The number of electric cars will grow considerably in Finland in the near future and, according to forecasts, there will be an estimated 250,000 electric and hybrid cars found on Finnish roads by 2030. Just like other countries, the single biggest factor slowing down the sales of electric cars in Finland is the lack of charging stations.
That’s about to change in June 2017 as Varma and Parkkisähkö Ltd. is set to open the world’s largest PHEV or EV charging stations located at parking facility of Varma’s head office in Salmisaari, Helsinki.
The parking facility houses approximately 250 parking spots, and all spots that can be electrified will be connected to the charging system. The smart charging system in Salmisaari’s parking facility will also be able to withstand the load caused by high-speed chargers. The charging device can be selected according to the user’s needs.
The installation work for the joint project between Varma and Parkkisähkö began in Salmisaari in April this year, and the construction work is expected to be complete by June. Once the facility is complete, the building’s users will be able to charge all models of electric cars in the parking facility.
“This is one of the single largest parking facilities in the world to be equipped with chargers at nearly every sparking spot,” says Jiri Räsänen, CEO of Parkkisähkö.
“As electric cars become more common, charging stations will be needed in places where they spend extended periods of time. This has also been taken into account in the environmental certification of buildings, as well as in EU legislation to take effect in 2019 concerning requirements for electric vehicles in properties and new buildings,” Varma’s Commercial Property Director Toni Pekonen points out.
“Equipping the parking facility with electric car chargers also nicely promotes our target of reducing Varma’s carbon footprint; at the same time, it helps us encourage our tenants to opt for an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. The vehicles in the parking facility will be charged with green electricity, as the electricity in our property is generated by hydropower,” adds Pekonen.
When the installation work at Varma’s Salmisaari parking facility is completed, users of the building’s parking services will be able to order the recharging services they need from Parkkisähkö.
“We believe that the users of the Salmisaari parking services will value the flexibility of the service. With recharging offered as a service, the property owner’s role is highlighted, and at the same time, it promotes the quicker adoption of electric cars,” says Räsänen.
Source: Varma via Motor1
