It’s a fact! Electric mobility will play a larger and larger part in how we operate. But what about the Brussels electricity grid? Is it capable of meeting this new challenge?
Yes, the Brussels electricity grid is completely up to it! With the arrival of electric vehicles, our electricity grid must handle peaks in consumption from battery charging. However, no worries! Today, our electricity grid is very robust and has a large reserve capacity. It’s capable of supporting the conversion of 20% to 30% of the automotive fleet envisaged in Brussels by 2030, with no break in the current investment policy.
Ensuring the security of supply
Sibelga is currently studying how to incorporate various solutions to avoid excessive investment in the grid after 2030. It will be essential to have mechanisms that take into account users’ needs such as smart charging management. Not to mention solutions that enable us to optimise charging according to the peaks in consumption and the green energy available on the grid.
230V is no obstacle for electric cars
230V is in no way an obstacle to the deployment of electric vehicles. As in other major European cities, the Brussels grid’s voltage is mainly 230 volts. This voltage enables motorists to charge the equivalent of 20 km at 7.4 kW in the space of 30 to 60 minutes (the daily commute of a Brussels resident). Any electric car can also be fully charged from 0 to 100% overnight at this voltage.
Oslo, a city comparable to Brussels
Did you know that in Oslo, like Oslo a pioneer in terms of electric mobility, more than 40% of vehicles are already electric? Last year, electric vehicles accounted for more than 50% of sales in Norway! Yet, the Oslo city grid is quite comparable to that of Brussels as it mainly operates at 230V.
3,000 electric cabinets for rapid charging
At the same time, all the rapid charging points placed on the road in strategic high-rotation areas (e.g. shopping thoroughfares, etc.), will be directly connected to 400 volts via the grid or one of our 3,000 cabinets, spread across the region. The Oslo electricity grid demonstrates that this configuration is broadly sufficient.
Furthermore, for more than 20 years, Sibelga has chosen 400V in its conversion strategy for new major renovations or new connections, enabling a gentle transition with no major financial impact for Brussels residents.