SOCAR opens electric vehicle charging station in Switzerland
By Nigar Orujova
SOCAR Energy Switzerland, wholly-owned by Azerbaijan's state energy firm SOCAR, opened a quick charging station for electric vehicles near Bern under the EVite project of the Swiss eMobility Association.
The company reported that charging at the new station, located on road A-1, takes about 20 minutes and is available free of charge.
The EVite project, which was launched in Bern last November, involves creating a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles throughout Switzerland and accelerating the electric mobility market development in the country.
SOCAR Energy Switzerland agreed to become one of the main partners of the EVite project in 2012. As one of the main partners, SOCAR will support construction and operation of stations for the fast charging of electric vehicles in Switzerland.
Electric mobility offers an opportunity for sustainable development of the Swiss traffic on economic, social and environmental levels. The project envisions construction of at least 150 fast charging stations.
SOCAR started its operation in Switzerland in September 2012 with commissioning its first petrol station in Zurich. In December, the first gas station under the SOCAR brand was opened in western Switzerland.
The company reports that by mid-2013 more than 160 gas stations under the SOCAR brand will operate in Switzerland.
SOCAR sells classic fuels such as gasoline and diesel fuel in Switzerland. However, they are enriched with special additives that ensure optimal level of combustion which is important from an environmental point of view and in terms of the cost and performance of the internal combustion engine of the car.
In early July, U.S. company Exxon Mobil transferred Esso Switzerland Swiss assets to SOCAR. The total value of the assets acquired by SOCAR is $330 million.
Following the acquisition of Esso Switzerland, SOCAR has taken over a retail network consisting of 170 filling stations and a division specializing in fuel marketing for industry and wholesale customers. This division is responsible for household fuel and balloon gas sale to independent suppliers throughout Switzerland.
SOCAR has also taken over the Wangen-Olten gas station, and a number of gas stations and joint ventures specializing in aircraft fuelling at the Geneva and Zurich airports, as well as a Swiss company that controls joint ventures managing terminals and pipelines.