The Southwest region (South Holland and Zeeland) has reached an important milestone together with various municipalities and market parties: the 25,000th public charging point for electric vehicles. In Voorne aan Zee, deputies Frederik Zevenbergen (South Holland) and Harry van der Maas (Zeeland), along with Peter Schop (councilor of Voorne aan Zee), celebrated this step towards cleaner mobility.

Electric driving is becoming increasingly popular

For many residents, the assurance of sufficient charging points is important to make the switch to electric driving. In the Regional Approach Charging Infrastructure Southwest (RAL Southwest), provinces, municipalities, and network operators work together to ensure that sufficient charging points are available – on the street, at shops, on business parks, and at sports clubs.

“There are already about 600,000 fully electric cars in the Netherlands, and more and more people want to drive electric. Then we as a government must ensure that charging is easy and attractive, even in smaller villages or rural areas. And at tourist locations, such as along the beaches in Voorne aan Zee. And that is exactly what we achieve with this collaboration,” says deputy Frederik Zevenbergen (Traffic and Transport) of the province of South Holland.

More charging points through collaboration

The NAL region Southwest is a collaboration of 61 municipalities in South Holland and Zeeland, supported by both provinces. This collaboration is part of the National Approach Charging Infrastructure (NAL), in which the national government, provinces, municipalities, and network operators work together on a future-proof charging network. The goal is for the growth in the number of charging points to keep pace with the growth in the number of electric vehicles. Through the NAL region Southwest, the provinces assist municipalities in making plans, collecting data, smartly planning charging points, and coordinating between regions. Municipalities determine themselves where and when charging points are placed. Charging points in the municipalities of The Hague and Rotterdam are not counted. Because challenges in large cities are similar, they, together with Amsterdam and Utrecht, form a separate NAL Region.

Collaborating on new challenges

The demand for charging points is growing rapidly due to the increase in electric cars. Charging behavior is also changing, with more need for fast charging near facilities, such as supermarkets. Municipalities use data to smartly plan where and how many charging points are needed. And within the NAL region Southwest, there is collaboration on challenges such as clear pricing, grid congestion, and cybersecurity. Within tenders and concessions, municipalities and provinces ensure fair rates and safe, smart charging solutions – also in the future.

Cleaner air and less emissions

A future-proof charging network is important for the transition to clean transport. And thus for the goals of the Climate Agreement and the National Approach Charging Infrastructure. Every charging point contributes to cleaner air, less emissions, and a reachable, livable region. The 25,000th charging point in the Southwest region shows that the collaboration works – and that we are taking steps together towards a clean, quiet, and sustainable transport network.