By the end of 2025 there were 12.3 million electric passenger cars and vans in the EU and electric vehicles represented 27% of newly registered passenger cars and vans, as reported by the European Alternative Fuels Observatory.
By 2030, around 40 million electric vehicles are expected to circulate in the EU.
Where to charge your electric vehicle?
Cars are parked on average 23 hours per day and as much as 60% to 85% of all recharging is expected to take place at private recharging points by 2030.
The revised directive requirements will lead to the installation of more recharging points at home and at the workplace. The rules will apply to new constructions and to major renovations for which building permit applications are made after 29 May 2026.
Smart recharging allows users of electric vehicles to plan the time of charging according to
- the varying cost of electricity throughout the day
- the share of renewable energy being produced at a given time
- their personal needs
National and local authorities must identify and remove barriers to the installation of recharging points.
Requests may be refused only if there are serious and legitimate grounds.
Climate and health benefits
The electricity used to power electric vehicles is increasingly produced from clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar power or wind energy.
Electric vehicles don’t emit gases when running – which means less air pollution and bigger health gains for all - and they are more energy efficient than conventional cars.
Moreover, greenhouse gas emissions over the full lifetime of electric cars are significantly lower than for conventional cars running on fossil fuels.
From 30 May 2026, all parking spaces in new and renovated multi-family buildings, for which a building permit application is made, will be technically prepared for the future installation of recharging points and all car parks of new multi-family buildings will have at least one recharging point.
From 30 May 2026, all new and renovated non-residential buildings – such as supermarkets, schools or libraries - for which a building permit application is made, will have one recharging point for every 5 car parking spaces. The remaining parking spaces will be technically prepared for the future installation of recharging points.
From 1 January 2027, all non-residential buildings with large car parking spaces will either have one recharging point for every 10 parking spaces or ducting (empty tubes to later fit cables in) for 50% of parking spaces. The recharging points can be fast charging or normal charging or a combination of both. In case ducting already exists for other purposes in the car park, the building owner will not be required to redo the ducting.
From 30 May 2026, all new and renovated office buildings, for which a building permit application is made, will have one recharging point for every 2 car parking spaces.
New rules for car parks
The directive requirements apply to major renovations, which include the car park or the electrical infrastructure of a building, or car park.
There is a possibility of exemption where the costs for the recharging infrastructure represent more than 10% of the cost of the renovation.
The rapid increase in numbers of electric vehicles and the installation of recharging infrastructure will need to be accompanied by appropriate fire safety measures.
From 30 May 2026, all new and renovated multi-family buildings, for which a building permit application is made, will have at least 2 bicycle parking spaces per apartment.
From 30 May 2026, all new and renovated non-residential buildings, for which a building permit application is made, will have bicycle parking spaces proportionate to the number of visitors, including for bikes larger than the standard size.
From January 2027, all existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 car parking spaces, such as schools, offices, supermarkets, will have bicycle parking spaces proportionate to the number of visitors, including for bikes larger than the standard size.
The number of bicycle parking spaces can be adjusted depending on the type of buildings or local conditions like geography or demographics. Pre-cabling and ducting obligations will enable the installation, at a later stage, of recharging points for electrically powered bikes.
Support on national level
If you – as owner or tenant - wish to install bicycle parking spaces or recharging points for electrical vehicles in your building, there are one-stop shops and national support measures who can assist you with technical assistance and to identify appropriate financing options.