Like a cell phone, you plug in your electric vehicle when you want to charge it. While there are well over 2,000 public charging stations in B.C., most electric vehicle owners prefer to charge at home overnight because it is easy, convenient, and usually the cheapest option.
It is possible to charge an electric vehicle in an apartment and townhouse. In fact, there are several options for charging. When determining what type of charging you require you will have to consider several factors: the type of charger you will require, if your strata has an EV charging policy in place, current electrical capacity, what kind of access is necessary to the chargers, location to install the charger, and how much you’re willing to spend.
There are two main ways to charge at home:
Level 1 (110-120 V/ 15-20 Amps)
An electric vehicle can be plugged into a standard outlet using the cordset charger that comes with the purchase of the electric vehicle. Level 1 chargers should be plugged into a normal three-pronged outlet that has a dedicated electrical connection or circuit that is used only for charging and is not shared with other devices. Level 1 charging is relatively slow and is often referred to as trickle charging. For most vehicles you will gain 8-10km of range per hour of charging. A Level 1 charger can satisfy a variety of driving needs and is best suited for those who plan to charge every night, or park their car for long periods.
Level 2 (208-240 V/ 20-100 Amps)
Level 2 charging stations are very common in public places but can also be installed for home use. These stations are more powerful than Level 1, and can give 20-40km of range per hour of charging. The charging equipment, also known as EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment), can come as both a hardwired unit as well as plug in. Plug in units can be either a traditional wall unit or, a cordset and will require a 240V outlet similar to a dryer or oven. These stations are most useful for shared charging situations or drivers who frequently travel long distances. Level 2 charging is typically more expensive to install than Level 1 charging.
There are many different types of Level 2 chargers on the market that vary by size, charging speed, sophistication, and portability.
The main types of Level 2 chargers are:
- Non-networked chargers act simply as an interface to get electricity to your car. They can be accessed by anyone as they do not have the ability to differentiate between users, so they are best used in private parking areas.
- Networked chargers include features to support payment and collections systems, to control access, and to monitor use and energy consumption. To access these features you will need to pay a network subscription fee and have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. These stations are best used in shared parking areas as they can facilitate payment by individuals without being connected to their home electrical meter.
Power Sharing / Load Management
Networked chargers and third party load management services can be used to share a power supply between multiple chargers. This can help provide more charging opportunities for residents without having to increase the building’s electrical capacity. For a 40 Amp circuit being shared between four chargers, this may mean when all chargers are occupied 10 Amps of current is being provided to each unit, or it may alternate the full power between the units until the vehicles are fully charged or unplugged. Most drivers would not notice the reduction of the charging speeds if they are primarily being used overnight.
Level 3 or DCFC
Level 3 charging is also known as DC fast charging (DFCF), and can charge most EVs from 10% to 80% in under an hour. These types of chargers are found in public settings, often along highway routes and in busy locations. Charging times will vary depending on the battery size and its level of charge. Due to the fast nature of Level 3 chargers, they are ideal for road trips, or for EV owners who do not have access to charging at home.
Why Consider Charging at Your Condo?
Growing sales of EVs means there is more demand for places to charge. It is most convenient and cost effective to charge at home overnight, which means that strata councils will increasingly face requests for EV charging in parking stalls.
Getting ahead of the curve by installing EV charging now can benefit your strata by:
- retaining current homeowners
- attracting new home buyers
- increasing property values
- taking advantage of limited-time government incentives
