Kahramaa installs 30 fast EV charging stations, eyes 1,000 by 2025

EV charging station

Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has completed the installation of 30 fast electric car charging stations in the country. 

“So far, we have completed installation of 30 fast electric car charging stations in first half of 2021. We aim to expand the network to 600 to 1,000 fast charging stations by 2025,” said Mohammed Al Sharshani, Head of Sustainable Transportation Unit at Kahramaa.

Speaking to Qatar TV recently, Al Sharshani said that fast charging stations do not take more than an hour to charge a car.

“There are two types of electric car charging station — AC stations which are being provided in residential areas for owners of private vehicles. These stations take 6 to 7 hours to charge a vehicle,” said Al Sharshani.

On the other hand, DC fast charging stations, being installed by Kahramaa, take from 30 to 40 minutes to charge a vehicle, depending on the  type of the vehicle, age of battery and its charging levels, he said. 

Kahramaa, through the National Program for Conservation 'Tarsheed', seeks to provide a healthy and safe environment for the coming generations under the Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting sustainability and reducing harmful carbon emissions to achieve the corporation's commitment to the second National Strategic Development of the State 2018-2020 as well as Paris Agreement.

“The electric car charging stations are being installed in cooperation with Steering Committee of the National Strategy for Charging Stations for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in Qatar,” said Al Sharshani.

He said that the committee, comprised with members from the Ministry of Transport, General Directorate of Traffic, Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Kahramaa and other entities concerned, aims at making polices and facilitating infrastructure projects to promote electric vehicles.

“All public and private institutions are committed to impalement clause of Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Al Sharshani. He said Kahramaa's Conservation and Energy Efficiency Department has made a mechanism following clauses of economic and environmental sustainability.

“Under this move, a special mechanism was made for installing fast electric car charging stations to serve the users as per their need to keep pace with fast development of the country,” said Al Sharshani.

In April this year, Kahramaa launched a new electronic service that enables customers to request for electricity connection to electric vehicle charging stations at their places.

The service facilitates the application process to encourage and support the use of electric vehicles and enables users to request an electricity connection (new connection, additional meter) for their own electric vehicle charging stations.

The working mechanism for installing and operating electric vehicle charging stations is divided into two parts: first, the stations deployed in private and  government buildings and public places owned by the state, and secondly, delivery to private places such as malls and hotels.