By the end of the year, Slovenia will have rapid charging stations every 50 kilometres along its entire motorway network.

The EUR 2m investment is a part of the Central European Green Corridors project, which will see 115 interoperable fast charging stations in Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia.

In Slovenia, the project is being implemented by electricity network operator SODO and the Infrastructure Ministry in cooperation with motorway company DARS and energy companies Petrol and OMV, which operate the majority of petrol stations along the Slovenian motorways.

"It takes just over half an hour to charge up to some 80% empty batteries of cars performing at between 18 and 24 kilowatt hours," SODO boss Matjaž Vodušek said before the launch of the two charging stations.

He added that EUR 620,000 for the project came from EU funds, while the rest was provided by Slovenian partners.

Once the remaining stations are up and running, Slovenia will be among the top EU countries in terms of charging stations coverage, said Infrastructure Minister Peter Gašperšič.

The customers will be able to pay for the charge with either a SODO user card or a prepaid card available at Petrol and OMV petrol stations equipped with the electric charging stations.

Rapid charging stations will be launched by the end of the year at motorway petrol stations in Radovljica, Voklo, Grabonoš, Dravsko polje, Dobrenje, Lom, Ravbarkomanda, Šempas, Starine, Lukovica, Ravne, Grič, and Barje.