Table of Contents

Image credit: evbox.com. Electric Vehicle Apartment Charger Grant – Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly popular in Ireland and internationally; however, this poses a challenge for individuals living in apartments to have a home EV charger for their electric vehicle. While house owners can simply install the charger in the garage or in the driveway, apartment residents depend on their building owners and managers for electric vehicle charging points. Nevertheless, there are ways to enable apartment dwellers to charge their EVs right where they live. Our latest article looks at some creative ways, incentives, and strategies that can be used to enable apartment EV charging for both residents and owners.

Contact us - Electric car charger installation for apartments

Electric Vehicle Apartment Charger Grant – Funding assistance grants

One of the ways to cut the costs of a new car charging facility in an apartment complex is to search for and apply for grants and financial support that are easily available for this purpose, such as the electric vehicle apartment charger grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). This grant is intended to help residents and property owners who are looking to have EV chargers installed in their buildings.

The SEAI grant for apartment chargers is to facilitate the deployment of EV charging facilities for apartments rather than for each charger in an apartment block or a complex. A grant of €600 can be available for each charging point. There is a requirement that the charger must be connected to the applicants’ residence and must enable the charging of a vehicle’s battery in order to be eligible for the grant.

To apply to SEAI for the apartment charger programme, it is necessary to employ a Safe Electric registered electrician and fill out the payment request form together with all the required documents as required by SEAI. It is important to note that grant approval is dependent on any grants and funds obtained for an apartment’s EV charging solution. SEAI will not provide funding for chargers that are already present as duplication of funds is not allowed.

Note there are the following important restrictions which will apply as per this page):

  • The grant awarded will be capped at the lower of the estimated grant rate (ie. 90%/80%/60%) or the grant limit.
  • The grant limit itself will be calculated as the lower of €5,000 per dwelling or €100,000.
  • No development will receive more than €100,000 in grant aid.
  • Within the overall grant support, each individual charge point installed will receive the lesser of the actual cost of the charge point unit or €600.
  • If the Management Company is not allowed to recover VAT, then the value of the VAT will be included in the grant award.
  • The cost submitted will be limited according to benchmark values as outlined in the Application Guide; the grant award will be calculated from these assessed eligible costs.

Electric Vehicle Apartment Charger Grant – Guiding Through the Process of Installation

Once the funding has been secured, comes the challenge of managing the actual installation within an apartment complex. When it comes to apartments, it is essential to involve expert installers to comply with safety rules & regulations and who the experience to navigate through the issues that are not the same as those of regular houses.

One of the issues to address is the capacity and required upgrades of the current electrical system in an apartment building as more electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers are integrated into the mix, it can potentially overload older electrical systems that were not originally designed to support such high power loads efficiently. The apartment building will probably need an assessment to determine whether the necessary EV charging infrastructure can be incorporated into the electrical system without overwhelming or creating other safety hazards. Any panel upgrades, rewiring, or installation of new electrical components should be done before the chargers are installed.

Parking arrangements and access to the charging points are an issue in apartment complexes as well. The electric vehicle (EV) must be parked at the specified spot and linked to the residents’ apartment unit to meet the SEAI grant (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) requirements. Therefore, it is crucial that the charging stations are located appropriately for residents according to parking availability and can be easily reached to use. Proper labelling and space planning help in avoiding confusion among residents.

It is important to get the building owners on board when it comes to charging stations for vehicles (EVs) in apartments. Illustrating the possible business benefits and the good return on investment that comes with installing these stations may greatly increase the owners’ willingness to go for the project. Having a team of expert installers such as Elecrric Car Charger Ireland to control and plan the installation project, including applying for grants and informing the owners about the process, can also enhance the building owners’ willingness to participate. Having a policy on how the charging stations will be used can also help in the transition for both owners and residents.

EV-Charger-apartment-grant

Electric Vehicle Apartment Charger Grant – Equipment Selection and Creative Solutions

Choosing the Tools

In an apartment setting where space is limited and convenience matters, it’s crucial to choose charging equipment with precise power levels and advanced features that meet your specific needs.

Charging Options

There are Level 1 and Level 2 charging for electric vehicles (EVs). Level 2 charging using 240-volt outlets can charge EVs quickly but may require upgrades in some cases, while Level 1 charging, using standard 120-volt outlets, may be sufficient for some vehicles and usage.

Smart chargers come with monitoring, access control and payment processing; however, they are more costly than simple non-networked chargers that are more cost effective in terms of price.

Some charging management systems have load-balancing and scheduling optimisation software for a shared charging feature with access control. Altering aspects like panels, wires, pipes, and connections to enhance the electrical system to support more electric vehicle charging

Apartment Solutions

Residents can help apartment complexes offer solutions that enable residents to charge their vehicles. Using shared charging stations instead of outlets per unit can help save money and provide ease in parking without spaces, where residents can use the shared spots together.

Residents can charge their EVs for free at retailers or employers if apartment buildings have partnerships with them thus, they can charge their vehicles while at work or when shopping during the day.

Transforming areas that are not in use, such as garages and underground parking, into electric vehicle charging stations is a way for residents to have access to charging even when they are not near the apartment buildings.

This article aims to highlight how apartment complexes can proactively and strategically address the challenges of installing electric vehicle charging stations for their residents by thinking strategically and seeking the help of experts, taking advantage of incentives and customised approaches to the equipment and installation to enable charging at an apartment complex. It also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking as support for the growing adoption of electric vehicles.

EV-BOX-EV-Chargers-For-Apartments

Creative Charging Locations

Parking garages and designated charging stations are the common options for electric vehicle charging; however, in apartment complexes, there is room to think creatively about the locations of the EV chargers so that they are easily accessible to residents by using unused spaces and with a flexible approach.

To maximise charging efficiency in compact areas, it’s essential to prepare the wiring and conduits through the walls. Innovative solutions, such as robotic systems with vertical lifts and computer coordination, can efficiently move residents’ electric vehicles to available charging stations. However, these advanced systems require a significant investment

The basements and underground garages can also be used for charging stations and make use of the internal spaces of the buildings without compromising the parking spaces for the non-EV drivers or the security for the residents, where the locked storage units can access their chargers safely.

When there is a shortage of parking spaces in the area and car wash bays in the complexes are under-used, they can be used as charging slots for vehicles. Since washing a car takes longer than charging it, residents are happy that they can charge their cars easily. In addition, having pressure washers and vacuums available makes the service better for the users.

With forward-thinking innovation and tailored charging solutions, apartment building management companies can solve the challenges of installing EV chargers for their residents. With the help of expert guidance, the adoption of the financial incentives available, high-quality equipment and bespoke installation strategies will enable access for apartment residents to convenient home charging. Both are sustainable and future-oriented, supporting the growing transition to EVs.

Ever wondered about EV Charging for Property Managers ….Check out our latest blog post for details.