DETROIT (AP) — When the electric car revolution arrives, will there be enough places to plug in? plug your car in wherever it is parked and thus never wait to charge (apart from the handful of times a year when you need to go beyond the range of your car - although this often coincides with a comfort break and we're trying to reduce the charge time there too).. Of course, if you’re a Model 3 owner, there are more charging options. More than a quarter of Americans live in an apartment or condo, and nearly all of them will have a hard time owning an electric car. They will have to determine the correct electrical needs for the charger and the proper way to connect the charger to the city’s electrical grid. Couple that with Tesla bringing back free Supercharging for the Model S and X and some lucky Tesla owners can even charge for free. Put one in yourself, and you lose charging privileges when you move, as well as the money you spent on it. ... which now leads the world in electric vehicle sales and has its own private network of fast-charging stations. They make for an easy transition into electric vehicle ownership for anyone who either has their own personal garage, or at the very least can run an extension cord to their driveway from inside the house. © 2020 EverCharge, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Many states, including California, Colorado, Florida, and Oregon, prohibit “unreasonably” denying a tenant’s request to install an electric car charger. :D. Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of millions of monthly readers. Claim Yours . They provide a turnkey solution that includes EV infrastructure and an all … A popular selling point for electric vehicles is the notion that you never have to stop for gas. Photo by Zach Shahan, CleanTechnica. ___ According to iPropertyManagement, 37% of the American population rent their home.Since plugging in at home is the primary way EV owners charge, this can be quite a challenge to the millions of renters who do not have access to an on-site charging station. Owning a EV and living in an apartment, is it possible? According to an analysis of 30 countries by RENTCafe:⊕ Rental households ranged from a low of 9.7% in Singapore to a high of 56.6% in Switzerland.⊕ 22 of the countries have a rental percentage of 25% or higher and 5 of those have rental percentages above 40%.⊕ Half of the 15 countries have rental percentages at or above 30%.The number of households that are choosing to rent versus buy a home is increasing in many countries, including the UK and US. This is the first, and possibly hardest, step in the entire process: getting permission from the Municipal Utility District (MUD) owners or the Home Owners Association (HOA). According to the 2017 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates from the United States Census Bureau show that 25.5% of occupied housing units in the US are apartments. Made in California. While the book is almost 70 pages long, the basic steps can be summarized as follows: get permission, attain a permit, and connect the station to the electrical grid. An earlier version of this article appeared on EVBite. Gas-powered vehicles do seem to be better value at purchase, but their long-term fuel and maintenance costs can mount up quickly. Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Electric cars are the future. In addition to the company’s proprietary Superchargers and Destination Chargers, Tesla is also pushing to roll out its urban charging initiative as well. But as with most differences between gas-powered vehicles and EVs, the more you explore the cost of owning an EV, the more it makes sense. With little or no interest to invest in charging infrastructure improvements, there is even less interest in paying for the electrical, parking, and business assessments, as well as spending time on resident surveys required to plan and make decisions. Solutions for charging in assigned and shared parking at your apartment or condo. These vehicles are more expensive than similarly-sized gas engine cars, but for now, the available $7,500 federal tax credit helps offset the cost of owning an electric vehicle. In any event, plenty of electric car owners don’t have chargers installed at their place of residence. First, your best bet will be to open up a charging station map such as PlugShare or OpenChargeMap and find chargers in your immediate area, or near areas that you frequent. Pod Point are fond of the concept of “top-up” charging, i.e. This is our contributor account for those special people. News is published on CleanTechnica.com, while reports are published on Future-Trends.CleanTechnica.com/Reports/ and buying guides are here. Most buildings are already nearing power capacity or have already reached it, meaning no new electrical infrastructure can be added without costly upgrades. Once you’ve attained a permit, you’ll then have to contact your local utility company. If you rent an apartment, you might be able to convince your landlord to install an electric-vehicle charger, but you might not. Owning an EV doesn’t mean that fuelling your vehicle is free just because you’re no longer buying gas. Resources like the in-depth California guidebook, referencing successful property case studies, checking on local programs and incentives, and consulting your local government office should provide a much more detailed list of steps that you’ll need to take. In any event, plenty of electric car owners don’t have chargers installed at their place of residence. Apartment property owners aren’t investing in EVSE projects due to a lack of perceived demand by residents, incomplete project planning, unknown and potentially significant capital costs, complex ownership decision-making models, and most importantly, no realistic business model that fits with