In the heart of Bulgaria, electric vehicles (EVs) are quietly humming along the roads, but their journey faces a bottleneck: the scarcity of charging stations.
The background
Bulgaria, a country steeped in history and tradition, is now at the cusp of a journey towards electric vehicles.
In recent years, Bulgaria witnessed a surge in electric vehicles registrations. However, despite this impressive growth, electric cars still make up only a small fraction of the total vehicle fleet. Why? The answer lies in the lack of charging infrastructure along the road network, especially outside city limits.
The challenge
The European Union has recognized the need for more charging infrastructure on road networks and has enacted a specific regulation to address this. This regulation provides funding specifically for fast-charging infrastructure in less populated areas and for long-distance travel. A key initiative under this regulation is the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). The AFIF combines grants and financial support from institutions to maximize the impact of investments in charging infrastructure, playing a key role in facilitating investments along Bulgaria's TEN-T network.
While the AFIF is a significant boost, smaller investors with limited financial and administrative capabilities may struggle to access its benefits. To address this, the Managing Authority of the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027 is about to introduce a national funding facility for EV charging infrastructure.
This facility, tailored to local conditions, will focus on rapid EV charging infrastructure, particularly on national highways and roads outside major cities. It will work in conjunction with the AFIF to promote the transition to electric vehicles, support grid connections, and facilitate upgrades and the installation of complementary equipment like batteries and solar panels for EV charging infrastructure.
The action
Our transport experts have supported the Managing Authority in various aspects of the project. Initially, we assisted in engaging with local stakeholders, facilitating discussions to outline the preliminary parameters of the funding facility.
In addition to these consultations, we worked closely with the Managing Authority in the design phase of the funding facility. This included setting all necessary parameters, defining application requirements, and ensuring that the design met the needs of the road network.
Our comprehensive support aimed to create a well-structured and effective funding facility that would facilitate the development of EV charging infrastructure
The results
Efforts are underway to enhance Bulgaria's EV charging infrastructure development, with the Managing Authority planning to launch the funding facility before the end of 2024. Although challenges remain, the combination of government initiatives, EU funds, and advisory support is driving progress. The country is consolidating a reliable EV charging network, encouraging more people to use electric mobility and contribute to a greener tomorrow.