Finding a better way to charge your car in Skagafjörður

A tea party at the Abai power station during the ÓB football championship in June. A new station has actually been installed now, but according to Feykis, the electric pumps are still two. Photo: ÓB

“Skagafjörður Municipality has been in contact with several parties who have expressed interest in building stronger infrastructure in the form of charging stations in Skagafjörður. One example is Orku nátúrnurn, which intends to build new charging stations in Sauðárkrók, Varmahlið and Hofsós,” said Sigfús Ingi Sigfússon, manager of Skagafjörður Municipality, when Feykir asked if the municipality was working on increasing the number of charging stations in Skagafjörður.

Sigfús Ingi said that Ísorka also planned to install a charging station in Varmahlíð. “Other parties then approached companies in the region directly to collaborate on the development of charging stations. Individual companies and institutions also set up charging stations on their premises, including Skagfirðingabúd, Kjarnann and others,” the mayor said.

There is a lot of emphasis on the electrification of cars across the country, but far less attention seems to have been paid to charging. Arguably, therefore, one of the most important factors in welcoming tourists is that many people who travel around the country in electric cars can now rely on fast charging stations. The situation in Skagafjörður could hardly be considered satisfactory, especially since in Sauðárkrók, a small fast charging station on the N1 Ábær is the only place where you can charge your car. In fact, a new station was recently put into use there, but the pumps are now two, where there were three before, but only two can be used at the same time, but the connection is more convenient. There are two slow charging stations open to the public in Skagfirðingabúð and Kjarnann, but charging a car there takes a long time, which is certainly not what tourists want. Feykir heard that people had difficulties charging their cars in Krók, and their reaction was that they would not return here in an electric car.

But now it seems that a better way is being found, but installing charging stations may not always be a simple matter. “Whether the infrastructure for developing charging stations is sufficient or whether it is necessary to provide new connections, new substations, change the layout, etc., depends on the specific situation,” says Sigfús Ingi. However, it is safe to say that the interest of companies in installing charging stations in Skagafjörður is increasing significantly – and that is a good thing.”