Mihai Barbu, ENGIE Romania: “Increasing investments is essential for expanding the national charging infrastructure”

“ENGIE Romania wants to reduce its carbon footprint to zero for all business lines. We are a company with over 4,300 employees, with a production of over 500 GWh of green energy from our wind and photovoltaic parks.

If we make a comparison between 2018 and 2023, we will find that the number of electric cars has increased by more than 20 times, while the number of charging stations has increased by about 6 times. In Romania, we have an average of one charging station every 100 kilometers, and European regulations require one station every 60 kilometers until 2030,” Mihai Barbu, Energy Solutions Sales Support Manager, ENGIE Romania said at Automotive R&D Power Breakfast organized by Automotive Today.

“It is clear that the number of charging stations is not what we expected, and we add the fact that most of them are concentrated in urban areas.

What would be the answer to all these challenges? First of all, the increase in investments is essential both in the private and public sector for network expansion.

ENGIE has several collaboration models on the business side. For example, the client can provide the space, and our company can come with the investment and with the operation of the stations. There is also the possibility that the investment will be made by the customer, and the operation of the station will be the responsibility of ENGIE.

To increase the number of stations, it is necessary to simplify the regulations in terms of reducing installation costs and bureaucratic delays.”