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PhrasesAt the Petrol StationC'è una colonnina per auto elettriche?
B1

C'è una colonnina per auto elettriche?

Is there a charging point for electric cars?

Pronunciation

'Colonnina' — 'co-lon-NI-na'. Four syllables; double 'n'; stress on third syllable.

When to use it

Ask when driving an electric or plug-in hybrid car and looking for a fast charger at a petrol station stop.

What it means

'Colonnina' (little column) is the Italian term for an EV charging point. 'Auto elettrica' means electric car. Italian fuel stations are rapidly adding EV chargers as part of the national electrification strategy.

Variations

Che potenza ha il caricatore?

What is the charger power output?

Asks about kW to estimate charging time.

È un caricatore veloce?

Is it a fast charger?

Distinguishes between slow AC and rapid DC chargers.

Quale app devo usare per la ricarica?

Which app do I use to charge?

Asks about the required app for the charging network.

Mini Dialogue

— C'è una colonnina per auto elettriche? — Sì, è lì a destra. Fa fino a 50kW. — Quale app uso? — Enel X. La scarica gratis.

— Is there a charging point for electric cars? — Yes, it's over there on the right. It goes up to 50kW. — Which app do I use? — Enel X. It's free to download.

Cultural Note

Italy's EV charging network is growing fast, led by Enel X, Be Charge, and A2A. Petrol stations are key hubs. Italy's PNRR (National Recovery Plan) commits billions to installing chargers along motorways by 2026.