their existing business criteria. They’re generally providing information to higher levels of property management or owners. CleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador. Apartment property managers and site-based facility personnel do not understand the nuances of evaluating multiple issues and the systems on their properties for deploying electric vehicle system equipment (EVSE) projects. So, what should you do if you live in an apartment and are unlucky enough to not have any EV charging stations within close proximity? Tags: California, chargepoint, Colorado, Electrify America, EV Charging apartments, EVbite, EverCharge, eVgo, Florida, Oregon, Tesla, Tesla Model 3, tesla superchargers, Guest Contributor is many, many people. California’s helpful guidebook states that while this tends to vary by jurisdiction, common info needed in most applications include, “site plans, a single line electrical diagram; load calculations and whether a panel upgrade will be required; a separate mechanical permit application if ventilation will be required for the station; and charger installation instructions from the manufacturer.”. 11 steps to a successful installation at an apartment building. When you’ve located the correct office, they should be able to advise you and the property owner of the required steps in the permitting process. It's no surprise the majority of electric-car owners today own their own homes. This hits apartment and condo dwellers who own or want to own electric cars hardest as most buildings will force residents to foot the bill if they want on-site electric car charging. EDMUNDS SAYS: It is possible to own an EV without a home charger. Electric car owners with a 240-volt supply of power in the garage or driveway can refuel a battery-powered vehicle with ease. In order to give drivers some peace of … Constantly tapping into new power sources is like putting a band-aid on a major wound, it just doesn’t make sense. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by and do not necessarily represent the views of CleanTechnica, its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries. That's what makes SmartPower so unique. Autocar India’s Hormazd Sorabjee on owning an electic car and what it entails. A problem arises when we consider the fact that only about 60% of residences are detached single family houses, and about 30% are apartments. If you live in an apartment and have a car spot, there’s one huge hurdle to buying an electric car. Further, they’re rarely asked to create business strategies and have limited authority to undertake projects. CleanTechnica is the #1 cleantech-focused news & analysis website in the US & the world, focusing primarily on electric cars, solar energy, wind energy, & energy storage. The book gives anyone reading it a detailed look at the typical steps required. The Federal Tax Credit Is Back. As time goes on and the dependency for power continues to grow, the solution of adding more and more power doesn’t scale. But does it make sense to own one now? Tesla has … Putting the building into a never ending cycle of expensive infrastructure upgrades. Owning an electric car in an apartment can be difficult but with EverCharge and SmartPower it really doesn't have to be. I live in CA and am thinking of getting an EV for my next car, I'm still leaning all about Ev's, but driving with an ICE is making me feel terrible about what in doing to the planet and my wallet. Without that infrastructure, electric car chargers cannot be added and that will make owning an electric car a real pain. Consider becoming a CleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador — or a patron on Patreon. In addition to the public chargers previously noted, you can also look for Tesla Superchargers and/or Destination Chargers. Like me, a lot of people are concerned about climate change and pollution and we want to do our part. If owners truly want to enjoy their electric cars they are going to need a charging station at home, but if you live in an apartment it's not so easy. Parking lots owned by the city, specifically those found in front of government buildings and parks, might also offer public charging stations. However, the barrier of entry for Teslas is higher given that they are more expensive than the average EV. Given these budget priorities, the availability of EVSE grants would significantly increase the likelihood of property owners undertaking electric vehicle infrastructure projects. In fact, pretty … As the number of electric cars on the road grows this becomes an untenable solution. 30% Plugin Vehicle Market Share in the Netherlands! It should go without saying that this represents an extremely generalized guide if you wish to install an electric car charger within your apartment complex, and certain details are subject to change based on your particular place of residency. This can get complicated, but it’s still doable. Instead of every charging station drawing power regardless if it's plugged in or not, the system can move that power around freely. Owning an electric car in an apartment can be difficult but with EverCharge and SmartPower it really doesn't have to be. In addition, California recently released a helpful guidebook that goes through the steps of permitting and constructing an electric vehicle charging station. As the number of EVs rises, and the number of fast chargers grow, an OMC has to be careful that surges in electricity usage do not overload the system and knock out power for apartment owners. Other Incentives for New York City EV Drivers. These two terms give up a direct … The recently released Tesla Model 3 already has half a million reservations and will only continue to grow with the glowing reviews. Other incentives encourage New York City drivers to … After all, leaving a charging