EV charging infrastructure faces cost and logistical hurdles in residential housing

The expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in residential buildings is facing logistical and financial challenges across Scandinavia. In Sweden, new regulations allow residents in multi-family homes to request charging box installations if they cover the costs themselves. However, industry organization Fastighetsägarna has criticized these rules, noting that charging points are rarely standalone installations. This can lead to unexpectedly high costs for individuals; for example, one resident in Örebro received a quote of 100,000 SEK due to the need for new electrical feeds and cabinets.

In Finland, a renovation barometer indicates that 27 percent of housing companies plan to build charging stations between 2026 and 2030. Despite this, decision-making processes remain complex. In Helsinki, a housing company recently voted against enabling charging in its garage due to disagreements over cost distribution among residents, some of whom do not own vehicles. While some residents expressed concerns regarding fire risks, data from the insurer If suggests that EVs are statistically less prone to fires than petrol or diesel vehicles, citing 0.43 fires per thousand vehicles for EVs compared to 1.43 for diesel cars.