Approximately one million euros secured for the installation of charging stations

Some love them, some not so much, but one thing is certain – electric cars and everything related to them is an unavoidable topic at round tables of political bodies, corporations, businesses, and households across Europe. Croatia is slowly but surely joining this conversation, as it, like the rest of the European Union, is forced to adapt its transport infrastructure (and everything else) to everything that is green and sustainable. The introduction of new charging stations, or solutions for charging electric-powered road vehicles in building parking lots, is yet another next big thing that connects energy and construction.

Legal Obligations

In 2019, Croatia stipulated a measure for the development of infrastructure for alternative fuels in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, committing to work on the development of charging station infrastructure for electric vehicles by 2030, as they are a necessary prerequisite for the development of the electric vehicle market.

Additionally, an amendment to the Construction Act in March 2021 added Article 21, which obliges all new residential and non-residential buildings or those undergoing major renovations to install a certain number of charging stations in their parking lots, as well as all other non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces to install at least one charging point.

– In accordance with these laws, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund announced a Public Call in June for the establishment of charging infrastructure in the parking lots of public sector buildings, aiming to install a minimum of 100 charging stations, and this call is still open. Therefore, in the coming years, we can certainly expect an increase in charging infrastructure in public sector parking lots – emphasized Hrvoje Prpić, president of the Strujni krug association.

Regarding the public sector, Prpić adds, in the last ten years, we have seen numerous city administrations and even smaller municipalities installing charging stations. Unfortunately, today many drivers feel that they are often inadequately maintained, so we should see an increase in the number of charging stations and their better maintenance in the coming years, hope those from Strujni krug.

– For the installation of charging stations, the Fund has secured around one million euros in recent years. We continued financing this year, in accordance with the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and the Law on the Establishment of Infrastructure for Alternative Fuels, and we opened the call exclusively for public sector buildings. Namely, in accordance with the Construction Act, at least one charging point must be installed in the parking lot of public sector buildings in public ownership with more than 20 parking spaces. Through the implementation of this program, we wanted to encourage the development of infrastructure at locations such as hospitals, schools, museums, theaters, libraries, and similar locations – explained Lidija Tošić, head of the Public Relations Department at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU).

How to Install a Charging Station

Furthermore, all new buildings or those undergoing major renovations with more than ten parking spaces, which applied for a building permit after March 10, 2021, must install channel infrastructure at each parking space. This measure aims to enable the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles in a later phase. As mentioned earlier, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund announced a Public Call in June for the establishment of charging infrastructure in the parking lots of public sector buildings with the goal of installing minimum 100 charging stations.

– This is currently the only financial support available for the public sector, while there are no supports for private owners for the installation of charging stations yet – explains Prpić.

Regarding the exact number of active charging stations in Croatia, there is no unified database that provides a concrete answer. However, by the end of 2022, there were approximately 950 charging stations available in the country, and a large number of electric vehicles are typically charged at home, which is why the situation with the number of available chargers relative to the number of electric vehicles is relatively good. Additionally, the Regulation on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (AFIR) is eagerly awaited, which will require EU member states to install a large number of charging stations on major roads. Specifically, member states will have to ensure charging stations every 60 – 100 kilometers, depending on the importance of the road.

To install a charging station for electric vehicles in front of buildings, it is first necessary to create a main project confirmed by a licensed engineer, and it may also be necessary to obtain additional confirmations and permits if it is necessary to increase the connection power for the installation of the charging station or if a canopy, self-service devices, etc., are planned, the Fund noted. Everything depends on the specific location, type of charging station, and the intended use.

Like the Introduction of the Internet

Prpić explains that these are devices of low power (up to 3.6 kW) that can be plugged into existing outlets. They are most often connected directly to the cable, but they also work by plugging into a regular outlet. Additionally, at the owner’s request, installations can be run that would allow for greater charging power.

– Currently, there are no best practices among cities regarding the installation of charging stations; this is a new process being established simultaneously in all European countries. From January 1, 2027, the so-called right to charge will enter the laws, allowing every resident to pull a cable from their apartment to their parking space. To avoid everyone pulling their own channel and drilling their own hole, it is better for resident representatives to organize the residents and jointly carry out the new installation. We can say that this strongly resembles the introduction of the internet into apartments, and it would be best to draw some experiences from what we did twenty years ago and do it better – comments Prpić.

Nevertheless, the domestic energy sector has significantly engaged in adapting transport infrastructure, so a large number of HEP’s ELEN charging stations can be found on Croatian roads, as well as those of Petrol, Mol, Hrvatski Telekom, and similar market players focusing on projects related to electric vehicles and everything that comes with them.

Key to every investment is, Tošić notes, of course, the landowner on which it is built, then the designer and electricity distributor, and if necessary, the local government must also be involved in the process. As a tourist country, it is clear that Croatia is indeed a land of opportunities for those who will take advantage of the electric craze and develop charging networks, which potential equipment suppliers have also recognized.

– Given that we are now all left to ourselves, the only stakeholders in the implementation of charging stations are property owners and electric vehicle owners. Energy companies will most often not have to participate in this, except in cases where garages are too far from apartments and when new connection points are introduced. In that case, dozens or even hundreds of meters will be installed, that is, a separate meter for each parking space that HEP will have to install.

If the parking space is less than 100 meters away from the apartment, this can be done by pulling a separate cable from the apartment to the parking space. Equipment manufacturers today are market-oriented, and chargers can be purchased in a larger number of places, so we could not call them key stakeholders – concludes Prpić.