Public authorities are increasingly promoting the purchase of electric vehicles. These vehicles obviously require the installation of charging stations in the owners’ homes. The problem: the operation is very complicated when you live in an apartment building.
Since 2019, the condominium cannot prohibit its members from installing a charging station on their parking space. However, today, many trustees advise against it. “For the moment, all that is charging stations for electric vehicles in the common areas which can present a danger, that is to say underground, we refuse. We say to the co-owners: ‘Wait, we are trying to find common solutions’. The installation of common terminals outdoors, for example“, explains Tanguy De Gerlache, co-ownership union.
At issue: the very restrictive security measures. There is not yet a legal framework, only recommendations given by firefighters. “We will impose, in most car parks, only sprinkler systems, therefore automatic extinguishing systems, smoke extraction systems to evacuate smoke, detection systems which will warn us early“, indicates Patrick De Huisser, officer within the Walloon Brabant rescue zone. “Because the goal, on the one hand, is to shelter residents as quickly as possible, but also to be able to secure the responders, namely the firefighters“.
What budget for terminals?
In most buildings, this fire safety equipment does not exist, and installing it is very expensive. A budget that is added to the already substantial one of the charging stations. “For a very basic installation, for which a condominium would say that two or four connectors are available, we end up with budgets of less than 10,000 euros. On the other hand, if the co-ownership decides to install something more substantial, with the possibility for each co-owner to have a connector in his garage, we can end up with budgets well beyond 30,000, even in large installations. over 100,000 euros“, specifies Raphaël Couniot, electrician.
Whether electricians, firefighters or management trustees, all are waiting for a clear directive, whether national or European.