SMATRICS E-Mobility Talk: Tailwind for expansion of e-charging infrastructure through EU Buildings Directive
At the 6th SMATRICS E-Mobility Talk, leading experts discussed the impact of the new EU Buildings Directive on the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric mobility.
The participants were Hauke Hinrichs, CEO of SMATRICS, Peter Engert, Managing Director of the Austrian Sustainable Building Council (ÖGNI), Martin Wagner, Managing Director of VERBUND Energy4Business GmbH and Gerald Ebner, Managing Director of Österreichisches Volkswohnungswerk, Gemeinnützige Ges.m.b.H.
EU Buildings Directive as a game changer for electromobility
The amended EU Buildings Directive, which is to be implemented in the member states from May 2026, aims to completely decarbonize the building sector by 2050. This involves the mandatory integration of charging points in new and existing buildings - a crucial measure for the energy and mobility transition - and a tailwind for electromobility.
The experts agreed that buildings must not only be energy-efficient, but also equipped for decarbonized mobility. A long-term approach is the be-all and end-all here, as buildings constructed today should still “function” in 100 years' time.
Challenges and opportunities for the building sector
In addition to ecological and economic sustainability, social sustainability plays an important role in buildings - and mobility is a crucial part of this. Peter Engert sees the Buildings Directive as an opportunity to change the building stock in a CO2-neutral and sustainable way, to burden people less with operating costs and to create a built environment worth living in. However, the implementation of the directive within the next 14 to 15 months requires the government to act quickly.
This is made more difficult by the fact that implementation in Austria must take place at provincial level, as the provinces are responsible for building codes, building regulations and therefore also for energy efficiency-related regulations. So it doesn't take one adjustment, but nine.
“The EU's requirements are already very ambitious in themselves, time is short - it will be a feat of strength,” says Engert. He calls for targeted funding measures instead of subsidies based on the “watering can principle” and emphasizes the need to act early: “We can't wait for the directive to be fully implemented, we have to take action now.”
Charging infrastructure as part of the urban energy transition
Charging infrastructure is a central component of the urban mobility transition. As of February, there are currently 27,665 public charging points. “Public charging infrastructure is already stable and well developed throughout Austria, now we have to get into the living space and do the same there,” emphasizes Hauke Hinrichs.
In urban areas in particular, however, charging facilities at home or at work are not yet available to the extent that they will be needed in the long term. If you look at Vienna, it becomes clear what this means: there are currently around 930,000 vehicles here and a fleet of around 450,000 e-vehicles is expected by 2040.
“The first step for the required infrastructure in residential and commercial buildings is the guideline, which, among other things, provides for every fifth parking space in new buildings or every tenth in existing buildings to be electrified from 2027,” explains Hinrichs.
Charging infrastructure at home or at work is crucial if electromobility is to reach the masses in the long term. "We are facing a disruptive change. To seamlessly integrate electromobility into the energy supply of the future, the real estate industry, energy suppliers and grid operators must work together."
Smart load management for stable power grids
The integration of charging infrastructure therefore requires intelligent control solutions. This is because the limiting factor in real estate is the grid. “The biggest challenge is not installing the charging points, but controlling the load distribution,” explains Martin Wagner from VERBUND Energy4Business.
Intelligent load management, grid-friendly charging and storage options can ensure an even distribution of charging processes. Wagner also warns of a bottleneck next year: "We can't wait until the directive is in force. Then there will be a huge rush on providers of charging infrastructure and electricians - so it is all the more important to make provisions early on."
Suitable use cases are also needed: uncomplicated charging options must be created for long-term parkers in rental relationships, without operational effort for the property owners.
Solutions for tenants and property owners
Österreichisches Volkswohnungswerk has already commissioned a total of 240 charging points in 16 properties. This is because tenants are increasingly requesting and demanding charging infrastructure at their own parking spaces. For Gerald Ebner, one thing is clear: “It cannot and should not be the tenants' responsibility to take care of private charging facilities.”
At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that investments in charging infrastructure do not represent an excessive financial burden for property owners. "Thermal refurbishment and charging infrastructure retrofitting are only possible if there are sufficient reserves. This can be difficult for non-profit housing developers - especially if measures such as the rent freeze make it difficult to build up reserves."
However, sustainability in the building sector should always be a question of wanting to, not having to. The potential of the Buildings Directive lies above all in ensuring uniform standards and more speed.
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