Revolution in charging stations in Israel: The dramatic change that takes effect this morning
Starting this morning, only entities with a specific license will be allowed to supply electricity to electric vehicles. Among the companies that received approval: Tesla, Paz, and Dor Alon, with the move requiring credit card payment without an application.
A revolution in the electric vehicle market in Israel is taking effect, as starting this morning (Monday), only entities holding a specific license will be permitted to supply electricity at public charging stations. At an official ceremony held yesterday with the participation of the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen and the Chairman of the Electricity Authority Amir Shavit, the first licenses in the field were distributed to 11 companies that met the requirements and submitted appropriate applications.
The first phase of those receiving the permit includes major companies in the market, including Dor Alon, Tesla Motors, Sonol, Paz, and Nofar, alongside other operators. According to data from the Electricity Authority, this move covers about 90% of the total public charging market currently active across the country.
The licenses were granted for a fixed period of eight years and impose a series of consumer obligations on the companies. Among other things, operators will be required to display full transparency regarding prices, provide updated information near charging points, and operate available customer service centers. In addition, it was determined that at fast charging stations, it will be mandatory to allow casual payment using a standard credit card terminal, which will exempt drivers from the need for prior registration or downloading dedicated applications.
The new regulation is effectively intended for every operator of charging stations located in areas open to the general public. Among these places are parking lots, hotels, gas stations, and public areas on city streets, where the total capacity of the charging points ranges between 8 MW and 100 MW. The Electricity Authority estimates that this step will increase competition, expand consumer choice, and provide the regulatory certainty required by entrepreneurs, which will assist in the continued expansion of the use of electric transport.
