EV Charging in a Multi-unit Residential Building: Everything You Need to Know
Every year more Canadians move into condominiums, apartment buildings and other multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs). In fact, around one-third of all Canadians currently live in an apartment or condo unit. This presents unique challenges especially for EV owners. As more Canadians transition to electric vehicles, charging stations for multi-unit residents are becoming increasingly critical.
But it’s not just as simple as “let’s install more EV charging stations in condos.” Expanding EV infrastructure in MURBs is a complex process with many stakeholders involved — ranging from property managers to condo residents, electrical contractors and electric vehicle advisors.
The Pollution Probe Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs) addresses some of the major challenges to installing EV infrastructure in MURBs and breaks down the process into clear steps— including strategies and insights from experts such as Signature Electric’s Mark Marmer.
To help readers navigate the installation of EV charging infrastructure in MURBs, the guide covers:
- An overview of EVs, EV charging infrastructure, and the benefits of EV charging in MURBs.
- Necessary steps for addressing the EV charging needs of existing and new buildings.
- The different roles and responsibilities of stakeholders for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in MURBs.
- A high-level installation process for existing buildings, highlighting individual stakeholder responsibilities and guidance.
- EV charging considerations that are likely to differ by building (such as electrical capacity and parking supply and allocation).
EV Charging in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installation
Step 1: Plan and strategize
The first step is to initiate discussions between condo boards, strata councils or property managers and residents on the installation of EV charging infrastructure. Stakeholders need to do the research, gather critical information (ie. charger type, number and location of charging stations, types of charging stations, etc.), and survey residents, to map out an initial approach for an EV charging infrastructure.
Step 2: Gather and assess
Before putting the plan into action, stakeholders should seek out qualified EV Advisors. These experts play a major role in assessing the feasibility of your EV charging infrastructure, reviewing the electrical and architectural plan of your building, and conducting site evaluations and energy assessments.
Step 3: Design
After gathering all of the information and defining the best options for your EV charging installation, stakeholders should create a preliminary design. When the final design is approved, it’s time to choose and sign a contractor for the installation.
Step 4: Install
After your EV advisor sources the required equipment and secures all necessary permits, your EV charging plans are ready to come to life with the installation. Ensure that everything went according to plan with a final inspection.
Step 5: Maintain and future-proof
Once your EV charging stations are ready to plug-in, plan for regular operations management and maintenance. It’s also critical to finalize and approve your EV charging policy, not only for now but years to come.
Interested in learning more? You can read the full report here->
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At Signature Electric, we work with condos and other multi-unit residential buildings to strategically plan and install EV charging stations. We ensure that the process is as easy, seamless, and effective as possible.
Download our free Charging in Condos ebook and 50 Critical Questions to Consider tipsheet.
Ready to speak with an EV charging advisor? Get in touch with us today and let’s get started!