The Dutch public works ministry has announced that motorway filling stations can apply for licences to operate charging stations for electric vehicles.

Applications can be made from 10 January and the charging stations could be operational by mid 2012. A full battery gives an electric car a range of about 140 kilometres. Speed chargers could give batteries an 80-percent charge in about 20 minutes.

Entrepreneurs operating the chargers will not have to pay rent until 2015, when the situation will be reviewed.

(gsh/mw)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide