The units were supplied and installed within six months by Swiss-Swedish power and automation group ABB, which also has a five-year agreement for technical support and back-room systems which connect the internet-enabled posts. Billing will be handled by local third parties.

Estonians are already offered subsidies of up to 50% on the purchase of an electric vehicle. The network of ABB Terra 51 DC fast chargers, all of which comply with the CHAdeMO standard and can offer full charge in under half an hour, is aimed at offering further incentives to encourage adoption in the country.

Estonia’s Minister of the Environment, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, said: ‘The fact that recharging is so easy is one of the main reasons more and more Estonians will decide in favor of electric cars in future. Our entire transport policy should be based on the notion that environmentally friendly travel is the cheapest and simplest option there is.’

Ulrich Spiesshofer, head of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division, added: ‘Having a nationwide fast-charging network will encourage motorists to switch to electric vehicles and it will motivate other countries to invest in their own charging infrastructure.’