cable stretched across a public sidewalk all night was just begging for a ticket from the city, a trip-and-fall lawsuit, or both. The country with the most electric cars per capita, by far, is Norway, where 3.3 percent of the total population owns an electric car. Stunning Video Chart: Tesla [TSLA] vs. Other Auto Company Market Cap Changes (2006–2020), Signing Up For Community Solar: My Experience, Human Rights Campaign Responds to Elon Musk, Largest Renewable Energy Project In World Will Be 30 Gigawatt Solar–Wind Project In India, Real Friends Interrupt You When You Are Making A Mistake, Honda Has Been Making Boneheaded Moves Lately. Not only are these upgrades incredibly expensive they do not address the underlying problem. Many times these upgrades cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Envoy cars are located in dedicated parking spaces at apartment complexes, hotels, workplaces and more. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality? With the help of companies like EVmatch, electric car ownership is getting easier for many of those who don't have easy charging access via a home garage. Sign up for our free daily newsletter or weekly newsletter to never miss a story. Can you even own an electric car while living in an apartment? While adding more infrastructure can solve the issue, it should not be the solution. Solutions for charging in assigned and shared parking at your apartment or condo. Doing this not only eliminates expensive infrastructure but also can add more charging stations as needed, meaning electric car owners living in an apartment can not only get charging but also save a lot of money too. Additionally, not every state has such a clause, so it’s not a trump card that can be used by everyone. The program is partly a result of requests by residents, but also a response to an anticipated growth in the number of plug-in electric vehicles because of the California mandate that 15.4 percent of all new vehicles sold the state by 2025 be plug-in pure electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell vehicles by 2025, Cynthia M. McSherry, senior vice president of Portfolio Management at Sequoia told PluginCars. Once you’ve successfully attained permission from the applicable parties, you’ll then have to attain a permit. Of course. Comparing this figure to the average cost per kWh was ¢14. Popular spots such as local malls and grocery stores often feature some form of EV charging for the general public. In the meantime the worry is that the electric car revolution could by-pass millions of people, particularly in the inner cities. Charging companies such as ChargePoint provide informative brochures that you can forward to the owners of the building or HOA board, as well. Regardless of living in an apartment or a house, they’re fine with the convenience of local EV chargers. The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Plug your car in before going to sleep, and wake up to a full battery in the morning. Park in a garage that doesn’t have assigned spaces, and your charger could be used by anyone. And companies like EverCharge can help you with the whole process. Some companies have installed electric car chargers in their garages and parking … It allows each charging station to communicate with each other and understands how much power is readily available, then directs that power to where and when it's needed most. Companies like EverCharge are looking to make the charging process easier to implement for apartments and condos (YouTube: EverCharge). Hidden Costs of Owning an Electric Car The Operating Costs ( Cost to charge electric car ) - Advertisement - As recorded in June 2019, the national average cost per gallon of gas was $2.81. However, those living in apartment and condominium buildings rarely have access to onsite charging stations. Buildings need a way to tap into the grid without adding never ending amounts of infrastructure, while still future-proofing themselves for even more EVs in the coming years. While you can charge a plug-in hybrid from any 120-volt outlet , most manufacturers recommend that you don't use extension cords. EVBite is an electric vehicle-specific news site dedicated to keeping consumers up-to-date on any developments in the ever-expanding EV landscape. We've laid out the steps involved in the process below, and provided some helpful resources and tips along the way. While most EV enthusiasts and media sites advocate for owners of electric vehicles to charge at home, this can be a rather troublesome hurdle to overcome for potential buyers who live in apartments. It is up to you to identify the correct office that will issue you a permit, which will typically be from the public works or transportation/environment department. We’ve got a guide for you Simon-Pierre Rioux, President of the Quebec Electric Vehicle Association One solution here would be to petition your landlord or condo board to have an EVSE installed in the building’s parking lot or garage, either at your assigned space or in a common area for residents’ use. EVs, Apartments, Condominiums, in-home charging, Level 2 Charging, Model 3, Public Charging, Charging Station. The final 10% or so are mobile homes. After the details have been discussed and agreed upon, you can go ahead and contract out the installation of your electric car charger. A quick google search of “(city) permits” should point you in the right direction. When this happens cities begin to face the real possibility of rolling blackouts or worse. In any event, plenty of electric car owners don't have chargers installed at their place of residence. No home charging here. You can expect your electric bill to go up, but the extra cost in electricity will still be less than what you would be spending on gas. It would help to brush up on any possible