International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Paper deals with general overview of the electric vehicles on-board chargers, available in operation – both for new such vehicles and for those that have been obsolete, but are still moving on the roads in our country and around the world. Studies have been conducted and useful information on battery-powered electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles has been systematized. All this is done in connection with the ubiquitous decisive steps for large-scale and global introduction of electric vehicles, such as appropriate choice and necessity and the related topics for drastic change of the car fleet, which will cover firstly urban vehicles, the energy balances of power grids of the individual countries with a careful analysis of the expected load for normal operation, the environmental benefits, the energy efficiency and economic benefits from the use of electric vehicles and their technical improvement in the long run. In addition, under good management, the development of electric mobility can be one of the ways for achievment of employment and industrial growth.

One of the prerequisites for achieving the long-term goal of better atmospheric air quality is the transition to a low carbon economy and more sustainable transport through the increased use of electric vehicles. Statistics show that transport generates over 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the main sector in the EU where this indicator is still increasing.
Electric vehicle technology is constantly evolving and they are gaining in efficiency. Generally, electromobility is about charging, managing and using energy. The success of the automotive industry in the future will be determined by how quickly the development of traction motors and batteries will continue, as well as the charging infrastructure.
In order to ensure the normal operation of electric vehicles, it is necessary to build an adequate infrastructure of charging stations. The paper deals with the technical features and trends of charging stations for electric vehicles. The results are a summary and assessment of extending the boundaries of electromobility, contributing to a more sustainable future. Relevant conclusions have been done.

Electrical vehicles are in a new phase of development and utilisation. It has been a long time before such initiatives have taken place. In the meantime the transport as a whole (vehicles, roads, traffic, etc.) has been significantly changed. As expected the main role in this process globally, and regionally is taken by the biggest economies and companies. Besides the environmental priorities, the nature of transport which does not recognise borders enforces smaller economies and countries to adopt their policies in this area, and take chances of the development. This seems to be very complex process with number of challenges. Some of them are very specific for different countries, and it is up to the local researchers to recognize and deal with them. This paper addresses the problem of the infrastructure, i.e. developing of a network of charging stations. Since there are number of specific technical aspects accompanying electric vehicles (types of vehicles, range, charging limitations, price, etc.), the research has started with analysis of the vehicle fleet, road network, and intensity of the traffic in different areas of Republic of Macedonia. This picture is compared with technical characteristics of emerging electric vehicles on the market. That was the way to recognize advantages and disadvantages of use of electric vehicles as substitution of some of the vehicles in the actual fleet. Possible development of use of electric vehicles in the country had to be estimated based on foreign experiences, and such policies in the country. As a result an approach towards development of network of charging stations in Republic of Macedonia has been defined. There is an obvious need this view to be widely presented and discussed with a possible outcome to serve as contribution to the challenges similar countries will face soon.