There are many things you can do to protect the environment. For example, if you enjoy playing games, you can do so using a casino online site: you don’t have to travel and use fossil fuels for it. However, if you have to travel, you can minimize your damage to the environment by choosing electric vehicles (EVs). Unfortunately, not every city is suitable for EVs, but some cities are already offering features that will make them more practical and useful. If you’re wondering which cities in Europe are better suited to use EVs, keep reading.
How Did We Choose These Cities?
First, we looked at the free charger rate. There are many chargers available in these cities, and some of them are completely free to use. The higher the ratio of free chargers to others, the higher the city’s score. In addition, we looked at the distance between charging stations, how common electric vehicles are, and the price you have to pay per kWh. Sorting is done from top to bottom.
The rate of free chargers in Oslo is 8%. That’s not a very impressive ratio, but the average distance between charging stations is only 0.61 kilometers, so you don’t have to worry about power. The charging fee in Oslo is EUR 0.31 per kWh, which is a good value compared to the general average, although not as low as some cities. In general, we can say that Norway is also one of the best countries for electric vehicles: EV drivers do not have to pay tolls, they can use ferries for free, and even park for free at some points. Tesla Model X is the best-selling electric vehicle in this country, followed by the Nissan Leaf.
Budapest has a free charger rate of 54%, which is pretty good value. The distance between the charging stations is 1.03 kilometers on average, which is a bad value compared to other cities, but a large number of stations you can use for free makes up for it. These stations can also supply 25 kW of power, meaning that the charging time will be shorter. (Free chargers in most cities can provide power between 9 kW and 17 kW.) In terms of price, it is almost the same as Oslo: you have to pay 0.33 EUR per kWh. The biggest advantage of using an EV in Hungary is that you don’t have to pay registration, performance, or company car taxes. In addition, some advantages are provided for placing free chargers in apartments and company buildings. The Nissan Leaf is the best-selling EV in this country, followed by the BMW i3.
Lisbon is, unfortunately, not in a good position in terms of the free charger rate: only 1% of chargers in this city can be used for free. Fortunately, however, we can say that it is quite satisfactory on almost every other criterion. First of all, it offers the cheapest power price: 0.17 EUR per kWh. Although the number of free chargers is very few, it is one of the cities where you can charge your EV very cheaply. The distance between charging stations is only 0.76 km, and all stations can supply 24 kW of power. In Portugal, you do not have to pay VAT, vehicle tax, and road tax for electric vehicles. The number of charging stations is expected to increase to 20,000 by 2025. Electric vehicles have a 13.6% market share, and the most popular EV in the country is the Tesla Model 3.
The best thing about owning an EV in Glasgow is the 92% free charger rate. This is the best value among European cities. The average distance between charging stations is 1.10 kilometers, but this is not so important because you can use almost any station for free. At paid stations, you have to pay 0.32 EUR per kW. All stations can supply 17 kW, which is the worst value after Oslo. (The stations in Oslo can only supply 9 kW.) Still, the sheer number of free stations makes Glasgow one of the best cities for electric vehicles. The “Road to Zero” strategy implemented in the United Kingdom includes using electric vehicles for public transport and aims to end the sale of all fossil-powered vehicles by 2040. For the same reason, many incentives are offered to EV owners: 75% of the EV charger costs are paid by the government, free parking is offered, and those who want to buy EVs can use interest-free loans of £35,000.
Reykjavik deserves to be ranked first by offering above-average values in all the factors we listed above. Its free charger rate is 65%: this makes it the second-best city after Glasgow. The average distance between stations is 0.55 kilometers, and you can get 26 kW of power at each station. The cost per kWh is only 0.29 EUR, and you can benefit from many incentives. The Icelandic Climate Action Plan aims to phase out all fossil fuel vehicles by 2040, and EV owners can enjoy free parking in every city in the country. In addition, all EVs are offered for sale as VAT-free.
