Estonia will only partially implement the European Union directive requiring that, starting next year, half of the parking spaces at large stores be equipped with electric vehicle charging points, reports ERR News.
The EU updated its Energy Efficiency Directive two and a half years ago, with one of its goals being to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles. For instance, a requirement is set to take effect next year mandating one EV charging station for every ten parking spaces at large non-residential buildings. Additionally, every second parking space must be equipped with the necessary connections to allow for the future installation of a charging station.
Nele Peil, head of the Estonian Traders Association, stated a year and a half ago that the infrastructure investments required to meet the directive’s minimum standards would cost companies between 500 million and 2 billion euros. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal also remarked at the time that installing such connections in parking lots was not sensible and that the requirements needed to be discussed with the European Commission.
The Estonian Ministry of Climate has decided not to implement this specific provision of EU legislation; consequently, it was omitted from the draft bill sent to stakeholders for review on Monday. Ivo Jaanisoo, Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Climate, stated that Estonia has proposed to the European Commission that requirements regarding charging stations for large parking lots be relaxed. He explained that, following consultations with business associations and an assessment of technological advancements since the directive’s adoption,
it is currently unclear how the new regulation could be implemented in Estonia in its present form.
He emphasized that, for the promotion of sustainable transport, ensuring sufficient grid capacity to support existing practices is far more important.
Jaanisoo noted that all Member States are currently behind schedule in implementing the EU directive, and Estonia hopes that other nations will also reject the implementation of the requirements concerning charging infrastructure. However, these remain mere hopes for now, as the extent to which other countries will implement the directive’s requirements is unknown. Discussions with other nations suggest that the issue is not a priority or a pressing concern elsewhere. Many countries have already made significant strides in developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and possess large numbers of electric vehicles.
Peil stated that the Estonian Traders Association supports the Ministry of Climate’s plan, noting that some companies have likely already begun actively working to meet the directive’s requirements—for instance, by establishing the necessary connections for charging stations. She pointed out that these companies would benefit even if the requirement were to be scrapped. She argued that, when choosing between making investments for 100% of parking spaces and bearing the full cost, versus addressing 20% now and avoiding additional costs for the remaining 80%, the latter remains the better overall alternative to a 100% investment.
According to data from the Estonian Transport Administration, there are currently nearly 12,300 electric vehicles in Estonia, representing less than 2% of the total vehicle fleet.
The Ministry of Climate will accept feedback from stakeholders regarding the planned changes until the 28th of September.
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