installing EV charger apartment complex

[avida]

Hi,
I'm in Melbourne in an 8 unit apartment complex. I've been trying to organise an electrician to install EV charger in my car lot. Apparently mains need to be upgraded, however having issue getting electrician and energy distributor to work together to get the jo done.
I've got the money to do it all, I just need the job done! Any ideas?

Cheers

 

[moa999]

I'd question the need for a power upgrade.
(Not an electrician).

But I'd think a power survey would show there is heaps of capacity at say 9pm - 7am, versus say usage at 6pm in Summer.

Putting limits on when you can charge, or even CT clamps on the incoming mains to detect excess power is likely to be far cheaper.

And make the point that a new induction cooktop or a couple of 2400W fan heaters on high can use just as much power.

 

[meloccom]

Contact companies that specialise in this such as JetCharge , EVSE or EVolution Australia.
They have done this many times and have solutions that solve the cost recovery and power monitoring issues.

 

[scully]

Do you really need a high powered charger? Many people just get a 15amp power point. Much easier to organise and suits most use cases.

 

[PC__LoadLetter]

Just tell the sparky to wire it as controlled load off-peak, and skip the upgrade. Unfortunately Victoria doesn't have Controlled Load 2 (well, not as far as I know), so It'll only charge 11pm-7am. Not ideal for night shift workers, but very achievable (and socially responsible) for everyone else.

 

[samywamy10]

Contact companies that specialise in this such as JetCharge , EVSE or EVolution Australia.
They have done this many times and have solutions that solve the cost recovery and power monitoring issues.

JetCharge will never reply to you and EVSE don't do installations. The best luck I had was with contacting the electricians recommended by Tesla on their website.

I'm doing almost the same thing but in a 52 unit apartment. Haven't gotten there yet but the likely solution is just running it off my apartment's meter - then the body corp/building manager doesn't need to think about power draw or billing you for power usage. Sounds like your apartment isn't that big so it might be easier for you.

 

[Nobody Famous]

Apparently mains need to be upgraded

What size is your main supply? 63A?

 

[Loxmyf]

I'm going through the process at the moment. 24 units in the apartment, 24 carports and laundries on the ground floor, 12 units on the first floor and 12 on the second. with 8 units per stairwell. My meter board is with 4 others (3 other units in my starwell and a common area, with the top 4 units having their own meterboard on their floor. My fuesbox is internal to my unit, in the 3rd bedroom. That means there are 3 separately metered common areas, and 24 separately metered units.

I've been quoted $1500+GST for a new 32ish amp single phase circuit to run from my fusebox, through the wall to outside, and in conduit down to my carport, where I'll place it near the outer side for maximum flexibility. There'll then be an isolation switch inside my laundry so I can minimise others spotting the wall connector and stealing power. There may need to be a second isolation switch beside the WC, but I'm not sure of the legalities around that.

I had a new smart meter fitted last Friday, so I can hook into off peak tariffs. The sparky on Friday said there are 3 phases entering the meterbox, but only 1 going to the units. To upgrade the charging circuit to 3P would be more wiring from the meter box to the fuse box to the WC. That will more than double the price I reckon, so not worth it at this stage.

I'm still waiting for approval from the Body Corporate committee, so I can't proceed with the rest of the install yet. I'm hoping soon.

 

[avida]

What size is your main supply? 63A?

mains are great 6mm, and need to be upgraded.

 

[Onshore]

place it near the outer side for maximum flexibility. There'll then be an isolation switch inside my laundry so I can minimise others spotting the wall connector and stealing power. There may need to be a second isolation switch

Gen 3 charger has the access control feature. You can restrict access to your own car’s VIN.

Gen 3 Wall Connector Access Control

The Charging Access Control feature gives you full control over which cars are allowed to charge with your Wall Connector.

www.tesla.com

 

[Loxmyf]

Gen 3 charger has the access control feature. You can restrict access to your own car’s VIN.

I probably should read the manual. I didn’t know that. That’ll save a couple of bucks. Thanks.

 

[paulp]

I probably should read the manual. I didn’t know that. That’ll save a couple of bucks. Thanks.

