Find out more about interesting charging solutions
The proportion of fully electric passenger cars on Belgium’s roads rose by as much as 75% last year. Even in the most conservative scenario, it is expected that by 2030, 20% of the total vehicle fleet will be fully electric. Electric lorries are also gaining ground due to various advantages over lorries with internal combustion engines, such as lower maintenance costs, quieter operation, a contribution to a more sustainable climate, and the company’s image, etc. It is expected that the TCO (‘Total Cost of Ownership’) between 2025 and 2030 will also be lower than for trucks with internal combustion engines.
Given the falling costs of purchasing electric vehicles, the tax incentives and legal requirements, it is safe to say that the future of mobility in and around your business will be electric!
The challenge is clear: as more and more electric vehicles hit the roads, businesses must have the infrastructure to support them. Without charging infrastructure, employees and customers cannot fully benefit from electric vehicles. That is why it is important to prepare your business premises to charge electric vehicles in a cost-effective and smart way.
That is why there is the EU agreement to strengthen the guidelines for charging points in car parks for:
new non-residential buildings (and those being renovated):
- More than 5 parking spaces require 1 charging point per 5 parking spaces, with cabling for at least 50% of the remaining parking spaces.
Existing non-residential buildings (implementation may be deferred until 2029):
- More than 20 parking spaces require 1 charging point per 10 parking spaces, with cabling for 50% of all remaining parking spaces.
Despite this progress, many shopping centres, supermarkets, office buildings and similar locations do not yet comply with these regulations. Let’s seize the opportunity to devise ideal scenarios for these locations, optimising the benefits, revenue models and electric infrastructure.
Installing charging infrastructure may seem like a simple process, but nothing could be further from the truth. Years of experience show that there are countless considerations you should take into account. Determining the right type of charging points for your target group, for example, is crucial. Oversizing leads to unnecessary costs and an increased load on the electrical infrastructure. Conversely, undersizing results in insufficient coverage of charging points for employees and customers, which in turn can lead to reduced convenience and satisfaction.
The connection capacity of the charging points is also an important aspect to determine. This is necessary to avoid additional costs, particularly given the capacity tariff and the impact of the growing charging infrastructure on electricity consumption.
Securing a low cost of electricity is also essential to avoid additional costs, especially given the high and fluctuating energy prices. We therefore recommend that you consider whether renewable energy can be linked to the charging of electric vehicles.
Consideration must also be given to who is permitted to use the charging points and which charging costs are charged at what rate. This allows you to avoid lost revenue and disputes.
Finally, when installing the charging points, long-term expansion (‘future-proofing’) must also be taken into account.
A sensible location and method of electrical connection are crucial to saving on additional costs relating to the existing electrical infrastructure, cable routes and excavation work.
It is also worth investigating whether subsidies are available, so that you do not miss out on potential revenue.
There will also be a number of financial changes in terms of regulations:
- The phasing out of tax incentives for vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) from 2026.
- The current 150% cost deduction for charging points, available until 31 August 2024.
- The obligation to sell only zero-emission vehicles in Flanders from 2029, and throughout Belgium from 2035.
For further assistance or questions, please get in touch with one of our experts. Let’s set off together towards a sustainable future!
We understand the unique challenges associated with electrification and have already demonstrated our added value to many companies. Thanks to our expertise gained over the past 22 years and our integrated approach, we can ensure that an optimal concept is achieved for both the short and long term (‘future-proof’), that risks are identified, and that cost optimisations of up to 35% can be realised, leaving you ready for sustainable mobility.