More electric vehicle charging stations to be built
The Swiss government has awarded concessions to five companies to set up additional electric charging stations at 100 rest areas along the country’s motorways.
There are currently 24 charging stations at rest areas according to the cantonal authorities.
The roads office said 25 additional stations have to be built within the next 12 months by the five licensed companies form Switzerland and the Netherlands with the remainder to follow within a decade.
It is estimated that an initial investment of CHF500,000 ($500,000) per installation, to be financed by the Swiss authorities, is needed. The firms will have to pay back the amount once the stations are operational, according to officials.
Less than 2% of car registrations in Switzerland were for electric vehicles and about 4% for hybrids. The government wants to raise the rate to 15% in the next few years and 20% by 2050.
A constitutional amendment, endorsed in a nationwide vote in 2017, paved the way for the installation of charging stations along Switzerland’s 1,850km motorway network.
More
More
Switzerland’s first electric sports car revealed
This content was published on
The first pictures of the electric prototype Piëch Mark Zero have been released at the Geneva International Motor Show.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
Swiss to reduce administrative burden on farms from 2026
This content was published on
From 2026, the number of inspections of farms is to be reduced, without any loss of quality, said economics minister Guy Parmelin.
Swiss insurance boss proposes Singapore-style healthcare system
This content was published on
CEO of Swiss health insurer Sanitas has said that healthcare costs could be reduced if Switzerland were to follow the Singapore model.
Swiss minister talks crime and security in visit to the Netherlands
This content was published on
Swiss justice minister Beat Jans spent two days in the Netherlands discussing security, police cooperation and justice with international bodies.
Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
This content was published on
Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).
Lilo Baur wins Swiss Grand Prix for performing arts
This content was published on
The Swiss actress and theatre director Lilo Baur has received this year's Swiss Grand Prix for Performing Arts, also known as the Hans Reinhart Ring.
Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
This content was published on
A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.
This content was published on
The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.
Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault
This content was published on
A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
On the road with a plug-in car
This content was published on
Stop. Get out. Put the newspaper in the letterbox. Get back in. Accelerate…. The electric engine powers the Renault and takes it quickly and smoothly to the next letterbox. No need to re-start the engine, just tap the accelerator and the vehicles moves on. This saves times and makes the job easier. “This e-car is…
This content was published on
Switzerland has a new strategy to promote electric vehicles, but the Alpine nation remains far behind leading e-mobility pioneers.
This content was published on
Auto-Schweiz blamed a 4.6% drop in total registrations (299,716) on late deliveries due to new emissions testing standards. It expects the 300,000 mark to be reached again in 2019 as the situation settles. According to the figures, the share of hybrid, electric, hydrogen and compressed natural gas vehicles rose from 5.6% to 7.2%. The share…
This content was published on
Electric cars on Switzerland’s roads will be required by mid-2019 to make an artificial noise as a safety measure for the blind.
This content was published on
Basel City’s justice department did not invite other car manufacturers to bid for the contract, which eventually cost nearly CHF1 million ($1 million), the commission said on Thursday. It is the latest setback for the fleet before it has even entered operational service. Justice department head Baschi Dürr admitted that not all the documentation of…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.