- Denmark has a ton of charging stations, making it super easy to find a place to charge your EV, whether you need a quick top-up or a full charge.
- Charging your EV in Denmark is pretty cheap, costing less than filling up a gas tank, especially with competitive rates for fast-charging.
- Apps like Monta Charge and spots like Recharge City make the whole charging experience process straightforward and convenient.
Recently I had the pleasure of driving an MG4 for two weeks (thanks MG Motor Danmark!) and I had a chance to really get to know the Danish charging infrastructure.
This experience totally changed my perspective on EV charging, helped me get rid of my range anxiety, and made me seriously consider getting an EV. Here’s what I discovered about how advanced and convenient Denmark’s charging system is.
Availability and Convenience
One of the best things about driving an EV in Denmark is that there are plenty of charging stations. No matter where you are, you can easily find lots of slow and fast charging stations. And they’re super easy to locate.
Throughout my two-week journey, I mainly used the Monta app to find charging stations. I was amazed when I first opened the app – the map was practically covered with little circles indicating charging points.
Monta Charge made the whole charging experience incredibly simple. It covers most providers in Denmark, and I used it to plan my trips with charging pit stops. What I loved was how easy it was to just plug in the car and start the payment through the app. Unfortunately, I didn’t experience the seamless trip planning that Tesla’s in-car navigation offers, but maybe I missed that feature or didn’t take long enough trips.
Recharge City
Recharge City deserves a special mention.
Situated in the centre of Denmark, on one of busiest roads in the country, Recharge City, known as a parking and charging town, is a fantastic example of sensible infrastructure planning and a unique resting place for travellers.
This massive 270,000 m² area has space for up to 450 trucks and includes green areas with picnic tables, benches, play areas, a hotel, multiple cafes and restaurants, extensive parking for cars, and both slow and fast chargers.
Types of Charging Stations
Denmark offers a range of charging stations that meet various requirements.
Fast Chargers: Easily accessible chargers providing rapid charging capabilities between 150-300 kWh. While having the MG4, I often made use of fast chargers that charged the battery level from 10% to 80% in only 25 minutes.
Public Chargers: They are distributed throughout urban and rural areas, making them easily accessible for everyday use at locations such as parking lots, malls, and office buildings (you can use them regardless of whether you are working in that building or not).
Home Chargers: Even if I didn’t have one myself, a lot of EV owners in Denmark like having a home charger making it convenient to charge their vehicles during the night.
Real Life Charging Experience
While using the MG4, I was able to evaluate the charging system.
At Norlys‘ charging station, I had my first charging session. The user-friendliness was exceptional, offering step-by-step guides in Danish and English.
I have used Clever stations on multiple occasions, conveniently situated close to my residence. The initial attempt was difficult due to the lack of clear guidance, but MG Motor Denmark gave me a Clever chip for accessing their chargers.
With no guidelines on the station, setting it to function seemed like doing magic, making it a fun and special experience. Sounds paradoxical, but whilst I made the charger work, ultimately it is not very clever for a Clever charging station!
Cost Considerations
Charging an EV in Denmark is not only convenient but also cost-effective. Electricity costs for charging are significantly lower than fuel prices, and competitive pricing plans from different providers enhance affordability.
I was surprised to find that fast-charging in Denmark is often cheaper than slow-charging, contrary to what I’d heard about the UK. Fast-charging stations I used typically offered rates around 3.40 DKK/kWh (£0.39 / €0.46 / $0.50), whereas slow-charging stations were about 4.26 DKK (£0.49 / €0.57 / $0.63), which provides fantastic value.
These prices were consistent at the stations I used across the two weeks.
Personal Reflections
My journey with the MG4 and the Danish charging infrastructure has been eye-opening. The convenience, cost savings, and environmental benefits make a strong case for EV adoption. The well-developed infrastructure has shown me that driving an EV in Denmark is not only cost effective for the driver but also highly enjoyable.
Denmark’s charging network is exceptional when compared to other countries. The abundance of charging points and dependable assistance make it a perfect spot for EV drivers. The extensive network helps ease range anxiety and encourages more people to consider switching to electric vehicles.
It’s also important to note that through Denmark’s commitment to renewable energy, more often than not it means that when charging an EV, you are often using greener electricity, contributing to a lower carbon footprint. The emphasis on integrated renewables to charge an EV in Denmark hints at what a greener future could look like for all.
As I continue my EV journey, I’m excited to explore more of what Denmark has to offer for EV owners and understand first-hand if different vehicles interact with the infrastructure differently. However, if my time with the MG4 is the norm, then Denmark really is a great place to own and most importantly drive an EV.
