September 2024
Reading Time: 2 Minutes
As electric vehicles become more popular, the need for EV charging facilities in bodies corporate is increasing. We look at the key areas for body corporate committees to consider before installing car charging stations on common property.
Surveying the demand for EV charging is an important first step before investing in charging facilities. Understanding the demand within the BC can help the committee to determine whether to install EV charging facilities.
However, it is also worth considering the likelihood of demand increasing in the future.
Installation expenses can be considerable. As not all residents will use the facility, the committee should consider whether it is appropriate to allocate body corporate funding to its installation rather than other projects.
Installing EV charging stations in shared residential areas can be challenging. Retrofitting parking structures in garages may be complicated. Committees will need to consider the power capacity of the complex and how electricity billing is set up.
Following residents’ feedback, bodies corporate should consider whether to install charging facilities in common areas, private car parks, or both. If chargers are installed in common areas parking rules around the length of time residents can park in the allocated spaces should be established.
Charging costs will need to be charged back to residents. This may be done through credit card charging for common areas or metered charging for private car parks. Metered charging will involve extra costs, as meters will need to be read and the cost on charged.
Engaging a qualified energy assessor is a necessary step to understanding the suitability of various charging options. An assessor will examine the size of the existing circuit breakers, analyse energy loads, and determine if the building’s electrical infrastructure can support multiple charging units.
It is advantageous for potential purchasers and future owners if a developer installs the infrastructure for EV charging. This will ease the installation process if future owners should later choose to install charging stations. This could also be a good selling point for developers when selling apartments.
Some residents may have concerns about the safety of EV charging, and some BCs face challenges obtaining insurance for buildings with installed EV chargers. Faulty lithium-ion batteries have been linked to fires involving electric vehicles. While these batteries are generally considered safe, a small percentage of defective batteries can overheat, catch fire, or even explode.
Well-maintained charging stations are preferable to residents charging vehicles in their own homes.
Proper fire protection should be in place, including access to hydrants, hose reels, and extinguishers, and charging stations should be situated away from flammable liquids.
Read more: EV Charging Risks for Landlords and Bodies Corporate
Crockers will support and work with any of our bodies corporate that are interested in researching more about EV options. We appreciate that there is an increasing audience for EV chargers and want to ensure that our clients have all the information (pros and cons) at hand to make an educated decision. It’s imperative that a body corporate considers all aspects relating to insurance, regulations, infrastructure and capacity before leaping into any installations or contracts.
Call 0800 CROCKERS or Call 0800 2762 5377