incentives that your state provides for building chargers when presenting your case. Published on September 10th, 2019 | Your "gas station" is in your garage—simply plug in your vehicle to charge it overnight. Owning an electric car as a renter can have a fairly big issue–home charging. Unless your building doesn't mind you driving up to your apartment every night to plug in, living in an apartment can be a significant roadblock to owning a plug-in hybrid. Some of the obstacles related to setting up apartment-based electric vehicle chargers were outlined in the 2015 report entitled, Electric Vehicle Charging in Apartment-Based Housing – Opportunities and Obstacles, which discussed the following three findings: Thankfully, some states have sought to alleviate the stress of trying to set up electric car charging in apartment complexes through legislative action. Connect with a team member by telling us a little about yourself. IN TRANSIT: Are you looking at buying an electric car but don’t know where to start? Contact us here. The US Department of Energy has a database that lists different incentives by state. Toggle navigation Find Stations | Sign Up ... First, electric cars are becoming mainstream. By Denis Gurskiy. Doing this not only eliminates expensive infrastructure but also can add more charging stations as needed, meaning electric car owners living in an apartment can not only get charging but also save a lot of money too. One of the largest obstacles standing in the way of widespread electric vehicle adoption is the often daunting setup required to outfit customers who live in apartments with adequate charging infrastructure. Still, some people might not be able to find a conveniently placed charger or simply prefer to have a charger set up on their property. ... Electric cars have been on the mass market for about a decade now, but modern electric car technology is still in its infancy. Using this technology allows the building to maximize its existing infrastructure by using power efficiently. If you're a condo or apartment resident (or group of residents) looking to install EV charging stations in your building, it can be difficult to know where to start. by Guest Contributor, September 10th, 2019 by Guest Contributor, Originally published on EVBite and EVANNEX. But it depends on how much you drive daily and how comfortable you are with sticking to a routine of public charging, which is easier with Tesla’s supercharging network. This is why EV ownership is in a different league of convenience to Internal … But buying an electric car in the UK in 2020 is far more complex than stumping up the cash and plugging it in. Additionally, you can check with your workplace for EV chargers and/or you can put a request in at your workplace as there are certain rebates available to companies for installing electric car chargers on their property. While apartment dwellers do not make up the majority of the United States population, they aren’t exactly an insignificant group, either. We publish a number of guest posts from experts in a large variety of fields. This solution not only saves many buildings (and residents) from adding expensive and, in some cases, unnecessary upgrades, but also expands the capacity for the future. Also, which one to buy: an entry-level Tata Nexon EV or the mid-range Hyundai Kona? The grid, at some point, cannot produce unlimited power. Property improvement upgrades, building renovations, providing amenities for all residents, and capital maintenance expenditures take first precedence in annual budget decisions made by MUD (multi-unit dwelling) owners. Those who want to consistently leverage the public network can, but as even Tesla will tell you this isn't a great way to enjoy your vehicle. Having a conveniently placed charger in front of your favorite supermarket will allow you to charge your electric car while you do your weekly grocery shopping. What does make sense is giving every building the ability to intelligently allocate power as needed. The concept works well for homeowners, who can plug their electric vehicles into their home outlets and pay the electric bill increases that occur. ... As more electric vehicles are sold, more fast chargers will be needed, especially for people who live in apartment buildings who can’t charge at home, said Cathy Zoi, EVGo’s CEO. While we mentioned that certain states have statures that prohibit “unreasonable” denials, what constitutes “unreasonable” is up to the state to decide. However, even with the expansion of the Supercharger network, these vehicles are going to need more chargers. Meanwhile, EV charging companies like EVgo and Electrify America are pushing to prioritize setting up chargers in apartment-dense areas. To make things worse this solution does not future-proof buildings for the ever growing demand for electric cars. And Tesla’s charging network is growing (and improving) fast. Similar to MPG for gasoline-powered vehicles, Electric vehicles have kilowatts per hour per 100 miles. As an urban apartment dweller without a driveway, I figured an electric vehicle (EV) just wasn’t in the realm of possibility. Editor’s Note: Video produced in 2015 with stats reflecting data available at that time. When it comes to Level 1 and 2 charging, some cars are only rated for 3.3kW, while others can be rated for as high as 10kW. Card that can be used by everyone city, specifically those found in front government... Local utility company a CleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador — or a patron on Patreon glowing... Will make owning an electric car revolution could by-pass millions of monthly readers and/or Destination chargers, charging... With stats reflecting data available at that time higher levels of property or. 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