EU agrees rules to make buildings EV ready

The EU Parliament has had its final vote on the energy performance of buildings including the installation of EV charging infrastructure. The rules differ from the EU Commission’s initial proposal as it asks for less charging opportunities.

The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive applies to residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces. These new buildings or buildings undergoing major renovations must now be equipped with the dedicated infrastructure (power lines’ ducting) suitable to allow for the subsequent installation of a recharging point for all parking spaces.

The same requirement will apply to (new and major renovation of) non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces, but only for 20% of parking spaces. For such buildings, at least one recharging point will also have to be installed and made available for users.

Furthermore, EU Member States must lay down requirements for the installation of a minimum number of charging points for all non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces, by 1 January 2025.

In general, the Directive requires the countries to simplify the deployment of recharging points in buildings by adapting permitting and approval procedures accordingly.

For the revised directive on Energy Performance of Buildings to become law after the EU Parliament has now given its approval, the Council of Ministers will have to finalise its formal agreement in an upcoming Council meeting in the coming weeks. Once they endorsed the Directive, it will be followed shortly by the publication of the text in the Official Journal of the Union, which will enter into force 20 days after publication. Member States will then have to transpose the new elements of the Directive into national law within 20 months.

europa.eu, ec.europa.eu (charging infrastructure,  paragraph 9)