EU Mandates Electric Car Chargers In All New Homes By 2019 (Update)

UPDATE Slowly, but arguably, constantly, all issues regarding the expected switch to electric vehicles are being ironed out between the auto manufacturers, their suppliers, technology companies and authorities.

For example, major drawbacks included the very limited range – which is now being addressed by the latest crop of new arrivals – or the time needed to recharge batteries while on a trip. There’s a new private consortium supported by the European Union that is looking to develop a network of ultra-fast chargers capable of delivering up to 350 kWh of energy – more than double what the Tesla Supercharger is currently capable. People’s perception of the segment is also important, but with stars such as Tesla and virtually every major automaker delivering at least one if not entire families of electric cars this is looking like a question of acquired taste.

Lastly, there’s infrastructure – we get some fast charging networks around Europe, but how about people parking their electric car in front of the doorway? Well, the European Union has approved new rules that will require any new house or apartment building to include electric car chargers starting 2019 – and according to a report the rule will also be applicable to home renovations. This would be a great incentive to buy an electric car – knowing you already have your own personal refueling infrastructure, right?

10/14/16 Sometimes, progress comes in baby steps, tiny improvements that move a whole series of events forward. The European Union has just approved regulations requiring that an electric car charger be included in every new and renovated home and all apartment buildings starting in 2019. Why is that important? Because charging infrastructure is vital to convincing mainstream buyers to switch to an electric car.

electric car charger

The regulations don’t specify what type of charger has to be installed. Presumably it won’t be just a Level 1 piece of equipment, which is little more than an extension cord plugged into the nearest wall socket. On the other hand, it won’t be a 150 kW charger like the one Porsche says will be needed for its upcoming Mission E.

The cost of installing an electric car charger when the walls are open so electricians can get at the wiring is modest — far less than hiring an electrician to do the job later when everything is buttoned up. It makes perfectly good sense to attend to something like this while a house or apartment building is going up or is being renovated.

European countries are way ahead of the US when it comes to planning for the future. The German Bundesrat last week voted to recommend a phase out of cars with internal combustion engines by 2030. Norway and the Netherlands want to phase them out in 2025. By contrast, the US is trying to figure out how Americans can continue to drive enormous pickup trucks and SUV until the 22nd century. The attitude in Congress and the auto industry is that we have to preserve our freedom to drive vehicles that get 20 mpg of less in routine driving. Anything else is an assault on truth, justice, and the American way.

“This kind of market stimulus is not just positive, it is mandatory if we want to see a massive roll out of electric vehicles in the near future," said Guillaume Berthier, head of electric car sales for Renault. “The question of how you recharge your car when you live in an apartment within a city is a very important one." gas2.org

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