thomas Rohrbach from the Swiss Federal Roads Office (Astra): "By 2029, fast-charging stations are to be built at 100 rest areas on the national road network. In order to quickly ensure a nationwide network, permits for the construction and operation of the e-charging stations will not be issued individually per rest area, but in five packages of 20 rest areas each."
Source: St. Galler Tagblatt
