Finland mandates electric vehicle charging points for non-residential properties by year-end

By the end of this year, thousands of non-residential properties in Finland must install electric vehicle charging points. This requirement applies to properties with over 20 parking spaces, including businesses and municipal buildings, potentially costing property owners tens of thousands of euros. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, will begin overseeing these installations starting in early 2025.

In Lahti, the parish alliance is preparing to order charging stations for around ten locations, with Facility Manager Jukka-Pekka Penttinen noting that funding of several tens of thousands of euros has been sought. While they initially planned to add a few stations voluntarily, they now face the obligation to install them in areas where the necessity is questionable, potentially diverting funds from more needed locations.

In Riihimäki, Facility Manager Visa Hämäläinen estimates the cost of a single 11 kW charging point to be approximately €1,500, which can provide enough charge for about 50 kilometers of driving. The parish plans to install charging stations at three sites, including the church, costing a few thousand euros.

Meanwhile, the Hämeenlinna parish union has plans for charging stations at 13 properties, with costs expected to range between €50,000 and €100,000, a negligible fraction of their budget. Hattula parish will build one charging point at a cost of around €6,000.

In Janakkala, plans are underway for charging points at three locations, with installation aimed for this year. However, Tervakoski and some other areas, like Loppi, will not see new stations due to insufficient parking spaces. Hausjärvi parish is also preparing an environmental diploma that includes electric vehicle charging considerations as part of its commitment to sustainability.