Electric vehicle opportunities in the Algerian market
According to a study conducted by Neftal ) National Corporation for the Distribution of Petroleum
Products) and reported by the national radio website, 45% of Algerian motorists
are interested in buying an electric car.
“While 66% of motorists questioned are willing to use, immediately or in
the short term, an electric vehicle, 45% want to own an electric vehicle while
24% remain hesitant,” according to a senior advisor to Naftal CEO Adil. Ben Toumi, referring to the results of the
study.
?be afraid of owning an electric car
According to the study, the lack of experience in maintaining and
repairing this type of vehicle (31%) came first, in addition to the absence of
fast charging stations (30%), the price of electric vehicles compared to
thermal vehicles (22%), and the fear of lack of fast charging stations. Spare
parts (18%) will be the main obstacle that will hinder Algerians in acquiring
electric cars.
For their part, specialists say that the maintenance of electric
vehicles will not be a problem. "The maintenance of an electric vehicle
will not be more complicated than that of a thermal engine vehicle, but rather
more" sophisticated ", since there will be more electronics and data
processing in the electric vehicle", assure the specialists. But
"difficulties could arise at the beginning, because this is something new,
especially in terms of technology, something that requires preparation,
especially in terms of training, but also tools".
Electric vehicle charging stations:
Pending the arrival of the first electric cars, a hundred Neftal service
stations will be equipped with recharging terminals by the end of the current
year, an official within this company told APS.
According to the first advisor to the CEO of Neftal, Adel Bentoumi, at
least one service station in each of the 58 wilayas will be equipped with an
electric recharging terminal, in addition to the motorway stations (East-West
motorway), of which there are 32, with a higher number in the wilayas where the
vehicle fleet is larger.
Naftal will start this operation with a pilot project with a first
recharging terminal already installed at the service station in Chéraga (west
of Algiers).
This terminal, which was produced in Algeria by the private group Amimer
Energie, allows the full recharging of the battery in 1 hour and 5 minutes for
a vehicle with an autonomy of 400 km, said Mr. Bentoumi, stressing that some
Charging stations can fully charge the battery of this category of vehicles in
40 to 45 minutes.
Naftal has launched a prequalification to establish a shortlist of
potential partners and is awaiting feedback from interested candidates, added
the official, who estimated that the company will need multiple suppliers to
build its network.
Subsequently, the national company will launch the acquisition and
installation of electric recharging stations at the level of its network by
equipping at least one station per wilaya and by planning to install ultra-fast
recharging stations in motorway stations.
For his part, the head of the secretariat of the committees in charge of
construction activities and new car dealers, Muhammad Jabali, did not rule out
the possibility of the supervisory ministry including the manufacture of
electric recharging stations in the preferential system. As it will start
exempting dealers in this activity from fees and taxes, as soon as electric
cars are popularized and the demand for recharging stations increases.