Interview | Eldrive’s charging infrastructure is already outpacing the needs of the Bulgarian market

Dimo Kolchev took the helm of Eldrive in Bulgaria as CEO in 2022, having previously successfully led the company’s business development department. Under his leadership the operator has not only expanded its network but has also established itself as the undisputed pioneer and market leader in Bulgaria and the region.

The occasion for our conversation is the prestigious award that Economic.bg presented to the company – the “Leader in Sustainable Electromobility” award as part of the Master Business Awards campaign. The award recognizes the team’s long-standing efforts to transform electric vehicle charging from an exotic concept into an easy, accessible and widespread everyday service.

Mr. Kolchev, the Master Business Awards honor the architects of change, not just successful businesses. What is it that Eldrive has permanently changed – not only for its customers, but for the way Bulgaria thinks about mobility?

We believe that with a consistent approach to building and managing infrastructure over the years, we have been able to contribute to the process of changing consumer attitudes toward electric vehicles. Of course we were not alone in this endeavor – we received support from professional organizations, the media and car importers, but most of all from the consumers themselves, who believed in it.

Eldrive began as an idea at a time when electric mobility was virtually unknown to the general public in the country. What convinced you that right now and right here was the right place for such a business?

The trends were already evident at that time. Tesla was one of the most popular startups across the ocean, the first electric vehicles were already appearing on the streets of Sofia, but what was most decisive was the long-term vision of our shareholders. Every new business segment has to start somewhere and we had the privilege of being the pioneers in Bulgaria.

Ten years later we are now the largest operator in Bulgaria and we are also active in two other international markets – Romania and Lithuania – where we are striving to become the market leader as well. Electric mobility is becoming increasingly widespread and our efforts to lay the groundwork for an infrastructure capable of meeting demand far greater than what is currently available are paying off.

Eldrive is not just a charging station operator – the company offers a platform, B2B services, energy traceability and guarantees of origin. When did you realize that simply “installing charging stations” was not enough?

We have never viewed our business solely as “installing charging stations.” Due to the nature of the charging service the end result from the consumer’s perspective is very straightforward – the car’s battery is charged. To be good and successful an operator must take a broader view of the service provided and the user experience – the best locations, a rich ecosystem of related goods and services, excellent support when needed, a stable platform to manage all network processes, high-quality hardware to ensure the infrastructure operates without interruption, in-depth data analysis to drive improvements in processes and the user experience and many other steps.

This is not an easy business, nor is it one with a quick return on investment. Deploying infrastructure is a project with a long-term return on investment horizon that requires careful consideration of every step.

What are the three most significant barriers to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in Bulgaria today – and which of them is the most difficult to overcome?

There is certainly a lack of trust in the new, which is completely normal. Bulgaria’s vehicle fleet is the oldest in the European Union – the average age of a private car in the country is over 20 yr, and the vast majority of them are diesel-powered. This is a completely different world, one that is the polar opposite of electric mobility. We need to understand that people do not drive old diesel cars out of a love for that particular technology but largely due to economic factors. Nevertheless a large portion of these cars are at the very end of their service life and maintaining them is now difficult and very expensive. The combination of the need to replace aging vehicles, the development of the used electric vehicle market in Bulgaria and across Europe and high fuel and maintenance costs naturally drives the growth of electric mobility.

Electric cars have been around for more than 10 yr. Claims from the recent past that batteries would need to be replaced after five years have proven to be unfounded. Electric vehicles have proven to be significantly cheaper to operate and maintain than conventional cars, while also being comfortable and dynamic to drive. There are already many electric models on the market across every segment — at our most recent event in Sofia – Eldrive Electric Mobility Festival 2026 – over 40 models from more than 20 brands were showcased, five of which were national premieres.

In terms of the available charging infrastructure we do not see any issues – with few exceptions the road network is well-served by charging stations, and consumers can not only charge their vehicles with ease but also have a choice of options. I believe the market is reaching a stage where consumers will increasingly gravitate toward electric models based purely on market principles.

Bulgaria lags behind a number of EU countries in establishing a regulatory framework for charging infrastructure. What specific legislative or administrative changes would have the fastest and most visible effect?

The regulatory and administrative procedures and regulations governing the development of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Bulgaria have room for improvement. The timeframes for connecting to the grid are one of the issues. Regulations governing the installation of the infrastructure could also be optimized. Nevertheless Bulgaria continues to have a good ratio of charging stations to the number of registered electric vehicles.

The lack of subsidies for electric vehicles in Bulgaria is one of the main obstacles to their wider adoption. Do you think that under the current subsidy scheme the country can meet the European targets for the electrification of transportation – or is a fundamental change in the approach to incentives needed?

The electric vehicle market in Bulgaria has already moved beyond the stage where subsidies could be its main driver. The fact that it has developed without them is the better option. Subsidies around the world are a temporary measure intended to provide the initial impetus, after which the subsidy is phased out. In a small market like ours this could cause serious disruptions, as has happened in economies much stronger than ours. Here that initial push came about naturally, so that risk is absent.

Is there a “geographical divide” in electric mobility in Bulgaria – that is, a real risk that it will remain primarily a phenomenon of the capital or urban areas, while small towns and villages remain out of reach?

I would not say so. At the very least the cost of electricity and fuel is similar everywhere. Consequently the economic advantage of electric vehicles will hold true across different regions. Yes people in cities generally have higher purchasing power and would be able to replace their cars sooner, but that is not necessarily the case 100% of the time. I do not think there are many places in Bulgaria right now without an electric vehicle or a charging station within a few km.

Eldrive already operates in Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania. What is the difference in attitudes – among consumers, businesses and local authorities – between these three markets?

The three markets are very different – economically, geographically and in terms of consumer attitudes. All three show a sustained trend toward an increase in the electric vehicle fleet, but that is where the similarities end. From a consumer perspective customers in Lithuania have a more pragmatic mindset and despite the low temperatures they have recognized the benefits of electric vehicles.

Charging station technology is advancing at an extremely rapid pace with the focus shifting entirely toward ultra-fast charging. How do you plan to manage and upgrade your technology infrastructure in the coming years to avoid the risk of your infrastructure becoming obsolete?

Currently most vehicles have a maximum charging rate between 150 - 300 kW per hour with isolated cases reaching between 300 - 400 kW per hour. However this represents peak power for a very short period of time. The average charging rate for cars with 400V battery architecture is around 100 - 120 kW per hour, while for premium models with 800V architecture, it is around 200 kWh.

Currently the majority of our fast-charging infrastructure in Bulgaria has a power output of around or above 200 kW and at our larger key locations we have satellite systems with a power output of up to 500 kW per connector. This once again proves that in terms of charging infrastructure we are significantly ahead of actual consumer demand.

Beyond the sheer number of charging points on the map what is Eldrive’s overarching vision for transforming the transportation ecosystem in Southeast Europe by the end of the decade?

Our goal is to build a regional network of charging infrastructure for light- and heavy-duty electric vehicles that is dense enough to allow users to travel while charging exclusively at our stations while also offering a high-quality service with significant added value and a rich supporting ecosystem.

If you had to describe Eldrive five years from now – not in terms of numbers but through a vision of the company’s role in people’s lives – how would you do it?

There are brands that set and maintain standards for an entire sector and type of product or service. I would like Eldrive to be such a standard – a provider of such high quality and customer satisfaction. Certainly we as a company and a team are working toward this goal and that is our vision.

Translated with DeepL.