Europe has decided that by 2035, the sale of combustion engine cars will be history. There is just one problem. Most Europeans live in apartments and do not have garages. Without garages, there are no private chargers. Without private chargers, there is no easy way to charge electric vehicles. So how exactly is this supposed to work?
European cities are packed with apartment dwellers who rely on street parking, underground garages, and shared lots. Unlike a homeowner with a driveway, these residents have no way to install their own charging stations. Public charging stations exist, but they are few and far between. Finding an available spot can be an ordeal, especially in major cities where the ratio of electric vehicles to charging points is already too high. It is not just an inconvenience. It is a logistical nightmare.
The push for electric vehicles sounds great in theory, but reality tells a different story. A car is useless if it cannot be charged when needed. Charging at home is one of the main advantages of owning an electric vehicle, yet most Europeans will never have that option. Governments seem to have skipped over that part while rushing to ban gas-powered cars.
The idea that cities will suddenly fill up with public charging stations before 2035 is a fantasy. Right now, the numbers do not add up. The European Union has around 375,000 public chargers, but demand is already overwhelming the supply. Cities like Paris and Berlin are seeing fierce competition for available charging spots. Without major infrastructure investments, drivers will be stuck waiting in long lines just to power up their vehicles.
Apartment complexes with shared parking do not fare much better. Installing shared chargers requires money, planning, and approval from property managers. That is not a quick fix. In the Netherlands, only 20% of apartment buildings even have access to shared charging, and that is one of the most EV-friendly countries in Europe. If they are struggling, what does that say about the rest of the continent?
Europe’s war on combustion engines is being fought without a strategy to win. Banning gas-powered cars without fixing the charging problem is not just reckless. It is setting up millions of people for failure.
Sources:
https://theicct.org/how-european-apartment-dwellers-can-charge-up-and-drive-electric-mar24/