The German Integrated Building Charging and Cabling Infrastructure Act (GEIG) establishes the requirements for installing electric vehicle chargers in garages and parking areas.
Among other stipulations, it mandates that, starting from January 1, 2025, owners of non-residential properties with more than 20 park spaces must have installed charging points on their premises.
“Non-compliance with the GEIG can lead to a fine of up to 10,000 euros per missing measure,” says Daniel Yanev, Team Lead Consulting at M3E Group, to Mobility Portal Europe.
Approved on February 11, 2021, and in effect since March 25 of the same year, it is a key component in Germany’s transition to electromobility.
The regulation also requires that each new non-residential building with more than six parking spaces must have at least one charging point.
Additionally, for residential properties with more than five spaces, each one must be prepared for the installation of charging infrastructure.
In major renovations of existing properties, parking places must be adapted to allow the installation of “refuelling” stations.
The law aligns with the EU Buildings Directive and aims to accelerate the expansion of the network while maintaining the affordability of construction and housing.
In this context, other European countries already have similar regulations.
In Spain, the Royal Decree that mandates charging points in non-residential parking areas came into effect on January 1, 2023.
According to this regulation, each of these buildings must have at least one charger for every 40 spaces, up to 1,000 spaces, with an additional charger for every extra 100 spaces.
For establishments owned by the General Administration of the State, one station must be installed for every 20 parking spaces, up to 500 spaces, or from 40 spaces for public parking.
Additionally, there is an obligation to have at least one point within the premises or within a 300-metre radius.
However, Spain faces a challenge related to the lack of dissemination of the Royal Decree and the absence of a penalty regime.
“Unlike Spain, in Germany this law covers both residential and commercial buildings,” explains Yanev.
For instance, each new commercial property with more than six parking spaces, whether interior or exterior, must be equipped with at least one point, regardless of whether the parking is publicly accessible or not.
According to the NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), Germany has over 160 million park spaces.
It is important to note that the GEIG does not apply to small and medium-sized enterprise buildings predominantly used by them.
Nor does it apply to existing buildings if the costs for charging infrastructure and cabling exceed 7% of the total amount of a major renovation.
This leaves a segment of the market without this immediate obligation.
Estimates suggest that approximately 15,000 businesses in the studied hypothetical area employ about 143,000 people, with a projected demand for 47,000 parking spaces.
According to the German federal government’s goals, around 12,000 of these spaces should be equipped with charging points by 2025.
Is the law being adhered to with just 105 days remaining until the deadline?
“An exhaustive compliance analysis has not yet been conducted, but some reports indicate that GEIG’s provisions are not being implemented in all buildings,” says the representative of M3E Group.
In this context, fines of up to 10,000 euros make preparing for charger installation not just a matter of regulatory compliance but a strategic measure to avoid significant penalties.
Lack of preparation can lead to legal and financial complications for property owners, who must act swiftly to ensure their properties meet the new regulations.
According to the latest statistics on access to private garages for multifamily residential buildings, 9% of tenants and 23% of owners have access to a garage.
Additionally, around 14% of tenants and 23% of owners have access to an outdoor private parking space.
“23% of tenants and 46% of owners in multifamily residential buildings have access to an interior or exterior parking space that allows for the installation of charging points,” explains Yanev.