You can also put a padlock on an isolation switch. But are you needing a rapid nightly charge? How far do you drive each day?

 

[Rolond]

mains are great 6mm, and need to be upgraded.

6mm2 mains are only rated to 40 amps, sounds like you need to go to 16mm2

 

[Onshore]

You can also put a padlock on an isolation switch. But are you needing a rapid nightly charge? How far do you drive each day?

In an apartment scenario, if there's an opportunity to install a charger in your personal (on title) car space, then jump on it.

Apartments with a personal EV charger are like hens teeth. It will add value unquestionably.

I wouldn't buy an apartment without an EV charger, and in 5 years time, there will be many many more people with the same criteria.

 

[Letrico]

In an apartment scenario, if there's an opportunity to install a charger in your personal (on title) car space, then jump on it.

Apartments with a personal EV charger are like hens teeth. It will add value unquestionably.

I wouldn't buy an apartment without an EV charger, and in 5 years time, there will be many many more people with the same criteria.

I was given the opportunity to install my own charger in my apartment parking lot after discussing with my body corporate. I can do anything I want as long as I provide them with the plan on how the electrical wiring will run in the basement and to connect it with the power to my lot.

I should jump on it soon

 

[Chuq]

Do you really need a high powered charger? Many people just get a 15amp power point. Much easier to organise and suits most use cases.

It's definitely the easiest if it's a small apartment building and just a single person requests it. Although it does mean taking your portable EVSE in and out of the boot all the time (but I guess this is the case for many Type 2 units as well).

I think the benefit of a "full service" setup (multiple fixed EVSE units) is that it scales better if there are multiple EV owners in the complex. There can be smart load balancing between charging units (taking into account the overall building capacity too) and the ability to identify users (so usage can be automatically charged back to each owner).

 

[doona228]

Update. So I’ve had body corp meeting and they discussed about upgrading switch board etc which was rather expensive. I’ve managed to get a quote from electrician for single phase 16amp, which will give me about 25km/hr and wiring will come from my apartments switchboard to lot. Does anyone have any sample by laws etc, templates that may be of use for when I take this to get approved? I will install Tesla charger. Is a by law even necessary with body corp approval?

Thanks so much for any help available!

 

[Nobody Famous]

Update. So I’ve had body corp meeting and they discussed about upgrading switch board etc which was rather expensive. I’ve managed to get a quote from electrician for single phase 16amp, which will give me about 25km/hr and wiring will come from my apartments switchboard to lot. Does anyone have any sample by laws etc, templates that may be of use for when I take this to get approved? I will install Tesla charger. Is a by law even necessary with body corp approval?

Thanks so much for any help available!

Do you have your own garage space on your lot entitlement? Is there any power to the car space? If not you should have a legal right to run wiring through common area without the need for a by-law. Your wiring would likely run from meter to switchboard through common area now. Just put in a 15A GPO circuit and use the supplied UMC tail. If you don't have the current capacity, consider swapping Electric Storage Hot Water to Heat Pump to free up a large breaker for higher current.

 

[avida]

Do you have your own garage space on your lot entitlement? Is there any power to the car space? If not you should have a legal right to run wiring through common area without the need for a by-law. Your wiring would likely run from meter to switchboard through common area now. Just put in a 15A GPO circuit and use the supplied UMC tail. If you don't have the current capacity, consider swapping Electric Storage Hot Water to Heat Pump to free up a large breaker for higher current.

Thanks. Hopefully I can get it installed soon!

 

[meloccom]

Update. So I’ve had body corp meeting and they discussed about upgrading switch board etc which was rather expensive. I’ve managed to get a quote from electrician for single phase 16amp, which will give me about 25km/hr and wiring will come from my apartments switchboard to lot. Does anyone have any sample by laws etc, templates that may be of use for when I take this to get approved? I will install Tesla charger. Is a by law even necessary with body corp approval?

Thanks so much for any help available!

It’s quite old, but take a look at my thread from 2014 where I outline my experience including writing specific By Laws for my Owners Corporation. My Charging Story