Fastned wins at Council of State
Minister may not simply grant permissions for chargers at restaurants and petrol stations along the highway
Fastned, the Dutch fast charging company for electric vehicles, has in higher appeal won a court case, challenging the exclusive issue of permissions for chargers as an additional service to restaurants and petrol stations along the highway. The case had already been ruled in favor of Fastned at the Noord-Holland District Court.
Today, the Council of State, the highest administrative court of the Netherlands, ruled that The minister of Infrastructure and Water Management may not reserve permissions for chargers as an additional service exclusively for petrol stations and highway restaurants. The case was about a highway restaurant that was granted permission to install six chargers on the service area Den Ruygen Hoek-Oost along the A4, close to Schiphol Airport.
Back in 2012, through a public tender, Fastned acquired permissions to build and operate fast charging stations as a basic service along highways in the Netherlands. After this, the minister of Infrastructure and Water Management continued to issue permissions for chargers as additional service exclusively to petrol stations and highway restaurants. Fastned objected to these permissions on the basis that it resulted in an unlevel playing field.
"We are very pleased that the Council of State has followed our reasoning in this case. The verdict offers a more solid basis for investments and creates a level and competitive playing field that will accelerate the roll-out of charging infrastructure. That is good for the transition to electric mobility.”
Fastned's mission is to give freedom to the electric driver and accelerate the transition to electric driving. That is why Fastned is building a European network of a thousand fast charging stations powered by electricity from sun and wind. At these stations, electric drivers can add up to 300 km range in 15 minutes. Fastned currently has 128 fast charging stations in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium. All stations are open to the public 24/7. Fastned is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (ticker AMS: FAST). More information: fastnedcharging.com.