EV Readiness for Strata - Section 7 - Shared Charger or Individual Lot Charger
61% of strata residents who were surveyed about EV charging in strata wanted EV charging on their individual lot car parking space. Over the long term the goal for all strata communities in Australia should be to support EV charging in every carspace in the building. However, the way in which the EV charging is rolled out into each individual strata community might start with one or more shared chargers in visitor carspaces, loading bays, carwash bays, carshare spots or service bays.
The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, the cost of installing into shared carspaces is far less than providing the infrastructure for the entire building. Secondly, the EV charging technology is rapidly evolving and strata buildings in Australia have already invested in some technologies which are already outdated or outmoded.
That is where a strategy and a roadmap for adding EV charging infrastructure into the building comes in. A strategy simply outlines the principles which will govern the EV charging in the building and the roadmap is the instruction manual for how to get there.
In any strategy and roadmapping process, trade offs will be made. The important thing is that the relevant items are brought into the "field of view" of the strata committee members. It is important that those who are not electrical engineers, renewable energy engineers, electricians, strata lawyers or accountants are able to make informed judgements on the allocation of scarce funds to the provision of necessary building services.
EV Charging at a Visitor Carparking Space
The key point is that installing an EV chargepoint at visitor carparking space does not have to mean that the visitor carspace is exclusively used for charging of EV's. The use of an online booking system for visitor carparking spaces may have the spaces operating as normal visitor spaces during the normal visiting hours during the day (e.g. 8am to 10pm). This can also be supplemented by bollards on the visitor carparking spaces or even automatically lowered bollards.
The service level in terms of charging speed which is offered at a shared chargepoint, may be higher than that which is offered at individual carspaces. For example, three phase 32 amp (22kW) charging may be offered in shared carparking spaces, while single phase 6-16amp charging may be offered at individual lot carspaces.
The following picture shows Meriton offering EV charging in shared carparking spaces. The full case study is here.
The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, the cost of installing into shared carspaces is far less than providing the infrastructure for the entire building. Secondly, the EV charging technology is rapidly evolving and strata buildings in Australia have already invested in some technologies which are already outdated or outmoded.
That is where a strategy and a roadmap for adding EV charging infrastructure into the building comes in. A strategy simply outlines the principles which will govern the EV charging in the building and the roadmap is the instruction manual for how to get there.
In any strategy and roadmapping process, trade offs will be made. The important thing is that the relevant items are brought into the "field of view" of the strata committee members. It is important that those who are not electrical engineers, renewable energy engineers, electricians, strata lawyers or accountants are able to make informed judgements on the allocation of scarce funds to the provision of necessary building services.
EV Charging at a Visitor Carparking Space
The key point is that installing an EV chargepoint at visitor carparking space does not have to mean that the visitor carspace is exclusively used for charging of EV's. The use of an online booking system for visitor carparking spaces may have the spaces operating as normal visitor spaces during the normal visiting hours during the day (e.g. 8am to 10pm). This can also be supplemented by bollards on the visitor carparking spaces or even automatically lowered bollards.
The service level in terms of charging speed which is offered at a shared chargepoint, may be higher than that which is offered at individual carspaces. For example, three phase 32 amp (22kW) charging may be offered in shared carparking spaces, while single phase 6-16amp charging may be offered at individual lot carspaces.
The following picture shows Meriton offering EV charging in shared carparking spaces. The full case study is here.
Should EV Owners actually swap carspaces with ICE vehicle owners whose spaces are in close proximity to the main switch room?
This approach was first identified in Queensland in order to reduce the infrastructure costs of cable trays and cable runs for long distances through the basement carpark to the EV owner's individual carspace. To reduce electrical infrastructure costs, the EV owner simply swaps their carspace with a carspace which is closer to the electrical infrastructure needed for EV charging. Unfortunately, the conveyancing costs of changing the title ownership of individual carspaces within the basement carpark typically outweigh the electrical infrastructure costs, so this approach is not usually economic. However, where there is a multi-level carpark with many levels of carparking and no cable trays in the lower levels of the carpark, it could be revisited.
This approach was first identified in Queensland in order to reduce the infrastructure costs of cable trays and cable runs for long distances through the basement carpark to the EV owner's individual carspace. To reduce electrical infrastructure costs, the EV owner simply swaps their carspace with a carspace which is closer to the electrical infrastructure needed for EV charging. Unfortunately, the conveyancing costs of changing the title ownership of individual carspaces within the basement carpark typically outweigh the electrical infrastructure costs, so this approach is not usually economic. However, where there is a multi-level carpark with many levels of carparking and no cable trays in the lower levels of the carpark, it could be revisited.
Electric Vehicles as Carshare Vehicles for Exclusive Use of Residents
Perhaps there will be less individual car ownership in strata buildings as we move forward and a dedicated carshare spot could have an EV owned or rented by the Owners Corporation?
If the Owners Corporation does not want to pay for the EV chargers and the residents would like access to an electric vehicle, an EV rental service in an apartment block can be considered.
The rental company installs and maintains both electric vehicles and chargepoints on site. The residents only need to book the service online or via a phone app. Following this they can collect the electric vehicle from the carparking area of the building. Residents will pay on an hourly basis. A monthly fee will also be charged to the Owners Corporation.
The convenience of having a service like this in the car park of the building you live in is the closest thing to owning your own electric vehicle without all the traditional costs of car ownership.
Case Study - EQ Tower Melbourne
Perhaps there will be less individual car ownership in strata buildings as we move forward and a dedicated carshare spot could have an EV owned or rented by the Owners Corporation?
If the Owners Corporation does not want to pay for the EV chargers and the residents would like access to an electric vehicle, an EV rental service in an apartment block can be considered.
The rental company installs and maintains both electric vehicles and chargepoints on site. The residents only need to book the service online or via a phone app. Following this they can collect the electric vehicle from the carparking area of the building. Residents will pay on an hourly basis. A monthly fee will also be charged to the Owners Corporation.
The convenience of having a service like this in the car park of the building you live in is the closest thing to owning your own electric vehicle without all the traditional costs of car ownership.
Case Study - EQ Tower Melbourne
- The adoption of onsite EV car sharing was exponential with 55%+ month on month growth in utilisation. Residents were quick to transition from their existing travel behaviour.
- 70% of bookings were made on-demand. Residents were able to book on-demand due to the convenience of on-site availability and access.
- The average distance travelled over the cohort was 40 km and the average booking length was 3.5 hours. This delivered strong competitive value for residents with usage patterns indicative of short-term bookings for routine activities.
- More than 80% of the demographic was under the age of 40.
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EV Carshare in Strata Apartment Buildings
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