In 2035, no more thermal engine cars will leave the production plants. It is the European Union which decided it. In anticipation and because it is in tune with the times, Wallonia wants to install more charging stations for electric cars on its territory. Some mayors are asking to calm things down.
Christophe owns a hybrid car, charged at the office or at home. Between the two is a problem. In this rural area, there are no public terminals. Wallonia aims to install 6,000 charging points by 2026.
“6,000, when we know the number of vehicles in circulation, and the ban on combustion engines in 2035, will that be enough? We also ask the question for people in apartments. We have terraced houses. I tell myself that we have more and more people in apartments, and I have no idea how these people will do in the future”, confides Christopher.
In Jurbise, there was a public terminal, but the manager removed it several months ago, given the lack of success. How many electric or hybrid vehicles are there? In Jurbise, the municipality does not know this and is struggling to estimate its own needs.
“We don’t have the cadastre of all the electric vehicles on our territory and so it’s difficult to estimate the number of terminals needed. I imagine that this number will only increase. It’s a complicated debate. We are given a lot of constraints, but there is no dialogue, no consultation”, considers Jacqueline Galant, the mayor.
Charging is a problem in more urbanized streets. With row houses, it is difficult to reload without obstructing the passage on the sidewalks.
“We cannot privatize the public space, and start saying, in the public space where there is parking for residents, we will limit parking for electrical terminals with all that this creates as a problem of living together. So we gave the hot potato to the municipalities with questions about the electricity supply. Will we have enough electricity? asks Maxime Daye, the president of the Union of Cities and Towns.
For all these questions on the energy transition, the Union of Cities and Municipalities wishes to initiate a dialogue with the Walloon government.