As the joint consortium of the five companies that will undertake the production of Turkey's first domestic automobile has rolled up its sleeves for the automobile to be ready and hit the road by 2021, a work on a draft for the establishment of the infrastructure of charging stations prepared by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) has come to an end.
Within the scope of its "Proposal and Principles Draft on the Electric Vehicle Charging Station" issued in order to obtain the views of the public, the EPDK has gathered all the views as of Dec. 12.
According to the information provided by EPDK officials, the institution has received a large number of views and the majority of the opinions received included positive evaluations regarding the draft. By reviewing the opinions received, the draft will be given a final shape and presented to the board, which will bring the final decision, the officials said.
Employers Union of Energy Petroleum Gas Supply Stations (EPGİS) Head Fesih Aktaş said they wanted to install all of the charging stations within gas stations, adding that strong electrical systems would be installed at the stations. Explaining that these preparations started slowly at all stations, Aktaş also noted that some companies like Petrol Ofisi and Aytemiz have started to set up their e-charging stations.
Moreover, it was also reported that in order to facilitate the installation of the vehicle charging stations, the EPDK will not oblige companies that want to set up the stations to obtain a license for the operation.
However, operators will have to have a production or supply license in order to carry out electricity sales. In this context, in order to carry out profit-oriented electricity sales through bilateral agreements via charging stations, the operator will have to have a production or supply license.
Operators without production or supply licenses will not be able to sell electricity for profit purposes through the charging station under such terms and conditions. However, the charge may be taken under the name of a separate charge that is not subject to the regulation of the EPDK, such as a parking fee or service fee, at exactly the same price or less than the determined price. It was also said that all charging stations that are set up in public places or where commercial activities are carried out may also be able to provide services within the scope of the determined procedures and principles.
Accordingly, all charging stations set up in open locations by municipalities or other institutions or organizations via a tender or similar means will also be included as well as charging stations installed in convenient places such as apartment buildings, site parking lots and shopping malls. Earlier last month, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that a consortium of Anadolu Group, BMC, Kıraça Holding, Turkcell and Zorlu Holding would make Turkey's first domestically produced car.