Kencijfers Openbare Laadinfrastructuur Elektrisch Vervoer – Research Report on Public EV Charging Infrastructure
The Kencijfers Openbare Laadinfrastructuur Elektrisch Vervoer is a research report published by the Nationaal Kennisplatform Laadinfrastructuur (NKL) in May 2017. Developed in collaboration with entities including CROW, HvA, and TU Eindhoven, the document establishes a methodology for determining the required number of public charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) in the Netherlands. It serves as a regulatory reference for municipalities and market parties to integrate EV charging needs into standard parking policies.
The scope of the research covers public charging infrastructure within existing built environments and new development projects. The document distinguishes between three primary area types: Wonen (Residential), Werken (Work), and Bezoeken (Visiting). Regulatory benchmarks are derived from charging data collected in Amsterdam, The Hague, and various municipalities in the province of Gelderland. The report defines key figures as a percentage of the total public parking capacity (%P), enabling planners to scale infrastructure requirements regardless of the absolute number of parking spaces.
This document provides concrete values for both 2017 and 2020, offering a bandwith for implementation based on whether a municipality adopts a Terughoudend (conservative) or Actief (active) stimulation policy. By standardizing these figures, the report facilitates the transition from ad-hoc, request-based placement to strategic, proactive infrastructure planning.
Usage Profiles and Area Types
The methodology identifies three distinct Gebruiksprofielen (usage profiles) based on connection times and arrival patterns observed in charging data:
- Residents: Typically connect in the evening and depart the following morning, with connection times exceeding 8 hours.
- Workers: Arrive at the start of the workday and depart at the end, typically connected for 5 to 8 hours.
- Visitors: Divided into short-stay (under 2 hours) and long-stay (2 to 5 hours) categories.
These profiles determine the classification of areas into residential zones, work locations, and visiting destinations, each requiring different charging densities.
2017 Residential Key Figures (Kencijfers Wonen)
Residential requirements are categorized by the economic segment of the neighborhood, as income and property type (e.g., lack of private driveways) directly influence EV adoption and public charging demand:
- Expensive (Duur): Pre-war neighborhoods with high incomes and high car ownership. Benchmarks: 0.6% (Conservative) to 1.2% (Active).
- Middle (Middel): Includes pre-war areas with limited private parking and post-war areas with moderate car ownership. Benchmarks: 0.2% (Conservative) to 0.35% (Active).
- Cheap (Goedkoop): Areas with high proportions of social housing. Benchmarks: 0.05% (Conservative) to 0.15% (Active).
Work and Visiting Locations
Charging needs in non-residential areas are tied to regional function and organizational policy. For Werken (Work) locations, the minimum benchmark is set at 2.0% of public parking spots. This figure relates to the percentage of EVs in commuter traffic and can be higher depending on specific company fleet policies.
Visiting locations are subdivided by stay duration:
- Long-stay (Bezoekers-lang): Regional destinations like theme parks, zoos, or cinemas where visitors stay over two hours. Benchmarks: 1.5% to 2.0%.
- Short-stay (Bezoekers-kort): Neighborhood functions like supermarkets or doctors' offices. The report concludes that charging infrastructure is not necessary here (0%) due to short connection times and short travel distances (typically under 7 km).
2020 Forecasts (Doorkijk naar 2020)
To support long-term urban planning, the report provides a prognosis for 2020 based on a conservative growth scenario of 133,000 electric vehicles in the Netherlands. The 2020 benchmarks are adjusted as follows:
- Residential (Expensive): Increased to 0.8% - 1.7% of parking capacity.
- Residential (Middle): Increased to 0.3% - 0.5%.
- Work Locations: Increased to a minimum of 3.0%.
- Long-stay Visitors: Increased to 2.5% - 3.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the general recommendation for public charging points per 100 parking spaces?
On average, based on 2016-2017 data, the report suggests there should be 1 public charging point for every 100 public parking spaces, though this varies significantly by area type.
Are charging points required for supermarkets and short-term parking?
No, the report indicates a 0% requirement for short-stay visiting locations as the connection time is too short for substantial charging and travel distances are usually low.
What is the difference between conservative and active policy benchmarks?
The lower percentage (Terughoudend) represents the minimum required to meet current user demand, while the higher percentage (Actief) is used when a municipality aims to stimulate EV adoption.
What is the 2020 benchmark for work-related parking areas?
For 2020, the report forecasts a minimum requirement of 3.0% of the public parking area for work locations.
Which factors influence EV charging demand in residential areas?
Demand is primarily influenced by the availability of private parking, household income, car ownership rates, and the specific housing segment (Expensive, Middle, or Cheap).
How should a municipality calculate the number of charging spots for a new development?
Planners should apply the relevant percentage benchmark (e.g., 1.7% for expensive new builds in 2020) to the total number of parking spaces mandated by municipal parking norms.
