In Spain, waits at electric car charging points have reached worrying levels and could be repeated frequently if adequate measures are not implemented. During last Easter, many drivers were forced to wait more than two hours to recharge their vehicles, underscoring the urgency of improving infrastructure to make it more efficient and accessible.
For those who are critical of electric cars, these “traffic jams” represent an occasion to highlight what they consider the alleged weaknesses of these vehicles: the limited autonomy, the slow charging speed and the insufficient existing infrastructure.
However, advocates of electric mobility interpret these setbacks as specific situations and emphasize the importance of implementing agile and effective solutions.
A simple but effective measure that could reduce or eliminate these queues would be to signpost charging points on roads. While finding a gas station during a trip by combustion car is easy, drivers of electric cars do not have the same ease in locating charging points. The lack of signage has led users to always go to the same charging points, creating bottlenecks and long waits.
In Spain, various establishments and services on the roads, such as gas stations, hospitals and restaurants, are compulsorily signposted. However, charging points for electric cars are not included in this regulation, despite the fact that the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has already approved the designs for these signs from 2022.
Arturo Pérez de Lucía, who holds the position of president of the Spanish Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility (AEDIVE), has emphasized the urgent importance of introducing these signs on the roads. However, the regulatory modification is subject to the decision of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and so far no schedule has been established for its implementation.
These signals could provide valuable data, such as the number of charging points available, their charging capacity, the responsible operator and the distance to the next charging point. This initiative would make it easier for electric vehicle drivers to plan their journeys and allow them to avoid unnecessary delays, thus promoting a more sustainable and efficient mobility system throughout Spanish territory.
