Electric charging network manager of Latvenergo AS Ansis Valdovskis and Elektrum electromobility expert Edgars Korsaks-Mills, in an interview with the magazine Ir, talked about how businesses could become greener by using electric transport and charging network options.

The Green Deal along with its requirements is inevitably entering the everyday life of European and Latvian companies. How can the electric car charging business of Latvenergo be useful in this process?

A. Valdovskis: Europe is facing a major challenge today. It must be understood that the Green Deal will mean a fundamental change; it can be compared to such a huge change in society as the invention of the steam engine, the beginning of the electricity industry or the emergence of the internet.

Datu avots: International Energy Agency, Global EV Outlook 2021

The energy sector has been tackling this challenge for decades, but the big question is – how other sectors such as transport and industry will meet this challenge, as well as how households will deal with it. It is clear that everyone together and individually will have to change in many different areas. This still seems a long way off, however, in 2035, for example, in many countries worldwide, it will no longer be possible to buy a new car with an internal combustion engine.

Vehicle manufacturers have also made their own decisions to meet emission requirements, and most of them are committed to stopping the production of emitting vehicles.

 

Datu avots: International Energy Agency, Global EV Outlook 2021

E. Korsaks-Mills: Surveys demonstrate that the public attitude towards electric mobility is improving as well – 82% of Latvians support electric cars, and one in four plans to replace a fuel-consuming car with an electric car in the coming years.

A. Valdovskis: When it comes to businesses, the Green Deal is not just a requirement or a regulation, it is also a public desire to live in a society that treats the environment responsibly and consumes goods and services that are developed with concern for the environment and society. Therefore, companies, which want to continue to be successful in the future, must listen to and respond to the needs of society. Green Deal is a challenge, but also an opportunity. Latvenergo offers its capabilities and know-how for the growth and business success of companies to help other industries keep pace with the Green Deal.

E. Korsaks-Mills: For example, the experience of Latvenergo in electromobility is more than 10 years, as our experts started researching electromobility in 2011 by purchasing two Fiat Fiorino Elettricovehicles,which were the first cars in Latvia to be registered as electric cars. The experience gained in their operation and charging provided an opportunity to open the first commercial charging stations in the country in 2019, and now, we are ready to offer ready-made solutions for entrepreneurs and households – to anyone interested in moving to a zero-emission lifestyle.

If an entrepreneur wants to develop a sustainable business, could electromobility be an organic part of that business?

A. Valdovskis: Yes, of course, and it must be said that there are already excellent examples of such synergies. Several charging points have been developed together with our cooperation partners, by ‘exporting’ our know-how, and they are shopping mall Spice, Business Garden, Rimi Alejas, Sky&More, Mūkusala Business Centre, etc.

However, we believe that the convenience of the charging service is as important as the coverage, therefore, we have developed a rental offer of the Elektrum charging service for partners who want to install charging equipment themselves or have already installed it but want partners who help with the charging service. Elektrum charging service rental provides this opportunity as we provide the operation of the charging service, customer service 24/7, the availability of the service on international platforms, and the possibility to pay for the service both immediately and in instalments. The partner receives transparent reports on the transactions that have taken place as well.

We have also developed a charging service with phased payment when the customer receives a single bill for the charging service, electricity, gas, and other services, or receives a separate bill with phased payment for the charging service only. Initially, this service is available to legal entities. We are actively installing new charging ports ourselves, as well as we are actively looking for the cooperation partners with whom to develop the Elektrum charging network. Soon, we will see more and more partners in the Elektrum charging network who have decided to trust us with the development of the charging service and to develop charging solutions together with Elektrum.

If, for example, an apartment house is currently being built, charging electric cars next to it will no longer be a luxury, but a necessity that should be included in the project?

E. Korsaks-Mills: In order to not only stimulate the development of public charging points, but also their construction in apartment buildings, offices, and supermarkets, the European Union has included a requirement in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive for new buildings with more than 10 parking spaces, where one shall be able to charge an electric car. This provision is also valid in Latvia as from 10 March 2021; it is also included in national legislation such as the Construction Standard. In all future projects, the development of an electric car charging port shall also be provided for. The installation of a charging station is already considered an advantage in new projects, and apartment buyers are increasingly interested in the possibility of equipping their parking area with a charging solution or the possibility of public charging at the new building. Those who view this requirement as a ‘whip’ should be reminded that a new car park without a charging station is already obsolete, and that the timely construction of charging cables could prevent additional costs or a rise in prices in the future, given the projected growth of electric cars.

A. Valdovskis: We, Elektrum, are also actively working on solutions for residential buildings in Riga and other cities, and the first Elektrum charging stations will appear there soon. However, there are still many challenges and many owners with different wishes and requirements that need to be addressed primarily by residents of the building together with municipalities and charging service providers. For example, renovation and insulation projects of buildings shall also provide for the establishment of a charging point.

Europe is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of electric car registrations, an increasing number of electric car models, lower production costs for new batteries and, starting from 2025, electric cars will be cheaper than internal combustion cars, but how is the charging network evolving?

If the smartphone is not charged properly, the battery will be damaged. What are the rules for properly charging electric cars?

E. Korsaks-Mills: First, you must consider where to charge your electric car. When charging from a standard socket-outlet, you will be able to charge 2-5 km of driving distance in 10 minutes. It is very convenient to use public charging stations as this year, there will already be more than 250 charging ports in Latvia. They are available 24/7 and are located both in cities and 30-50 km from each other on major roads. They can charge an electric car several times faster, but it should be considered that they are also more expensive as charging of 100 km will cost from EUR 3.50 to 5.50. The charging speed will depend on both the power available at the station and the technical parameters of the electric car. They are useful in cases where a longer distance is required, during which additional charging is required, or in cases where charging possibilities are limited at home or at the office.

Different models have different technical solutions for the charging process as well, the purpose of which is to ensure the even charging of each battery cell, as well as to protect the battery from overheating, both during charging and while driving, when the battery provides power to the electric motor.

It is also important to pay attention to the design of the battery cooling system of the electric car model, e.g., an elevated battery temperature reduces the charging speed, and what the maximum battery charging capacity limits are.

Remember that proper charging starts with the correct type of charging. The electric car can be charged from a standard socket-outlet, as well as a special charger can be used to charge it, or a vehicle can be charged at a public (fast) charging station. You should also find out the technical parameters of your electric car, as well as the maximum charging power in the case of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC).