Automotive E-ssentials

TÜV SÜD provides safe charging stations in residential buildings  

The latest changes to the law will make it much easier for landlords and tenants to install a private charge point for electric cars in the parking garage or on their premises in the future. TÜV SÜD is ensuring that private charge points are safe to use and that the buildings’ electrics are not overloaded.

The Home Ownership Modernisation Law (WeMoG) came into force in Germany on 1st December 2020. The legislation aims to promote the expansion of e-Mobility. In the future, landlords and tenants will be entitled to install a charge point in the parking garage or on their land. The medium-term goal is for between five and 20 percent of garage parking spaces to be equipped with electric charge points. For new builds, the design should allow for all parking spaces to be fitted with charge points.

But even with a relatively low proportion of charging stations in residential buildings, the impact on electrical installations must be considered. Above all, it is the simultaneity factor that needs to be considered. This refers to the fact that most electric vehicles are charged in the early evening when other powerful appliances like electric cookers or electric kettles are in operation. According to the statement by TÜV SÜD experts, it must be ensured that the simultaneous operation of several consumers does not lead to an impermissible overloading of the electrical infrastructure and an associated fire risk.

Our TÜV SÜD services in this sector are based around guaranteeing the safe and reliable operation of charging stations in residential buildings – from planning to commissioning. We calculate the power reserves in the electrical infrastructure of a building in the planning phase and analyse the voltage quality. This allows us to predict the consequences that the installation of charging stations would have and which compensatory measures are required to avoid the entire system being overloaded. Thus, for example, an intelligent load management system can reduce peak loads and integrate renewable energy sources with the charging of electric vehicles.

Furthermore, the TÜV SÜD experts are not just familiar with the technical aspects, they also know about the legislation pertaining to construction and the regulations in norms and standards that need to be taken into account when installing charge points, for example the Garage and Parking Space Law (GaStellV) and the DIN VDE 0100 series of norms.

TÜV SÜD offers the following services for charging stations in residential buildings:

• The inspection of charging infrastructure projects during construction, including support regarding approval procedures, the testing of the existing technology and the inspection of planning and implementation documentation.
• The inspection of charge points and the associated infrastructure, e.g. testing prior to commissioning in accordance with DIN VDE 0100-600, regular inspections in line with DIN VDE 0105-100/A1 or tests based on requirements from insurance policies.
• Individual technical inspection services to suit customers’ needs.

You can find more information about our services for charging infrastructure here.