News item | 06-09-2022 | 20:30
Charging electric cars must be easier, smarter and safer. State Secretary Heijnen (Infrastructure and Water Management) and Garcia Gonzalez (Secretary of the California Environment Agency) signed an agreement to that end today. Dutch and Californian experts will work together for better regulation and better use of new technology. This is necessary to ensure that all new cars are electric by 2035 at the latest, both in Europe and in California. They signed the agreement in the presence of Queen Máxima and Deputy Governor Kounalakis of California, during a trade mission in San Francisco.
Heijnen: “Good charging points and electric cars. They belong together like a train on the rails should. And there is still a world to be won when it comes to charging. The Netherlands and California are good at charging technology. Together we can make a difference. Smarter, easier and safer charging is not only good for the climate and good for electric drivers. Because there are companies in our country with a lot of knowledge in this area, this also provides opportunities for our economy.”
Experts at work
The Netherlands and California both have a large innovative test center for charging techniques, where the latest techniques in the field of fast charging, smart charging and cybersecurity are developed and tested. This provides a lot of knowledge. Experts from ElaadNL and the California Energy Commission will test together and, based on their practical experience, advise the government in the Netherlands, America and Europe on new laws and regulations in the field of cybersecurity, ease of use and safety requirements. The first meeting is scheduled for next spring.
In concrete terms, the Netherlands and California want providers of charging stations to apply open standards all over the world. Everyone should be able to easily access any charging station with their own debit card, without having to take out a separate subscription first. This provides more security and convenience for electric drivers, for example during a holiday abroad. It also means that companies that offer charging stations can more easily sell their products abroad.
Another goal is to get smart charging off the ground much faster. This allows people to return electricity to the electricity grid with their car, for example when there is a high demand for electricity. This literally gives the power grid more power at peak times. It can make an important contribution to solving the problems on the power grid. And as charging stations become smarter, you also have to make sure that they cannot be hacked. Digital security is therefore a third area in which the Netherlands and California will collaborate.
Ambitious
The Netherlands and California are both ambitious in the field of electric driving. The Netherlands leads the way in the EU, California in America. There are relatively many charging stations in the Netherlands and there are also many companies that make and operate charging stations. In our own country, but also across the border, for example in America. The Netherlands earns approximately five billion euros per year from all kinds of products and services in the field of electric transport, such as the construction and sale of charging stations.
In America, California is leading the way in introducing electric vehicles. And with Silicon Valley within the state borders, among other things, there are many companies that make parts for electric cars and charging stations. About 40 Dutch companies in the field of smart and sustainable mobility are present at the corporate mission in California. If California were an independent country, it would be the fifth largest economy in the world.
Circular economy and climate adaptation
The Netherlands and California have been working together for many years in many areas. In the agreement, they also agree to expand cooperation in the field of circular economy, sustainability and climate adaptation.