Park & Charge
Encyclopedia
Park & Charge is a European infrastructure for charging electric vehicles
. Since 1992 it has been supported by the Electromobile
Club of Switzerland
(ECS).
At reserved parking spaces for electric vehicles a simple, locked charging station
with all necessary sockets and safety facilities is installed to which only "Park & Charge" users have access. Electric vehicles
are in generally energy efficient, and therefore at a "Park & Charge" chargers requires relatively small quantities of electricity. By not having complicated metering technology and with the simplest organizational measures such as a (flat rate
) cost, the administrative costs are kept low.
The locations of the charging stations of Park & Charge and other providers are published in LEMnet, which is an open database for all charging stations and outlets for electric vehicles in Europe and has been operated by Park & Charge since 1998. In August 2011, the LEMnet database listed more than 3100 charging locations in Europe.
The uniform logo for the whole of Europe and is used by law enforcement bodies for the for simple identification of electric vehicles, and is dated 1 December of the previous year contribution period to 31 January the following year. Entitles the owners of Electric vehicles to use the specially marked and for reserved parking spaces.
The yearly subscription entitles the user use of all the Park & Charge Charging points in Europe at a (flat rate
). The prices of the subscription is set by the respective national organizations.
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
. Since 1992 it has been supported by the Electromobile
Electromobile
The Electromobile was an English electric car manufactured from 1901 until 1920. The product of a London company, it was offered as part of a contract hire scheme as early as 1904. From 1903 the engine was mounted on the rear axle. The design of the car changed little until after World War I; in...
Club of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(ECS).
At reserved parking spaces for electric vehicles a simple, locked charging station
Charging station
An electric vehicle charging station, also called EV charging station, electric recharging point, charging point and EVSE , is an element in an infrastructure that supplies electric energy for the recharging of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles) or semi-static and mobile...
with all necessary sockets and safety facilities is installed to which only "Park & Charge" users have access. Electric vehicles
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
are in generally energy efficient, and therefore at a "Park & Charge" chargers requires relatively small quantities of electricity. By not having complicated metering technology and with the simplest organizational measures such as a (flat rate
Flat rate
A flat fee, also referred to as a flat rate or a linear rate, refers to a pricing structure that charges a single fixed fee for a service, regardless of usage. Rarely, it may refer to a rate that does not vary with usage or time of use...
) cost, the administrative costs are kept low.
The locations of the charging stations of Park & Charge and other providers are published in LEMnet, which is an open database for all charging stations and outlets for electric vehicles in Europe and has been operated by Park & Charge since 1998. In August 2011, the LEMnet database listed more than 3100 charging locations in Europe.
History
In 1992, the first four locations of Park & Charge were established under a P+D (pilot and demonstration) project of the Federal Office of Energy in Bern. After a three-year experimental phase, the project went into regular operation. The electric car club in Switzerland, which has accompanied the project, took over the financial and legal responsibility for Park & Charge. In the subsequent period Park & Charge became so popular that it needed to be legally formalised. At the end of 1997 Park & Charge was founded as an independent association (President: Wilfried Blum, Managing Director: Eduard Stolz).Today
Today allows Park & Charge is at nearly 500 locations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Holland and Italy, for drivers of electric vehicles, it is a safe and easy way to charge their cars battery.Function
The key, giving access to all the Park & Charge Charging in Europe.The uniform logo for the whole of Europe and is used by law enforcement bodies for the for simple identification of electric vehicles, and is dated 1 December of the previous year contribution period to 31 January the following year. Entitles the owners of Electric vehicles to use the specially marked and for reserved parking spaces.
The yearly subscription entitles the user use of all the Park & Charge Charging points in Europe at a (flat rate
Flat rate
A flat fee, also referred to as a flat rate or a linear rate, refers to a pricing structure that charges a single fixed fee for a service, regardless of usage. Rarely, it may refer to a rate that does not vary with usage or time of use...
). The prices of the subscription is set by the respective national organizations.