Readiness of Belgian Property Market for Electrical Vehicle Regulations from 2025
In a bid to support the growing electric vehicle (EV) market, Belgium is implementing new regulations for EV charging infrastructure in non-residential buildings. As of January 2025, minimum requirements for charging stations will apply to the owners of such buildings in the regions of Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia.
Under the Charging as a Service (CaaS) model, building owners can choose to own the charging stations or other electrical infrastructure, while the Charging Point Operator (CPO) handles installation, operation, and maintenance. The CPO is also responsible for ensuring transparent pricing, easy payment options, and cross-operator interoperability, as per the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
For public car parks or car parks not related to a residential or office building, at least 2 charging points and infrastructure for 5% of parking spaces are required. For car parks related to office buildings, infrastructure for 10% of parking spaces is necessary. However, specific minimum quantities or percentages for other types of non-residential buildings, such as commercial buildings or public facilities, are not directly detailed in the available sources.
In Flanders and Wallonia, regional policies aligned with broader EU regulations are promoting sustainability, circular economy, and renewable energy infrastructure. These initiatives may impact how EV infrastructure is incorporated in non-residential developments.
Interestingly, the installation of charging stations and infrastructure does not require environmental or urban planning permits, but the installation of a voltage cabin for DC chargers does require an environmental permit. The reinforcement or creation of electricity grid connections for new charging infrastructure must be applied for with the electricity system operator.
Real estate owners, managers, and developers should prepare to install the required charging stations across Belgium by the deadline. Additional regulatory requirements may apply if the EV project includes on-site renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.
As of 1st July 2024, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in Belgium due to new company car policies, changing consumer behaviors, tax incentives, and recent European and national legislation. The initial requirements for car park owners to install a minimum number of charging points will come into force as of January 2025 in all three Belgian regions.
In the Purchase model, building owners can purchase the charging stations and infrastructure outright, while in the Shared model, the CPO owns and manages the charging stations, with the owner paying for usage. The Self-management model allows building owners to manage the charging stations and infrastructure independently.
For EV drivers, the e-mobility service provider offers a charging service and is responsible for developing a charging mobile app and handling payments.
For authoritative details, consulting official regional legislation or websites as of the start of 2025 would be necessary, since the public summary sources focus more on general EV market trends and regulatory frameworks rather than specific quotas or thresholds for charging stations in non-residential buildings.
Sports enthusiasts in Belgium may find it interesting to know that alongside the growing electric vehicle (EV) market, there are new regulations being implemented for EV charging infrastructure in non-residential buildings, such as commercial buildings or public facilities, as part of regional policies promoting sustainability and renewable energy infrastructure.
With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles in Belgium, real estate owners, managers, and developers may need to consider incorporating EV charging stations in their non-residential developments, as the initial requirements for car park owners to install a minimum number of charging points will come into force as of January 2025 in all three Belgian regions.
