Warning for electric vehicle drivers hitting the road for the holiday

Berkan Bayram, President of the Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Association of Turkey, stated that electric vehicle owners who will be hitting the road during the Ramadan Feast holiday could reduce congestion at stations by charging their vehicles for short periods at frequent intervals.

Bayram said that the total number of electric vehicles in Turkey across 81 provinces is 70 thousand, while the number of charging station sockets is at the 20 thousand level.

Stating that electric vehicle drivers generally travel long distances during holidays and vacation periods, Bayram pointed out that users should check the availability of charging stations on their routes before setting off during this period.

Bayram noted that charging times can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle, and said:

"Charging times, which take 45 minutes on average with a direct current charging socket and approximately 3.5 hours with alternating current, need to be taken into account. There is only one brand in Turkey that implements a reservation-based charging system. You can make an appointment in advance and secure a charging opportunity there, but charging congestion can also occur during periods when roads are busy. To prevent this, charging stations on routes should be checked. It may not be necessary to wait for a 100 percent charge at charging stations. In some cases, you can reach a range of 150 kilometers with a 15-minute charging period. Therefore, charging at 3 different points for 15 minutes each can reduce congestion."

Stating that 2 vehicles can benefit from each charging unit, Bayram emphasized that charging stations should not be used as parking lots and should not be occupied unnecessarily.

Bayram said that interest in electric vehicles in Turkey is high and the market is on a growth trend.

Expressing that the number of electric vehicles on the roads will increase in the coming period, Bayram said, "Infrastructure investments are needed for more electric vehicles. The year-end target is for 40 thousand more vehicles to be sold. For this reason, the demand for charging stations will also increase."

News Source: AA