GETTING EV READY
It all starts with a plan.
Multi-Unit EV charging isn’t the same as single-home charging. Instead of one household, your building is the home to many. That means your plan can’t just be any plan, it has to be a good one.
Everyone has a different definition of what it means to be EV Ready. At Unico Power we believe that being EV Ready means having a long term plan of action for the installation and the support for all owners who are looking to get their charge.
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So, where do you start?
01 / ESTABLISH
Establish an EV charging committee within the Board. With new technology comes the need for new education. Luckily, many companies already have a presentation lined up and know the ifs-ands-or-buts when it comes to getting started. Your committee needs to know what the options are before committing to a solution. Reach out to experts in the industry to keep up with the latest know-hows on Condo EV Charging.
02 / THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Find the right person or company to help build your building’s plan. There’s a lot to consider when reaching out to an expert. Understanding federal, provincial and municipal programs and bylaws, as well as your utility rates and tariffs are important. If you can find someone local who knows the know-how when it comes to Multi-Unit EV charging, you’re in business.
03 / CONSULT
All good plans start with a site visit. Have a consultant make an assessment of your building’s current state and electrical system. Utility bills and electrical drawings can help build a thorough and accurate report. Knowing your building and what it’s capable of is a crucial part in developing the next few steps.
04 / THE OPTIONS
The EV Ready plan developer will present options to review with the committee and/or board. These discussions will focus on function. Things like: How many EVSE’s per circuit would you like, whether you’d want private charging stations, shared, or both, the options for billing, and overall on how the system will work with your building. Step four is the meat and potatoes of an EV Ready plan, if your consultant shows up for a site visit and goes straight to Step 5, that’s a problem.
05 / MAKING A DECISION
Select an EV Ready plan that’s specific to your building and what it’s capable of is developed. In addition, a cost estimate provided by the installer you plan to use will be provided. The question of “How Much?” and “Who Pays?” doesn’t have a specific answer. We’ve installed more than 50 multi-unit buildings, and we’ve seen more than a dozen different approaches. Ranging from the Condo Corporation paying for it all, to the EV owners doing the same– and sometimes a solution between the two.
06 / GOING FORWARD
You’ve reached the end! Once you have a plan, you’re ready to be EV Ready. You can either go ahead and start implementing, or take a bit more time to tweak the plan as time goes on.