Advice Requested: solution to manage communal charger at a condo bldg

[Just Lurking]

Are there any parking spaces dedicated for guests, or for on-site businesses? If so I wonder if it would be possible to cut a deal with a business to allow charging overnight (or whenever the business is closed.)

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[GreaseMonkey]

Are there any parking spaces dedicated for guests, or for on-site businesses? If so I wonder if it would be possible to cut a deal with a business to allow charging overnight (or whenever the business is closed.)

No. All spaces are deeded and owned by residents. There’s ample street parking for the few businesses we have on site. It’s as bad of a situation as you can have.

 

[DadzBoyz]

I'd take a look at the Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Business.
https://autelenergy.us/products/maxicharger-c50-ac-wallbox-ev-charger-with-in-body-holster

I think it checks most, if not all of your boxes.

- There's an App for residents/users. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autel-charge/id1578454464
- There's an App for installers, operations, and maintenance. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autel-config/id1607007731
- There's a management portal to track charging, billing, etc.
- It will connect by Bluetooth, WiFi, or 4G SIM card for management, etc.
- You can issue RFID cards for access by residents, also restricting access by non-residents.

Autel offers RFID cards but you're not limited to theirs. You can buy them cheap, in bulk on Amazon in case people lose them, etc.​

- The RFID card can be tied to a credit card for billing/payment.
- You can use a QR code on the charger display to pay with credit card.

I guess you could have a contract with a service to handle billing, etc., but I'd imagine they're going to charge for that service, which will increase costs, etc.

My understanding is that Autel's management portal pretty much runs itself and needs little oversight. With a well designed management portal, I would think that the Condo association could give the treasurer access for billing and reports, and, if there is a maintenance person, give them access to it for their duties.

 

[dmastro]

What you articulated was our starting point. However, the HOA thinks that the building doesn’t have enough power to support it. Plus, routing conduit and wire will be cost prohibitive especially when you start coring 6 floors of concrete. The issue is that my wife and I are the only ones making a fuss about it. She’s on the board, so her voice matters, but not enough to launch an ambitious effort. The current plan worked for them because we sold it as an interim solution for the next 5 years until we study the plan you mentioned and see how to implement it. We don’t see the $30,000 parking cost as waste, since it can be sold to a resident. The only sunk cost is the installation cost, but that’s minimal in the whole scheme of things.

It’s not an easy problem to solve.

I've just started looking at SWTCH for a different application, but they do offer multi-family applications which incorporate load management to assure total capacity isn't exceeded. I think this solution would probably require a charger installation at every stall that would receive service... although if you can save $30,000 on the acquisition of the shared stall, maybe it would go a ways towards installation of several heads elsewhere.

https://swtchenergy.com/multifamily/

 

[Jimrpa]

$30,000 for a PARKING SPOT?!

 

[GreaseMonkey]

$30,000 for a PARKING SPOT?!

Yeah, real estate is tanking in the city.

 

[NJDevFan30]

No idea about cost but here's another option:
https://xealenergy.com/

I know they specialize in multi-family residential charging.

 

[Deleted member 16048]

It doesn’t have to be either or. The issue with ChargePoint is that they cater to commercial installations where the customer is unique each time, which requires certain features that we don’t need and drives the cost up.

This is true, but you need to realize that the installation you are moving forward with would be considered a commercial installation. It wouldn't be residential as the HOA is charging for usage, therefore it's a business.

I live in a multi unit apartment and we have a ChargePoint installation in our resident only underground garage. It's a standard 6.4kW unit with two plus that can run at 6.4kW simultaneously. Not ideal since there are only two spaces that are shared in a building with 115 units.

The key is to have full management control of the station and be able to change its management configuration as usage / need changes.

Ours isn't configured very well for residents at all since our property management company who set it up doesn't understand the EV lifestyle. It has a 8 hour limit per session, then the parking fee goes from $0 to $25 an hour. Charging stops after the time limit.

This simple set up does not work well at all. I have suggested a bit more complicated configuration, that would allow maximum usage, but also allow residents to get what they need. My suggestion was the following:

1. No time limit​

2. Idle fee enforced during 9a to 7p time frame.​

3. Enable waitlist feature.​

​

This allows people to charge overnight without needing to move a vehicle at 3a-4a, but pushes to have the vehicles moved by morning to allow others to use. It would create a first come first serve policy, and deter abuse. Naturally as need increases there needs to be understanding that additional spaces will need to be added. This is just how it's going to be, and those properties that understand that will be more successful in attracting EV owners.

Anyway, you want a product that is going to be future proof and long term with the investment that's being made. Limiting yourself now, is going to cost the HOA more down the road.

 

[Jimrpa]

Yeah, real estate is tanking in the city.

What city?

 

[GreaseMonkey]

What city?

Chicago

 

[Mach-Lee]

$30,000 for ONE parking spot?! ? My brain can't process that. Like are you buying a parking spot on the street from the city or something? Doesn't the condo have a parking garage or something?

 

[AKgrampy]

Seriously I think you are going need to hire a priest for communal EV charging!

 

[bshaw]

$30,000 for a PARKING SPOT?!

I’m NYC, a deeded parking spot in certain areas could be 10x that…

 

[GreaseMonkey]

$30,000 for ONE parking spot?! ? My brain can't process that. Like are you buying a parking spot on the street from the city or something? Doesn't the condo have a parking garage or something?

Ok, let me elaborate. The first 6 floors of the building is a garage that has 220 spaces. All these spaces are deeded to / owned by condo owners. The HOA doesn’t own anything except the common elements. So if you want to buy another vehicle, you have to buy (or rent) a space. The cost is around $30,000 and that is lower than what it was pre-pandemic. All properties are down ~10-15% due to work from home, crime, etc.

We also have to pay HOA fees and property taxes on the space, around $200/ month.

 

[Glen Boise]

You may want to look at "Flo". They have done a couple commercial and public installations locally. What they do beyond that is another matter.

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