Column Judith Witte: Charging challenges

While my working memory is immersed in the world of energy management for this final pre-summer edition, my mind has already quietly wandered off to potential vacation destinations. Surrounded by terms such as charging anxiety, grid congestion, peak loads, buffering e-boilers, energy caps, and transmission capacity, I find myself wondering: how am I going to get to Spain? Flying comes with flight shame. Taking the train means factoring in an enormous amount of extra travel time. So, should I just take the EV?

At the start of this year, there were more than 2 million passenger cars with an electric motor on Dutch roads—almost a quarter more than the year before. So electrification seems to be progressing well. “EV drivers are generally positive about their driving range and the ease of charging, including abroad,” according to the ANWB. In my mind, I travel back to that vacation in France, when the battery level kept dropping and there was not a charging station to be found anywhere in that idyllic village with its picturesque market square... Nor in the next village over. The nearest one—located in a supermarket parking lot miles away—was out of order. As the battery level continued to fall, my charging anxiety rose to unprecedented heights. On the drive home, we stuck to highways and toll roads to be on the safe side. Sometimes there were long lines at the charging stations. We patiently waited our turn, stretched our legs, then joined new lines for coffee, soggy fiber-free sandwiches, and the restroom. Which brings me straight to congestion. A much-discussed topic when it comes to our electricity grid, yet a major taboo when it comes to our digestive system. Even though a great many people suffer from constipation (according to the Dutch Digestive Disease Foundation). It often happens when we step away from our familiar environment and routine—which is usually the case when going on vacation.

Our grid congestion problem is partly caused by peak demand. In people, it is often just the other way around: peak demand causes congestion. In your factory, a smart energy management system can help avoid peak loads—for example, by monitoring energy consumption in real time, enabling practical solutions such as peak shaving.

The same principle applies to people! Want to recharge your own battery this summer? Monitor yourself! Take a closer look at what—and who—gives you energy. Which people and activities drain it away? And who or what gives you a boost? Act accordingly! Who knows, your congestion may disappear like snow in the sun. In the meantime, drink plenty of water, stay active, and... eat fiber. Lots of fiber. “Fibermaxxing” is the buzzword of 2026—mark my words!

Judith Witte
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