Dutch Gas Stations Sue Government Over EV Stations

Gas station owners are claiming unfair competition from a network of 200-plus electric vehicle charging stations that are rolling out across the country this September.

July 16, 2013

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.

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