The clock is ticking down towards new EU-wide rules on EV charging provision in commercial car park settings.

From 1 January 2025 the EU directive on charge points in car parks takes effect, with new requirements for destinations that have car parks with a number of spaces above a certain threshold. The new rules are part of the broader Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which focuses on non-residential buildings with car parks.

Some car park owners or third-party operators may have already introduced EV charging by now. In some of those cases their existing EVSE will be equal to or above the new requirements. But plenty of such car parks do not have any EV charging yet, or not enough to satisfy the new EU requirements.

CTEK is advising all car park owners and operators to familiarise themselves with the new rules and, if needed, have a plan of action for what is left of 2024. These new rules are a further development of legislation introduced in 2021, which required that all newly built residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces be prepared for charging infrastructure.

Now, non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces – such as shopping centres, sports arenas, leisure venues, transport hubs and other visitor destinations – must have installed at least one charging point by 1 January 2025.

In addition, the infrastructure to enable more charge points – including wiring ducts and conduits – must be in place and capable of supporting future charging point installations for one in five spaces in the car park.

The implementation of the new 2025 rules builds on existing requirements for car parks in other scenarios. Under the directive, any residential building that is newly built or substantially renovated and that has at least ten parking spaces must have both one charge point and the infrastructure to enable charge points to be installed for each space. These rules apply to housing cooperatives and rental properties, not individual homeowners.

And new commercial buildings with at least ten spaces in their car park must also have at least one EV charge point, plus the infrastructure for at least one in five spaces. And there is more to come…

When planning installation of EV charging points and the infrastructure for expansion, the owners of all non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces should also have one eye on 1 January 2027, when the requirements will be increased to one in ten spaces having charging and 50 per cent of all spaces having the preparatory infrastructure in place for future charging installations.

CTEK recommends taking a long-term view when planning and installing EVSE in car parks. Investing in futureproofed solutions now will be more cost effective in the long run, ensuring that your infrastructure can easily accommodate future expansions as demand grows.

And installing futureproofed charge points now, such as CTEK’s new CC3, will enable operators, and their EV-driving visitors, to make the most of the next generations of smart charging opportunities.

“These new rules will significantly boost EV adoption by making charging infrastructure more widespread," said Daniel Forsberg, Marketing Manager EVSE.

“As EVSE installations increase, we can expect a corresponding rise in EV ownership, contributing to more sustainable and environmentally friendly travel. This growth will drive advancements in both sectors, making electric vehicles a more convenient and attractive option for more people.”