In recent months, several electric car owners using CHAdeMO connectors have approached us. Their concerns centre on the future: will CHAdeMO charging disappear entirely from Estonia? Is it still worth keeping these vehicles? And if charging is no longer possible, what options will remain?
Indeed, the use of the CHAdeMO standard is gradually declining among European and global manufacturers. However, we want to reassure you that, although the technology is becoming less common, this does not mean we are abandoning it entirely. Our goal remains to ensure nationwide coverage, with at least one functioning CHAdeMO charging point in every county.
Why are CHAdeMO connectors becoming less common?
CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve) is one of the first fast-charging standards, developed over a decade ago by Japanese car manufacturers. It made it possible to charge electric vehicles much more quickly and was particularly popular with the Nissan Leaf, which for many years was the most common electric car in Estonia.
Today, most car manufacturers in Europe and North America have transitioned to the CCS2 and Type 2 standards, which allow for faster and more consistent charging across the European Union. New vehicles with CHAdeMO connectors are no longer being produced.
As a result, several service providers have started removing or replacing CHAdeMO chargers, leaving many drivers concerned that their vehicles may soon be left without charging options.
Enefit continues to offer CHAdeMO support
Although new cars are no longer being manufactured, there are still hundreds of electric vehicles with CHAdeMO connectors actively in use on our roads. It is estimated that there are around 1,225 such vehicles in Estonia – mainly Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs – accounting for approximately 12% of all electric cars in the country.
It is important to us that the owners of these vehicles can continue to charge them conveniently.
To this end:
- we are reintroducing older charging points by installing CHAdeMO connectors;
- we are maintaining existing chargers in good working order, particularly in areas where they are actively used;
- we will continue to monitor usage levels – if usage is low in a certain area, we will redirect charging capacity to where it is needed most.
Our promise: as long as there are active users, we will continue to guarantee CHAdeMO charger coverage.
Enefit is the largest service provider in Estonia in terms of CHAdeMO availability – our network includes 35 chargers equipped with CHAdeMO connectors. In many areas, our chargers are the only ones offering CHAdeMO fast charging.
How do you find the nearest CHAdeMO charger?
You can easily find CHAdeMO chargers by visiting the Enefit website or using our public charging app. Both options allow you to select suitable chargers and plan your trip so they conveniently fit your route.
To do this, use the filter button next to the search bar and choose your preferred connector type and charging speed under Charging Type. The map will then display all charging points that match your selection.
You can download the Enefit app from the App Store or Google Play. The app requires a personal account to start, stop and pay for charging.
We recommend adding your preferred CHAdeMO charger to Favourites, so you can find it quickly in the future.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please email us at info@enefitvolt.com, call us on 777 3030 or submit a consultation request via our website. We are always happy to help!
