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Ever thought that driving from Athens to Brussels in an electric car was just a wild dream? Let me tell you about this year's EV Journey 2 to Brussels, where dreams became a reality. In Brussel, the Connecting Europe Days 2024, Europe’s mobility flagship event, are taking place on 2-5 April. So what could be better then showing all 27 EU Transport ministers, the European Commission and other stakeholders all around Europe how easy it is to travel across Europe by an Electric Vehicle (EV). Following the success of the first EV Journey to Lyon in 2022, the call for another challenge was irresistible. And so, #EVJOURNEY2 was born. 13 EV Teams drove electric 10,000’s of KM’s across Europe, utilizing the recharging infrastructure co-funded by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme of the European Union. Some EV Teams will drove to the Connecting Europe Days 2024 in Brussels all the way from Greece, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium, all 100% electric and using renewable energy – proving that long-distance travel with electric cars across is not only feasible but also exciting and sustainable. The grand finale awaits at the Egmont Palace in Brussels on April 3rd April 2024, where the teams meet with the 27 EU Ministers of Transport during the informal Transport Council, co-hosted by the European Commission and the Belgian EU Presidency. But this journey isn't just about showcasing existing infrastructure - it's also a call to action! Achieving Europe’s Climate Goals demands more than just larger and denser robust charging network - it requires innovation and collaboration on a larger scale. To meet the AFIR (Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation) goals, we need to do much more: expand to large charging hubs with many recharging points, introduce more High Power Chargers (350kW) for cars and MegaWatt Charging Sytems (1000kW) for electric HDV (Heavy Duty Vehicles), much larger grid conenctions (upto 20-40 MW) and explore creating totally new green-field sites. And it's not just about passenger cars - the future infrastructure needs to support electric vans, trucks and buses, emphasizing the synergy between energy and transport, battery storage and local renewable energy. At Connecting Europe Days 2024, the Joint EV booth will highlight the successful projects undertaken by partners over the years, including EXPAND-E, CONNECT-E, EUROP-E, MEGA-E, MULTI-E, EXPAND-E, and CROSS-E - all made possible with European Union co-funding (grants) and loans from public and private banks. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has joined us on this EV Journey 2 Thanks #Allego #Ardan #Arriva #AvantCar #EON #Fortisis #GridTelecom #IONITY #Petrol #Renovatio #ZSE #Greenway! And thanks to #CEFTransport, @cinea.eu @Transport_EU who joined us on this amazing journey! Together, we're driving towards a greener, and more sustainable future, or in other words –towards  a Better Europe !

I am very excited to tell you more about the "EV Journey to Lyon". The CONNECTING EUROPE Days will take place in Lyon on 28th to 30th June. Around 3,000 participants are expected, with participation of the EU Transport Commissioner, Ms. Adina-Ioana Vălean, DG MOVE Director General Mr. Henrik Hololei, CINEA, the Ministers of Transport of the EU27, as well as of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and also representatives of Europe’s largest transport and energy infrastructure projects. How does one show all of them what Electric Vehicles can achieve and the challenges we all have? That new EV models can drive long distance and that charging networks cover large parts of Europe. And at the same they, they all have to support us to build charging stations in more locations, with more recharging points per location and with higher charging speeds are needed? The answer was the EV Journey To Lyon Challenge! 9 EV TEAMS decided to travel to Lyon in France 100% electric departing from Bratislava, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Czechia, Ljubljana and Munich on 25, 26, and 27 June. Each TEAM will drive between 700 to 2,000 kms in each di rection, using High Power Chargers (HPC) co-funded by the European Union. The EV TEAMS will then form a convoy of 100% electric vehicles and will drive with the European Transport Commissioner to the Lyon Convention center. We will then show case in the indoor booth a family of projects we have been working on in last years: CONNECT-E, EUROP-E, MEGA-E, MULTI-E, URBAN-E and CEUC. A big thank you to all my friends and colleagues that picked up my EV Challenge and joined the EV TEAMS! Thank you DG Move (European Commission), E.ON, GO4, IONITY, MOL, PETROL, RENOVATIO, ZSE, 0-100.ro. See the pictures. Start thinking. Are we really doing enough? Let’s keep doing more ! Follow on Twitter: #EVjounreyToLyon

I had the pleasure to enjoy a summer holiday in Iceland. Amazing green landscape, red lava flowing from volcanoes, bathing in hot rivers. A fast charger network for electric vehicles is deployed around the Island, in some of the most scenic and beautiful sites on earth. Yet, one couldn’t stop thinking.. A visit to the glaciers was horrifying. Seeing them melting in real life. Huge ice blocks detaching, floating into the sea. For visitors - the best ever scenery for “selfies”. Shining sun on the ice, sea waves hitting icebergs. For me, the thoughts kept creeping into my brain. Even in Iceland, the glaciers are melting so quickly. What does it mean for temperature change in the rest of the world. Is Global Warming just a horror scenario of some geeky scientist? Or a reality that is almost too late to stop? See the pictures. Start thinking. Is industry doing enough? Are politicians taken brave enough decisions? Is anyone implementing on the plans? Are we really doing enough? Let’s keep doing more !