Energy Firms Battle Startups to Wire Europe`s Highways for Electric Cars

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16 September 2017 18:11 WIB

An electric car is being charged in a Paris street, France, September 12, 2017. The battle over how and where Europeans charge their electric cars is expanding from the continent's cities to its motorways. Power utilities, tech start-ups and oil majors are fighting to establish themselves as the dominant players in the fast-growing business of charging stations but advances in electric vehicles means where they build them is changing. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

15 September 2017 00:00 WIB

A sign is pictured next to an electric car charging station in a Paris street, France, September 12, 2017. Refuelling conventional petrol and diesel cars on motorways has long been the domain of the oil companies, which typically have their own networks of filling stations. Several are now talking about setting up high-power charging networks, creating major competition for limited space at motorway service areas. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

15 September 2017 00:00 WIB

An electric car is being charged in a Paris street, France, September 12, 2017. While the range of electric vehicles (EVs) was less than 100 km (60 miles), Europe's utilities were happy to help cities and companies install slow and inexpensive charging points at homes, offices and shops, often supported by state subsidies. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

15 September 2017 00:00 WIB

An electric car is being charged in a Paris street, France, September 12, 2017. Tesla, Porsche and BMW are now making battery-powered cars with enough range to drive across countries. Daimler and Volkswagen also announced plans on the eve of this week's Frankfurt motor show to accelerate their shift to electric cars. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

15 September 2017 00:00 WIB

A sign is pictured next to an electric car charging station in a Paris street, France, September 12, 2017. Charging infrastructure remains nowhere near it needs to be. "Where is the network of charging points that will be required? Indeed where is the power and the grid?" Ralf Speth, boss of Britain's Jaguar Land Rover, asked last week. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

15 September 2017 00:00 WIB

An electric car is being charged in a Paris street, France, September 12, 2017. Experts including ChargePoint and Engie are, however, making plans to build pan-European networks of high-voltage fast-charging stations which can refill a battery in less than half an hour instead of overnight. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

15 September 2017 00:00 WIB