42 EV Charging Points at Ideapark Lempäälä
Ideapark Lempäälä features a concentrated hub of EV charging points. The availability of charging attracts visitors to the shopping centre and extends the time customers spend on site.
Ideapark Lempäälä is home to more than 150 retail stores as well as the largest car dealership in the Nordic countries. The shopping centre offers over 3,000 parking spaces and 42 electric vehicle charging points.
The EV charging hub at Ideapark Lempäälä was a large-scale project in which all charging points were installed at the same time. With a high number of charging spots, the goal was to provide customers with exactly what is in demand, says Tero Mäkelä, Property Manager at Ideapark Lempäälä.
“Electric vehicles and EV charging are a growing trend.”
Charging extends and improves the shopping experience
Most customers arrive by car. Visitors come from all over Finland and, under normal circumstances, also from neighbouring countries and elsewhere in Europe. The majority of quicker everyday shopping visits come from the Pirkanmaa region. The availability of EV charging makes Ideapark an attractive destination.
“Charging stations have a clear effect on extending the length of customer visits,” Mäkelä notes.
Ideapark Lempäälä records over 2,000 charging sessions per month, with an average charging duration of two hours.
Sufficient charging capacity for everyone
From a technical perspective, the charging project involved certain boundary conditions. The charging hub needed to be located in the parking area close to the main entrances. Adequate power supply was ensured by placing the hub near a transformer. The system balances power dynamically based on demand.
A large number of charging points were installed at once because the need for them was clearly identified. The main charging hub is located at the A wing, with two chargers positioned near the Prisma entrance at Door D.
“Fortunately, we built plenty of charging spots. This way, arriving customers can always trust that there will be available chargers,” Mäkelä says.
EV charging is increasingly relevant for shopping centres
Mäkelä believes that the demand for charging infrastructure will continue to grow.
“You don’t have to be a wizard to see that the use of charging points will increase in the future.”
New regulations concerning EV charging at commercial properties will soon come into force, and Ideapark has taken a proactive approach.
According to Mäkelä, Ideapark is also prepared to expand the charging hub if demand increases.
“EV charging is on the agenda of every shopping centre. Needs and starting points vary greatly, but fortunately there are many different solutions available,” Mäkelä says.
“Working with Plugit has been smooth and flexible. We have had very positive experiences with maintenance and repair services. Whenever support has been needed on site, it has been delivered quickly.”
According to Mäkelä, Plugit’s solutions are also highly adaptable.
“If there is a need to adjust usage, operating hours, or pricing, this system makes it possible. The system is well designed and adapts to the customer’s needs.”
AI translation, Original story published in Finnish
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