Starting from January 1, 2025, the Mobility Orientation Act (LOM) will impose new standards on public and private buildings to promote the use of electric vehicles. This regulation aims to make charging accessible in many living areas by requiring adapted infrastructures in car parks. This law marks a major step forward in accelerating the transition to electric mobility in France and establishes requirements for the deployment of charging stations for many sectors.
1. The obligations of the LOM law for car parks in public and commercial buildings
As of January 2025, the LOM law requires all buildings open to the public to offer charging infrastructures for electric vehicles. This obligation concerns places open to the public, such as the car parks of shopping centers, cinemas, offices, or hospital car parks.
New charging station quotas for parking spaces
To meet growing needs, the law imposes quotas for charging stations in car parks according to their size. Public and commercial buildings with a car park of more than 20 spaces must therefore offer at least 5% of their seats with charging stations. For example, in a shopping center with 100 parking spaces, 5 spaces will have to be equipped for electric charging.
For buildings built or renovated since 2017, the obligations are even more stringent. Car parks with 40 spaces and more must offer 10% of equipped seats, while those with greater capacity will have to reach 20% of spaces with charging stations. By setting these quotas, the aim of the law is to facilitate the charging of electric vehicles during frequent trips to public places.
Accessibility of the terminals for people with reduced mobility
The LOM law takes into account the accessibility of charging stations for people with reduced mobility (PMR). In car parks with more than 20 spaces, at least one terminal must be accessible for people with reduced mobility, while in larger car parks, two charging points must be reserved for persons with reduced mobility. This aims to ensure that the electrification of transport is inclusive and accessible to all users.
Also to be read: The mobility orientation law | Ministries Land Use Planning Ecological Transition
2. The obligations of the LOM law in car parks
The LOM law also introduces requirements for multi-family residential buildings, in particular for condominiums. These measures aim to facilitate the installation of charging stations in residential car parks to allow residents to charge their vehicles at home.
Obligations for condominium car parks
In the condominiums, the law imposes new rules as soon as a car park is renovated. During this work, At least 20% of parking spaces must be equipped with charging stations. This provision aims to encourage the installation of charging stations in existing condominiums, to facilitate residents' access to electric charging.
However, flexibility is provided for condominiums if the installation cost is too high. In the event that the installation represents a significant financial cost, co-ownership could be exempt from this obligation, after an evaluation of the costs. This adaptation makes it possible to encourage charging at home while taking into account the budgetary constraints of old buildings.
Obligations for company car parks
As of January 1, 2025, the LOM law imposes strict obligations for car parks in buildings for professional use, aimed at encouraging the adoption of electric mobility in companies. Business buildings with a car park of more than 20 spaces must be equipped with at least 5% of the charging station locations for electric vehicles. This obligation is even more stringent for car parks for buildings built or renovated after 2017, where 10% of the spaces will have to be equipped for recharging, or even 20% for high-capacity car parks. These provisions facilitate the charging of employees' electric vehicles and meet the needs of companies wishing to offer more ecological infrastructures that comply with new standards.
Obligations for hotel and restaurant car parks
Hotels and restaurants, as establishments open to the public, are also affected by the LOM law as of January 2025. The car parks of these establishments must include charging stations for electric vehicles according to their capacity. For example, a hotel or restaurant with a car park of more than 20 spaces will have to book at least 5% of its locations for electric charging, thus offering a practical solution to customers and tourists in transition to electric mobility. By integrating these facilities, hotels and restaurants will be able to attract customers who care about the environment and better comply with the requirements of current regulations.
Facilitating home charging
The new provisions aim to simplify the life of residents who want to acquire an electric vehicle. For many condominium owners, the absence of charging stations has often been an obstacle to the adoption of electric mobility. Thanks to the LOM law, condominiums will gradually be equipped, facilitating the charging of vehicles directly from home, which encourages a sustainable and more practical transition for residents.
3. Impacts and technical challenges of the LOM law for the electric mobility sector
The installation of charging stations in public and private car parks represents a major opportunity for the development of the electric vehicle market, but it also involves technical and financial challenges.
An impetus for the electric vehicle market
By increasing the number of charging points, the LOM law promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in France. Potential users of electric cars will be reassured by the availability of charging stations in the places they frequent on a daily basis. According to forecasts, it is estimated that the electric vehicle fleet could reach up to 7 million units by 2030. By supporting this transition with accessible charging infrastructures, the law contributes to a fundamental change in mobility habits, in line with national objectives to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Technical installation costs and challenges
Installing charging stations represents a significant cost for car park managers and condominiums. Depending on their power, fast charging stations (50 kW) can cost between 20,000 and 40,000 euros. These installation costs and the possible reinforcements of the electrical network in some buildings require significant investments. These elements highlight the importance of public aid or incentive funding to support the application of the LOM law, as car park equipment remains a major challenge, especially for small structures.
For condominiums and small public car parks, the question of financing is crucial. Some communities already offer assistance for the installation of charging stations, and other forms of support could be considered to facilitate the application of this law. Companies in the energy and mobility sector also play a key role in offering financing solutions or charging management models to support actors in this transition.
Conclusion
The LOM law provides a concrete answer the charging needs of electric vehicles by establishing quotas for charging stations in public and residential car parks. This legislative framework aims to support French people towards greener mobility by facilitating access to charging infrastructures throughout the country. By promoting the installation of terminals in the car parks of public, private and residential buildings, the LOM law meets a growing need and encourages the transition to electric vehicles.
While this law represents an important step forward, challenges remain to be overcome to ensure its success, especially in terms of financing and infrastructure. However, it is a significant step towards an energy transition and more sustainable mobility for all.
Also to read: Overview of current regulations on IRVE terminals: focus on the tax credit (CIBRE) — Qovoltis
