Arranging a charger installation may be easier or harder than you'd expect
As EV adoption increases alongside the number of drivers living in condos and apartments, charging where you live can present various challenges and hurdles.
Driving: What if I want a personal EV charger but I live in a condo or MURB?
Ryan Chan: Contact your strata council or landlord to request an EV charger installation to your parking spot. Currently, condo/MURB strata councils are not required to allow homeowners to install EV chargers in their parking spot.
We recommend having an EV Ready Plan conducted for the building so that the strata have a “one plan, one approach” guide for the installation of EV chargers to minimize cost and future rework. This promotes fairness among condo residents.
What is an EV Ready Plan?
What can I do if my strata board is not allowing me to install a charger in my parking spot?
Ontario has “right-to-charge” legislation (O. Reg. 114/18, s. 8) which sets to protect EV owners who want to install EV charging in a condo. The legislation states that the owner must create an application and deliver it to the corporation and the “corporation can only reject the request for installation based on the opinion or report of a qualified professional.”
The reasons why a qualified professional may reject the application are:
- Installation would be in violation of the Condominium Act, 1998, or any other legislation.
- Installation would adversely affect the structural integrity of the property.
- Installation poses a health and safety risk to the property and its occupants.
What is the difference between a smart EV charger and a dumb EV charger?
RC: For a single-family home, the most cost-effective method is to purchase a dumb charger. Smart chargers are geared towards condo charging as the smart capabilities allow the charger to bill the individual customers for their energy usage, provide access control to the EV charger, and provide electrical load management between multiple charging vehicles.
It is important to note that only smart chargers are available for supply and installation rebates. Dumb-charger pricing can range from $300 to $800, while smart chargers typically cost approximately $2,500.
How does billing work for my Level 2 charger?
RC: With a dumb charger, you pay the cost of the energy usage. With a smart charger, a monthly software subscription fee of $20-$30 applies atop the cost of energy usage.
How does an EV charger work?
RC: For Level 2 charging, AC Power is supplied from the charging station to the on–board charger in the vehicle, which supplies DC power to the battery. For Level 3 DC fast charging, the charger is off board the vehicle and supplies DC power directly to the battery.
When should I charge an EV?
RC: Check with your local dealership for specific charging recommendations for your vehicle, but you should typically recharge your vehicle if its battery charge level is between 30 and 80 per cent.
You should try to to charge as often and slowly as you can to optimize your EV’s long-term battery health. Faster charge rates generate more heat and degrade your battery over time, though it’s becoming less of an issue with the development of better battery-cooling technology in new EVs.
Do EVs come with a free home charger?
How much does a Level 2 charger installation cost?
RC: It really depends on your current living situation and the amount power coming in from the grid.
For single-family homes, a few items may increase installation costs such as the parking spot’s distance from the main electrical panel. Is there any coring through walls or landscaping that needs to happen for the installation? Is there enough space on the electrical panel for the EV charger circuit? Is there enough power coming in from the grid to power the home and the EV charger at the same time?
For condos, there are more variables involved in determining the cost of installation. A few big cost factors include whether major electrical upgrades are needed before installation, whether the chargers are dedicated lines or branch circuits, and whether there is sufficient space within the existing electrical room for EV charging.
The first call when determining the cost of installation is to call your local EV charging specialist. An electrical capacity assessment is essential before any EV installation work can be started.
Can I have Level 3 rapid charger installed at my business or home?
RC: Level 3 EV chargers are typically not recommended for home charging because it is very expensive and not feasible in most situations. The starting cost of Level 3 EV chargers is approximately $20,000, not including installation, service upgrades, or annual maintenance — a long term cost than can reach up to $6,000 per year.
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