EU network of charging stations electrifies long-distance driving

Drivers across Europe will soon be able to recharge their electric cars, vans, and trucks across the trans-European transport network, making long-distance travel by electric vehicles more convenient.

Leaders in Europe’s e-mobility sector are building a pan-European network of 150 kilowatt (kW) and 350 kW recharging points for light duty electric vehicles and heavy duty electric vehicles. The EXPAND-E global project, supported by the CEF Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Facility, will benefit of a maximum of €70,580,000 in EU funding.

The project is implementing a network of publicly accessible recharging stations on European roads across 23 EU Member States. It is divided into three parts: 

1. Expand-E Cohesion: installing recharging points in Czechia, Greece, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia; 
2. Expand-E General: installing recharging points in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden; 
3. Expand-E Hungary: installing recharging points in Hungary. 

The project aims to expand high-power charging infrastructure to make long-distance driving across Europe more convenient. It contributes to closing the gap between EU countries in terms of electric vehicle readiness and creates a seamless, open, and interoperable pan-European network for electric vehicles across Europe. By supporting the decarbonisation of road transport, the project is also contributing to the European Green Deal’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

The Expand-E General and Expand-E Cohesion projects started in June 2022 will run until June 2025. Expand-E Hungary started in November 2022 and is expected to be finalised by November 2025. 

About CEF Transport

Since 2014, CEF Transport has supported over 1,500 projects with a total amount of €37.5 billion. Under the 2021-2027 programming period, €25.8 billion has been made available for grants to co-fund rrans-European transport network (TEN-T) projects in EU Member States. 

The objective of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility under the CEF programme is to support the deployment of alternative fuels supply infrastructure to decarbonise transport along the TEN-T network.