Timanttiparkki, Vantaa

Overview

Timanttiparkki is a specialized parking company managed by five separate housing cooperatives. Although the parking hall was originally built in 2018 with future-proofing in mind, the project to install charging points began in earnest in 2020. Led by board member and electrical expert Antti Japola, the project navigated complex administrative hurdles—including changes to the company’s articles of association and securing a 35% ARA government grant—before finalizing the installation in the autumn of 2023.

Challenge

The project faced two significant hurdles: administrative complexity and scalability. With five different housing companies involved, the board had to find a financing model that was fair to all 109 shareholders, even though only about 10% currently owned electric vehicles. Technically, the challenge was to move away from the idea of “a few shared chargers” toward a uniform system where every individual shareholder’s spot was equipped for both modern charging and traditional heating.

Solution

The company chose a “all-in-one” replacement strategy rather than installing chargers alongside old heating posts. They selected Harju Elekter’s Elektra stations due to their ability to handle both Type 2 charging and standard Schuko heating/charging in a single unit.

• Reliability: The choice was influenced by Harju Elekter’s successful large-scale implementation at Mall of Tripla.
• Partnership: The project was executed by Kerava Energy, a long-term partner of Harju Elekter, ensuring local expertise and rapid maintenance response.
• Unified Management: The eParking platform was selected as the operator to handle user identification and billing.

Technical description

The installation provides a dedicated point for every parking spot in the hall, ensuring no shareholder is left without infrastructure:

• Total Charging Points: 109.
• Hardware: * 53 units of Elektra Design A5, featuring 2x Type 2 ports and 2x Superschuko sockets. 3 units of Elektra A5, featuring 1x Type 2 port and 1x Superschuko socket.
• Dual Functionality: Each station supports Type 2 EV charging and standard Superschuko sockets for engine heaters or plug-in hybrids.
• Maintenance: Domestic manufacturing ensures that replacement components and technical support are available locally with short lead times.

Outcome

The project was completed swiftly between August and September 2023. By equipping every parking space at once, Timanttiparkki avoided the future costs of piecemeal expansions and significantly increased the property value for all 109 shareholders. The integration with the eParking system allows for automated billing, while the domestic support chain from Harju Elekter and Kerava Energy provides the residents with long-term reliability and quick response times for any technical issues.