How to get your Strata building EV Ready: A step-by-step guide for the Strata manager
Simplify the journey to becoming EV ready with all the steps Strata managers can take for a sustainable EV building futureThe future of EV Charging infrastructure in Australia
As more Australians switch to Electric Vehicles, the demand for convenient charging options in Apartment and Strata Buildings are rising.
Future-proofing your property with EV Infrastructure not only meets this growing demand, it also boosts property value, attracts eco-conscious tenants, and positions your building as modern and sustainable.
The projected percentage increase of EVs in Australia by 2030 is 418% with EVs to make up 50-60% of new car sales.
Source: Australia EV Sales Statistics by Road Genius
Strata communities that act early lead the transition, reducing long-term costs while standing out as more attractive to current and future residents.
What Strata managers need to know about EV Charging for their building
For Strata Managers, this growing demand comes with both opportunity and complexity. Supporting your OC Owners Corporation through the EV Charger journey will
- boost property value
- attract environmentally conscious tenants, and
- modernise the building
Before your OC invests in EV infrastructure, these are the top areas needing answers and planning
- Owner interest
- Adequate Insurance and Liability
- Infrastructure Upgrade Costs
- Metered Energy and Billing
- Maintenance and Compliance
- By-law Amendments including installation procedures
- Sustainability Add-Ons
- Feasibility and Site Assessment
Being proactive with planning, communication and a Feasibility Study will position your building and OC as forward-thinking and prepared.
As a Strata Manager, guiding this process puts you ahead of the curve – and delivers real value to your stakeholders.
The steps every Strata manager needs to follow to install EV Chargers in your Strata building
Simplify the journey to becoming EV ready. These steps will start the process for your Strata building so your OC Owners Corporation has all the information it needs for a sustainable EV building future.
Step 1. Start with the Right Questions
When you get that first EV Charger request, don’t rush to installation.
Start the journey with the right questions
- What is the best solution?
- Who’s responsible for repairs, insurance, and compliance?
- Will this impact common property, and
- Who pays if something goes wrong?
These questions uncover the broader implications for the building while avoiding legal, compliance and financial surprises.
Step 2. Feasibility Study and Site Assessment
A Site Assessment and Feasibility Study is the first critical step.
The EV Feasibility Study is everyone’s essential roadmap and allows OC Owners Corporations to make informed decisions with confidence.
The EV Feasibility Study includes
- Technical review of your building’s electrical infrastructure and switchboard capacity
- Identification of required upgrades and constraints
- Necessary upgrades to your electrical system
- Energy management recommendations to avoid system overloads
- Load-sharing and cost-recovery models for OC consideration
- A staged rollout plan
- Detailed installation and operating cost estimates
This study provides a clear roadmap for what’s possible, what it costs and what upgrades are essential.
Step 3. Not all EV Charger Solutions are Equal
Choosing a future-proof, open protocol solution means your building isn’t limited in future upgrades. These are the questions to explore
- Do we want a turnkey, managed solution?
- Will the system scale as demand grows?
- Is the software flexible enough to support multiple hardware options?
- Will we have access to real-time monitoring and billing tools?
- Are there ongoing costs or commissions for the OC?
- Can the provider assist with OC approvals and resident engagement?
Step 4. Help with the Proposal
Help with preparing a clear EV proposal to present at the next Annual General Meeting.
In NSW, a 2021 amendment to the NSW Strata Schemes Management Act means Sustainability Infrastructure motions – including EV installations – need 50% approval rather than 75% from owners present and eligible to vote.
Step 5. Install the Backbone Infrastructure
It all starts taking shape from here. The backbone infrastructure includes all shared electrical systems, software and hardware to support future EV Charger installations in individual car spaces with these goals
- End-to-end project delivery
- Residents can connect easily
- Load management to avoid circuit overloads
- Billing systems to recover usage costs
Step 6. Annual Servicing and EV Infrastructure Maintenance
Ongoing maintenance keeps the system safe and performing well. Annual servicing is mandatory for any shared or public-use chargers under Australian regulations
Annual servicing includes
- Visual and mechanical inspections
- System diagnostics
- Full operational checks
- Compliance with regulations – mandatory for shared chargers
Simplify the EV Charging process for Strata Building Managers, Owners Corporations and Apartment residents with all the expert guidance to simplify and manage the EV Charger rollout process from Feasibility through to Installation and Maintenance
Watch how Scott EV Chargers helps Building and Strata managers
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