Pre-cabling of buildings should refer to both the technical cabling (cable path, technical sheaths, drilling) and the electrical pre-equipment in collective electrical installations (switchboard, horizontal electrical column, bus cable).

The comprehensive pre-cabling of buildings will enable the subsequent connection of individual charging points, at minimum cost, by simply installing a home charger. Furthermore, the pre-cabling of renovated buildings is a low hanging fruit, with little cost involved when done during the construction phase – which is the most efficient way to do it. Cabling after construction is completed is not cost-efficient and would lead to highly cumbersome discussions with project developers. Ducting infrastructure is a future-proof and cost-effective solution, the installation cost of which is minimal when compared to the total cost of constructing or renovating a building. By way of comparison, failure to ensure ducting infrastructure would entail costs that could be up to nine times higher if a building needs to be retrofitted.

Key recommendations:

  • Introduce an explicit definition of pre-cabling, in order to encompass the electrical installation; it should not be limited to ducting infrastructure. To secure efficiency, electrical installations should be considered as ‘technical building system’ (Art. 2.6).
  • Inform on the readiness of any building to safely install an EV charging point into the Energy Performance Certificates (Annex V).
  • Integrate Energy Performance Certificates information about the status (safety and readiness) of electrical installations (Annex V)
  • Set up local or regional one-stop-shop accessible websites and portals that combine various services, including the right to request with streamlined permits and installation procedures.
  • Ensure that requests for installing charging stations in collective properties do not exceed three months. (reinforce ‘right to plug’).
  • Address the administrative hurdles (for example, EV charging as extra-legal benefit for employees) as well as collective action problems (such as split incentives between EV and non-EV drivers, renters vs. owners, employee vs. employer, etc.).
  • Encourage Member States to financially support the installation of EV charging in buildings (including depots and logistic hubs for trucks, light-duty vehicles and buses). The Commission and its co-legislators, including the Member States, should also examine the possibilities of using new and current financial instruments to stimulate investment in private charging infrastructure.