My thoughts on development of Electromobility in Slovakia

During the years 2018-2020, I worked for the analytical unit of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. Upon returning from working abroad, my main focus was on data analysis and recommendations for public policies. One of the results of this collaboration was the analysis Development of Electromobility and its Impact on Fuel and Electricity Consumption in Road Transport in the Slovak Republic in December 2019. In this analysis, I examined the potential for the development of electromobility and its effect on fuel and electricity consumption in road transport in the Slovak Republic, among other things. Here are key highlights from the study.

Slovak version of this blog: Čo som vykoumala k elektromobilite

By 2030, there may be between 28,000 and 41,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in Slovakia, with a demand for electric energy to power these vehicles accounting for less than 1% of the total electricity consumption in the country. However, with a more progressive development and an estimated 116,000 EVs (5% of current personal vehicles) by 2030, the electricity consumption would increase to about 2% of the current energy consumption. Therefore, the development of charging infrastructure, smart grids, and energy storage capabilities should not lag behind the development of electromobility. The adoption of electric vehicles will contribute to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality in heavily trafficked areas. However, it is crucial to use EVs as a replacement for vehicles with combustion engines and to ensure that the electricity used for charging the vehicle batteries comes from low-carbon and renewable sources of energy.

To reduce fossil fuel consumption, overall energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts, electromobility may not be the only or ideal solution. It must be accompanied by the development and implementation of other alternative solutions such as:

• Various alternative fuels;
• Public personal transportation;
• Implementation of circular economy principles throughout the life cycle of electric vehicles, including component recycling;
• Shared economy activities such as car sharing;
• Community initiatives in line with the concept of smart cities;
• Changing the concept of mobility;
• And other.

The managerial summary and the study itself (in slovak only) can be downloaded from the website of the analytical unit of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Center for Economic Issues (now known as the Institute of Economic Analysis).