Czechia has some 1,360 charging stations at end-2022

Prague, Jan 26 (CTK) - Electric mobility is on the rise in Czechia which registered 14,316 electric vehicles (EV) at the end of last year, 5,075 more yr/yr, and had some 1,360 EV charging stations, according to data from authorities.

Consumption and the number of recharges by users have increased significantly, more than doubling for some operators, major charging station operators told CTK, adding that the number of stations will continue to increase in the coming year, with ultra-fast chargers being the trend.

There are also tens of thousands of hybrid cars on domestic roads, which combine an electric drive with a classic combustion engine.

Charging stations are mainly operated by large energy companies.

Last year, the number of charging stations run by semi-state energy group CEZ increased by 130 to a total of 500. CEZ said it registered 265,000 recharges, with energy consumption rising by 25 percent yr/yr to over 4.4 gigawatt hours (GWh). Most recharges (over 28 percent) were registered in Prague, followed by Central Bohemia (almost 20 percent). The share of other regions was below 10 percent. Fast chargers were most popular, with over 91 percent of all recharges, CEZ said.

"This year we are aiming again for a more than 20 percent growth in consumption and significant surpassing of the five million kWh limit," said CEZ electromobility head Tomas Dzurilla.

"This should also be achieved thanks to the faster construction of ultra-fast chargers, of which we will put about 40 into operation," he added.

Prague-based energy utility Prazska energetika (PRE) launched almost 200 new charging stations last year, their total number exceeding 500. Energy consumption soared by 121 percent yr/yr to nearly three MWh, PRE said. It has 370 EV chargers in Prague and plans to raise their number this year. It will also increase the charging capacity of the existing stations along the motorways, said PRE's Vojtech Fried.

Energy consumption and recharges at E.ON's more than 260 stations doubled last year in yr/yr terms, said the company. Consumption topped 1.3 GWh of electricity and the number of recharges reached 80,000. Ultra-fast chargers were most popular, according to E.ON.

"The recent trend is also to concentrate charging points in common hubs," said E.ON Drive Infrastructure executive Martin Klima. "Our ultra-fast stations do not stand alone, but are supplemented by other charging points so that we are able to satisfy as many people as possible," he added.

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