Spain is among the world's top 10 electric car manufacturers.

A report by the consulting firm EY places Spain as ninth in the world’s top 10 countries most prepared for electric cars, occupying fifth position in terms of the most favorable regulations

Spain is ranked as the ninth most prepared country in the world for the adoption and promotion of electric cars. At least that is what emerges from a report published by the consulting firm EY, which lists the ten countries most prepared for the challenge of electrification of transport and the reasons why they occupy each position, taking into account supply capacity, demand, and electric mobility regulation. One last point in which the Iberian country stands out greatly, occupying fourth place thanks to initiatives such as the Moves III Plan, state aid aimed at encouraging electric mobility through the purchase of electric vehicles and the installation of charging infrastructure.

Also notable is the positive assessment of the almost 6 billion euros (5,927 to be exact) of the PERTE for electric vehicles, as well as the various incentives for the use of these vehicles on our roads; such as toll discounts, free parking, and dedicated traffic lanes. Aspects that make Spain occupy ninth place globally above other developed countries such as France, Japan, Italy or Canada.

Source: EY Consulting

As for the list’s leaders, China is the undisputed leader of this ranking, having, among other things, 122 of the 200 lithium gigafactories worldwide; combined with a continuously growing domestic market and an increasingly important charging infrastructure. These factors, according to the aforementioned dossier, mean that 51% of Chinese citizens surveyed want their next vehicle to be electric. Second place is occupied by Norway, which, thanks to its regulations to encourage tax benefits for electric cars, the introduction of electric vehicle lanes, and exclusive parking, is becoming a pioneer in this area. A combination of measures has meant that, during 2021, 70% of new registrations are of this type of vehicle. To find the third country in the ranking, we don’t have to look far, as we once again land in another Nordic country: Sweden. The Scandinavian country has a solid energy ecosystem backed by a high acceptance of electric vehicles among its citizens; which is combined with significant manufacturing capacity with a view to ensuring that 41% of all vehicles produced in the country will be electric between 2022 and 2026.

Finally, in the top 5 countries most prepared for the adoption and promotion of electric vehicles we find Germany (fourth place) and the United Kingdom (fifth place), whose main assets are their industrial fabric, their own battery production and an extensive catalogue of electric vehicles yet to be launched.

How do electric vehicle charging work?

First of all, it is important to bear in mind that what we know as fast charging stations operate with a power equal to or greater than 50 kW, that is, in direct current. This is why, in order for our car to charge, we will require more elements than we would find in a domestic or low-power charger.

Thus, the electricity reaches the electric charging station through the electrical network supplied by the supplier. This is where we will differentiate three main elements for charging our vehicle:

• Transformation center, including the connection to the medium voltage network.
• Power converter cabinet.
• Charging post.

How does a fast charging station for electric vehicles work?

Let’s start with the first one. The transformation center will be in charge of connecting the electric charging station to the medium-voltage network, complying with the regulations required by the Electricity Distributor to whose network it will be connected and of transforming the electricity from the medium-voltage network to low-voltage. Why is this point important? Because it guarantees the operation of the rest of the elements that ensure the charging of the electric vehicle and because it is, in turn, a fundamental point from the point of view of safety.

Furthermore, the most advanced transformation centers offer operating companies remote data that allow them to know the consumption, usage trends, the state of the network and its elements, allowing them to operate and maintain their network of charging stations more efficiently. All of this guarantees that there is energy available to the different users.

Once the voltage is low, it is time for the second element of the equation to come into operation: it is the turn of the power converter cabinet. This set of equipment performs the function of adapting electricity, which arrives in alternating current, to direct current, which is what the batteries of electric vehicles accept.

Now, that the voltage is low and the current is direct, it is the turn of the best-known element: the charging post. These posts, with an appearance and functions similar to the pumps we find at any gas station, only in this case the energy is electrical, are responsible for transmitting energy to our electric car.

In addition, they allow us to know the energy that the “electrolinera” is capable of supplying us, what our battery is capable of absorbing, the temperature conditions of the battery and an approximation of the charging time, in addition to payment management. In short, in addition to providing us with energy through the cable, they are our interpreter so that the charger and the vehicle understand each other and we can choose the best charging option.