The town of Akureyri has set the objective of becoming a carbon-neutral society. Increasing the number of environmentally friendly cars is critical to achieving this goal. In recent years, the number of purely electric vehicles in Iceland has increased. According to Transport Authority figures, such vehicles first appeared on the road in 2014 and 2015, and by the end of 2020, there were 6,953.

Most electric car owners, whether they live in an apartment building or a house, prefer to charge their vehicles at home. For electric car owners who live in apartment buildings, setting up charging stations is easier said than done. There are examples of apartment owners placing extension cables from their apartments to their driveway or parking lot, which can create a fire hazard.

Charging electric vehicles consumes a significant amount of power, which can be dangerous if connections and other charging infrastructure are not properly installed. Charging a large number of electric vehicles can easily consume more energy than other uses in the complex. As a result, it is critical to ensure safety during installation and to follow the rules of the Icelandic Construction Authority.

The Department of Human Services, charging station importers, and other companies have issued guidelines for charging station installation, outlining which laws and regulations to be aware of and which to avoid.

It is also a good idea to contact Norðurorka, a dealer of charging solutions, electricians or other professionals for assistance and guidance. More information can be found under this page's tabs and related content.

The National Energy Authority’s map shows many of the charging stations that are open to the public. This map is useful for electric car owners travelling long distances because it provides an overview of the charging options available in each geographic area. The map is a live document that is updated regularly. Suggestions and corrections can be sent to hledsla@os.is.

The information on this page is generated in collaboration with Orkusetur, Norðurorka, Fallorka, Akureyri, Hlaða, Efla and Raftákn

Norway is at the forefront of energy exchange in transport, with over half of all new cars in Norway running on electricity. A Norwegian article, available on the Eco-Energy website, highlights the following eight points for housing associations that are good to consider when installing electric charging stations.

1. Avoid individualized solutions and focus more on setting up a system that can be used for all residents.
2. Assume that charging solutions can be expanded and users can be added.
3. Expect different loading needs of residents, both in terms of power and timing of charging.
4. Plan for the future. It is often cheaper to finish piping at the beginning of the construction phase rather than retroactively.
5. Do not think too much about the number of electric cars. They are growing rapidly.
6. Check the capacity of the building’s electrical system and how much additional input the system can withstand.
7. Ensure that laws and regulations are followed for electrical safety and that installation is carried out by an authorized entity.
8. A charging solution can increase the value of real estate.

On the website of the Icelandic Construction Authority you can find a number of useful information regarding the safety and regulations of charging stations.

• The Department of Human Services strongly recommends charging method 3 (Mode 3), where specialized equipment ensures that the electric car is safely connected to the wiring.
• Household links can be used for charging a 10A feed, even if the link is 16A. A higher current can cause burns in the link.
• Electric vehicles should be charged from specialized connection points (i.e. the place where an electric car is connected to wiring) and only charge one electric vehicle at a time.
• Each connected device should be protected by a surge protector and a faulty current switch.
• Links should be located as close to the parking space as possible. They shall be fixed but portable links as it is not allowed to extend charging cables due to the risk of overheating (e.g. extension cables are not allowed to charge electric cars).
• Under no circumstances may charging cables lie where there is a risk of being damaged and consequently overheating, such as over roads, sidewalks, or paths.

This checklist is intended for housing associations but can be used by anyone who is setting up a charging station.

1. Get information about the building at Norðurorka.
2. Explore the electricity consumption of the apartment building and the scope needed for charging electric cars.
3. Plan the number of charging stations, current needs, and future requirements.
4. View charging station solutions, advantages, defects, and prices.
5. Search for an electrician and get quotes on all activities for the selected solution.
6. In summary:
1. Insinuation
2. Measurement of use
3. Need for load control?
4. Need for energy measurement charging system?
5. Need for payment solution?
6. Seek advice
7. Get quote for charging equipment
8. Get quote for wiring work
9. Get quote for ground work

The price of electricity is divided between distribution and sale. The Electricity Act of 2003 ensures that one company cannot both handle the production and sales of electricity as well as the transmission and distribution of electricity. Transport and distribution is a utility operation with exclusive rights to operate in its area while production and sales are competitive and subject to the rules of the Competition Act. To ensure that the exclusive entity does not pay down the costs of the competitive segment, it should be completely understood (administratively, operationally, and financially) that part of this separation is the issuance of accounts is separate, something that leads to the electricity buyer being allowed to send two electricity bills

Distribution

The distribution of electricity involves receiving the electricity from the transmission company in the “main transformer stations,” which there are two of in Akureyri, and then sending the electricity from there to one of the more than 100 smaller transformer stations across Akureyri. From the transformer stations, electricity passes through “street cabinets” and then into the customer’s house.

In Akureyri, Norðurorka handles all distribution of electricity. Further information can be found at OS.

Sale

The sale of electricity is a competitive market, but the vast majority of residents in Akureyri are in business with Fallorka. On Orkusetur’s website, there is a calculator for comparing electricity prices.