AMSTERDAM – Following a recent agreement by the Netherlands
government to expand its network of electric vehicle charging stations, Dutch
gas station owners are responding with lawsuits, Autoblog Green reports.
Twenty-six gas stations in the Netherlands are suing the
Dutch government, arguing the more than 200 charging stations proposed for the
country’s highways qualify as “refueling” centers and because they receive
government incentives and are free to open shops, they pose an unfair
competition to their businesses.
In 2011, the Netherlands selected Fastned to establish a
charging infrastructure of more than 200 stations throughout the country. Fastned,
along with ABB, is scheduled to begin installing the chargers in September.
Holland is trying to stimulate adoption of the technology
through programs such as EV-purchase incentives and the provision of free
charging in Amsterdam, among other cities.