Competition for residents can be tough, but there’s little doubt that decreasing turnover and increasing occupancy rates is a high priority for owners of MDUs as well as for condo associations. With a vast majority of EV drivers looking to charge at home and with the spike in MDU residents and potential residents, finding a way to differentiate yourself is key. EV charging for MDUs can be a great solution, but how do you know if your building is ready? Understanding the preliminary considerations as well as the next steps is vital to making the best decision for your building.
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MDU EV Charging Stations: Is Your Building Ready?
The short answer is likely yes, given the rise of EV adoption rates and increasing competition among MDUs, condos, and apartment complexes. Currently, only 5% of MDUs have EV charging stations despite there being nearly 2.2 million electric vehicles on the road.
The truth, however, is the timeframe condo/apartment owners and MDU property developers have to work with may depend largely on the location of your complex. More specifically, projected EV adoption rates will grow more quickly in some states. In turn, competition for EV charging stations at MDUs will spike in those states with higher adoption rates creating greater urgency for properties in those regions to respond and prepare for the demand.
As the manager or owner of an MDU, you may already be experiencing demand or requests for EV charging stations, especially if residents are looking for ways to charge at reserved spots. This becomes an even more pressing concern when it comes to charging for the service or if an HOA is involved in working out a deal. Thankfully, if you’re already bundling services for tenants, you can negotiate with a service provider to include EV charging infrastructure support into existing services.
Beyond demand, the next big question for EV charging for apartments and condos is site analysis and selection. This can be more challenging for already established MDU communities, or even those with parking garages or structures versus open air lots. However, those in the planning or building process can keep EV charging infrastructure installation and implementation needs in mind.
The short version is you need a parking lot with space for unobstructed access to EV charging stations and for those stations to have access to utilities without cabling obstructing walkways or vehicles.
The are you ready equation essentially comes down to is the demand there currently or will it be in the next one to three years? The answer is yes, for most MDUs demand will increase and installing early can even be a draw for tenants.
When it comes to your site, that’s a little bit more complicated. Depending on demand and space limitations, you may need to consider how your potential EV charging platform management system (CPMS) can help you manage power so you can maximize your site for EV charging solutions.
The important thing to remember is if you see the need, if you see the demand, if you see the potential, there are options and ways to make your site work and the right turnkey EV charging solution provider can help you plan and implement.
MDU EV Charging Station Options: Making the Best Choice
The next concern you’ll likely have is what kind of charging station is best for your building. The truth is there are quite a few variables to help determine the best solution.
First, you’ll need to work with your local utility to understand the electrical capacity of your lot. This will be the biggest factor in narrowing down your EV charging station options as DC fast charging is a bigger drain on energy. And, when multiple fast chargers are in use, it can create an unpredictable load on the grid presenting challenges to electric infrastructure and power supplies for your property.
Remember, you can make utility infrastructure upgrades or control power loads through your CPMS so limited electrical capacity doesn't mean there’s no option for DC fast chargers on your property. Further, there are hybrid charging station options meaning one station can offer both level to and DC fast charging. If placed between two EV charging parking spots, both could be in use at the same time.
Because of the dwell time, meaning the average time an individual spends in one place, like home, 80% of EV charging happens at home. Why is that important? Because it means you can mostly rely on the implementation of Level 2 charging stations. Though they charge a vehicle more slowly, EV owners at home have more time to spare meaning you can limit your DC fast chargers.
Essential Steps for Preparing for MDU EV Charging Stations
Asking whether you’re ready and what you might need is a bit of a flyover view of your MDU’s EV charging needs. If we drill down a bit, we can be far more specific about the essential steps for your MDU EV charging solution.
1. Assess Demand
Searching for the number of electric vehicles in your state or area is a good place to start. You can also find additional data by investigating the number of EV charging stations in your area. Both of these can help you discover if attracting new tenants may be among one of the benefits of MDU EV charging stations. However, you’ll also want to canvass your existing residents to see if there’s demand from them as well.
2. Conduct a site analysis
While a turnkey EVSE provider will help you through every step of the process, from site analysis through installation and implementation, other companies will outsource this part of the process. You’ll want to consider all aspects of the site including obstacles that might create connectivity issues for an EV charging network, lighting, safety and security, easy access, and weather concerns including snow removal or water collection. Before starting the process, you want to have a good understanding of site limitations.
3. Explain options and opportunities to your communityWhether it’s through an HOA, a tenant meeting or forum, or through an email communication, provide information to your community regarding the benefits of EV charging as well as how you might hope to implement an EV charging program, including bundling the services with existing infrastructure. For example, NovaCHARGE has recently partnered with Comcast to allow condos, apartments, and other MDUs with existing services to bundle EV charging solutions with existing tech service contracts. How you roll out and manage an EV charging plan can significantly impact its success.
4. Contact your utility provider and electrical contractor
Understanding what your current electrical capacity is and what adjustments might need to be made to accommodate EV charging stations is essential. You’ll need to understand how many and what kind of stations you can currently handle or if you need to make electrical upgrades to the site.
5. Create a budgetPrior to anyone signing on, whether that’s property owners, residents, HOAs or other stakeholders, you’ll want to know what kind of budget you have including the costs as well as what incentives, rebates, or grants are available. You’ll also want to consider how you’ll deliver EV charging station ROI for your residents and stakeholders.
6. Begin to consider/conceive a charging program planIf you’ve only got one or two EV drivers in your building currently, then your charging program won’t be too complicated. However, if the EV drivers outnumber the charging stations on the property, you’ll need to consider how to facilitate equitable charging. Whether it’s resident administered or a set schedule, you’ll want to devise a plan and get buy-in, all of which, the right EVSE provider can assist with
7. Connect with a turnkey EV charging station provider
One of the best things you can do for your project is to consult and connect with a turnkey EV solution provider. In addition to providing you with guidance through all phases of your project, they’ll have familiarity with these stages, ensuring you’re getting the knowledge, experience, and expertise you need to launch a successful MDU EV charging program. Getting the expertise and knowledge you need is the best way to implement your EV charging program and business model, so you’ll want to work with an EVSE provider who knows the whole process.
Think your MDU, condo, or apartment building is ready for EV charging stations? Get in touch with the team at NovaCHARGE and let us help you implement a program that will satisfy your residents and deliver real ROI for you.
