Scaling Smart Charging Across the Baltics: Interview with Eimantas Balta of IgnitisON

The Baltics aren't being left behind in the race to roll out charging infrastructure. Ignitis ON plays a large part in the region by expanding a fast-growing, cross-border charging network. In this interview, Eimantas Balta, Head of EV Charging at IgnitisON, shares insights into the practical challenges of scaling infrastructure in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia—from ensuring charger reliability and balanced usage to strengthening physical security and preparing for grid disruptions. Discover how Ignitis is navigating these various needs to build a resilient, future-ready EV charging ecosystem.

1) What are the main problems Ignitis comes across when trying to scale a charging network? How do they address these problems?

As of March 2025, Lithuania has around 60 charge point operators (CPOs) and 2,540 publicly accessible charging points. Growth is supported by financial incentives, and regulations now require at least 20% of spaces in new or renovated parking lots to support EV charging. Ignitis ON is leading this expansion. 

Our network includes 659 charging stations with 1,308 charging points out of which 968 are fast charging points. Operating across all three Baltic states, we provide broad regional coverage. With one account and the Ignitis ON app, EV drivers can travel seamlessly across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

One challenge we actively manage is ensuring balanced usage across our network. To address this, we offer targeted promotions in low-traffic areas to reduce congestion elsewhere.

We believe the “chicken-and-egg” question—whether infrastructure or EV adoption comes first—has already been answered. The infrastructure is already here and growing rapidly. The next challenge is accelerating EV adoption.

 In Lithuania, there are currently 17,788 battery electric M1 passenger vehicles. Including all categories, that number exceeds 23,000. According to projections by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, this figure is expected to rise to 240,000 by 2030. We believe the challenge heavily lies on sustainability and changing people's mindsets.

2) Could you speak to the EV charging infrastructure in Lithuania or other nations where Ignitis ON has chargers? What are there any unique challenges in these countries?

Lithuania is our core market, hosting the largest share of the Ignitis ON charging network. It also has the highest number of EVs among the Baltic states. While we also operate in Latvia and Estonia, the challenges across the region are largely similar: securing strategic charger locations, ensuring sufficient grid capacity, and streamlining permitting processes.

Even though there are no uniquely different obstacles in each country, our focus remains on building a reliable, user-friendly network that enables seamless EV travel throughout the Baltics.

3) What are the most crucial features you are looking for when selecting the right hardware for your sites? What is currently lacking among the hardware providers on offer today?

At Ignitis ON, reliability is our top priority when selecting EV charging stations. Uptime—the time a charger operates without issues—is a key factor, as it ensures a smooth user experience. While no hardware is flawless, what truly matters is how quickly the manufacturer can respond when faults occur.

Given that almost 500 out of our 659 charging stations are fast chargers, we place a strong emphasis on high-power units. Our fast chargers typically range from 45 to 149 kW, while ultra-fast chargers start at 150 kW and above. In our charging parks, we offer power levels from 200 kW, ensuring drivers can charge and continue their journeys very quickly.

Beyond speed and reliability, we prioritize advanced features like real-time monitoring and load management. These systems collect and analyse data to optimize performance and ensure network stability.

We also focus on making the experience user-friendly. For instance, business clients can request an RFID key, link it to their payment card through our app, and simply tap it on the station’s RFID reader to start a session —making charging quick and seamless.

4) Speaking of user experiences, you recently posted about the need for physical security at charging locations. Is enough being done to ensure cables and hardware is protected? How top of mind is it for CPOs?

CPOs aren’t standing still—they are actively addressing the issue, and Ignitis is leading the way with multiple security solutions. To protect our Ignitis ON network, we’ve implemented smart security systems that trigger alarms if cables are tampered with and help trace their location.

Additionally, we've installed surveillance cameras at EV charging stations and integrated them with professional security services. These systems are supported by AI-powered video monitoring, making it significantly harder for criminal activity to go unnoticed. Other CPOs are also taking similar measures, such as installing alarms.

All CPOs, including Ignitis ON, are improving coordination with law enforcement. We report all thefts to the police, share data on criminal incidents among ourselves, and submit collective reports to help authorities respond more effectively.

These measures have already led to the apprehension of two groups involved in cable theft. However, it’s too early to say that enough is being done. Security remains a top priority, and we are continuously exploring new ways to strengthen it. Without robust protection, the expansion of EV charging infrastructure could slow down—and that’s a future none of us wants.

5) How are recent grid stability issues, like the Iberian Peninsula blackout, reshaping how fleet operators/CPOs think about charging infrastructure resilience?

We recognize the need to strengthen both theft prevention and the ability to charge electric vehicles during blackouts. Recent events on the Iberian Peninsula have shown how disruptive power outages can be—when the grid goes down, even traveling by car may no longer be possible. Fuel stations need electricity too, so petrol or diesel vehicles can't be refueled during a blackout. The same applies to EVs at public charging points.

However, EVs offer more flexibility in these situations. With off-grid solar panels or home battery systems, they can still be charged without access to the grid. Some V2L or V2H vehicles can even power household appliances directly from the car’s battery—an essential advantage during emergencies.

We must be prepared for blackout disruptions, especially given the realities of having a neighbor like Russia, as such outages could be the result of intentional interference. That’s why we are continuously working to ensure that EVs can be charged even during power outages. In fact, the first battery storage units are set to be installed within the next year at an EV charging park along the A1 highway, which is Lithuania’s main transport artery connecting the country’s three largest cities: Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda.

Are you scaling EV charging infrastructure to drive EV adoption? We'd love to hear from you about how wecan work together! Find out more about our EV charging APIs at edrv.io or reach out to us directrly at hello@edrv.io.

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