World Electric Vehicle Day, celebrated on September 9th for the past six years, is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of transitioning to sustainable transport and to assess where we currently stand in the process of electromobility.
There are too few public chargers, and an even more pressing issue is their uneven distribution, which makes long-distance travel particularly challenging. In Serbia, there are currently about 200 public chargers, which translates to only three chargers per 100,000 inhabitants. In comparison, Bulgaria has 24, while Croatia has 32 chargers per 100,000 people, according to data from the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.
The same challenge exists across the region and throughout Europe, where the development of the charging network often does not keep pace with the sales of electric vehicles. However, there are also excellent examples. The Netherlands leads in infrastructure development, boasting the highest charger density in Europe, while Norway holds the world record for the number of electric vehicles on the road.
According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), as much as 89 percent of new vehicles sold in Norway last year were fully electric, bringing the country closest to achieving the goal of completely phasing out fossil fuel vehicles.
While global leaders are already demonstrating what sustainable mobility looks like in practice, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region are only taking their first significant steps.
Changes in legislation that mandate the installation of chargers in residential and commercial buildings are certainly a positive signal, but more intensive investment in infrastructure is crucial to encourage citizens to switch from gasoline and diesel to electric vehicles.
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A New Boost for Electromobility in North Macedonia
Although the electric vehicle market in North Macedonia is still relatively small, noticeable growth is underway. According to available data, there are around 300 registered electric cars in the country, while the number of publicly available chargers remains limited, measured in just a few dozen, mostly slower AC units. This highlights the biggest challenge – developing infrastructure that would provide drivers with security and make the transition to electromobility easier.
An additional push comes from the private sector and companies investing in a modern network of fast DC chargers. According to Tamara Zjačić, Deputy Director at Charge&GO, starting in September, North Macedonia will have its first 50 kW charger from manufacturer ABB, installed at Oktan’s gas station in Ržaničino.
“This is a publicly available charger accessible to users of the Charge&GO app in Serbia. As of September, drivers in North Macedonia will also be able to use it since we have launched a version of the app fully adapted to local regulations,” said Zjačić.
She added that users will be able to seamlessly use the app not only for charging in North Macedonia and Serbia but also across partner networks throughout Europe.
“In the coming period, we will focus intensively on expanding the network of fast DC chargers in North Macedonia. Every new charger we bring online will be actively promoted, and users will be informed about all updates,” Zjačić emphasized.
At the same time, Charge&GO continues to expand its network in Serbia, focusing on major highways and larger cities such as Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Čačak.
Energy portal
