Tips for arranging charging points within management company property

edanto

I'm looking into what problems I have to solve to put in an EV charging point.

I live in an estate where the common areas are owned by a standard OMC and the power cable would need to cross (underground) some common area before going to the charging point, also on common area. I have exclusive use of two parking spaces.

Are there national or council regulations?

Any tips on making it easy for the OMC to approve the request?

Any tips on future proofing the charging point for maximum versatility re EV models/speed of charging etc?

One tip I've found is this grant - https://www.seai.ie/grants/electric-vehicle-grants/electric-vehicle-home-charger-grant/eligible-evs-for-the-home/

zg3409

You are not eligible for the grant, you need to have a driveway. Best to get a specialist to price the job with a proper pedestal etc. You need to feed the charger from your inside fuseboard. Ideally you want 32amp 7Kw outlet for maximum speed. If public place you do not want a tethered charger, instead a vandal proof pedestal. Rough price 3000 euro. A proper installer will be insured etc and give a proper quote and ease management company. Rules for outdoor underground wiring apply and there are new rules for car chargers. Get 3 quotes before speaking to management company

charlieIRL

I got info from Mulhare Electrical today if you want me to forward it on.

edanto

Very helpful posts from you both, thanks.

@zg3409; that's helped me map out the first few steps, much appreciated. I'm getting those first few quotes and expect to learn a good deal about the rules and figure out the best approach.

Nickindublin

Just got a letter in from our management company they are installing 2 chargers and in the process of awarding a company the contract to install individual charging points for owners. Live in an apartment block so bit different to your situation. but i do believe your management company will have to approve a contractor to install charging points in your estate that everyone will have to go through.

ELM327

zg3409 wrote: »

You are not eligible for the grant, you need to have a driveway. Best to get a specialist to price the job with a proper pedestal etc. You need to feed the charger from your inside fuseboard. Ideally you want 32amp 7Kw outlet for maximum speed. If public place you do not want a tethered charger, instead a vandal proof pedestal. Rough price 3000 euro. A proper installer will be insured etc and give a proper quote and ease management company. Rules for outdoor underground wiring apply and there are new rules for car chargers. Get 3 quotes before speaking to management company

fact checker: BEEEEEEP


I live in a managed apartment complex, no driveway, got the grant (you have to supply photos so they knew what it was for too)

I also paid less than half of the 3k you quoted, from a registered installer

zg3409

ELM327 wrote: »

zg3409 wrote: »

You are not eligible for the grant, you need to have a driveway. Best to get a specialist to price the job with a proper pedestal etc. You need to feed the charger from your inside fuseboard. Ideally you want 32amp 7Kw outlet for maximum speed. If public place you do not want a tethered charger, instead a vandal proof pedestal. Rough price 3000 euro. A proper installer will be insured etc and give a proper quote and ease management company. Rules for outdoor underground wiring apply and there are new rules for car chargers. Get 3 quotes before speaking to management company

fact checker: BEEEEEEP


I live in a managed apartment complex, no driveway, got the grant (you have to supply photos so they knew what it was for too)

I also paid less than half of the 3k you quoted, from a registered installer

I see on their site they say"

The EV must be parked on an off-street parking location associated with the home and the charger must be connected back to the fuse board of the home of the applicant.

"

So possibly dedicated spaces in a private car park count. Great to hear it is cheaper and possibly grant approved!

unkel

zg3409 wrote: »

The EV must be parked on an off-street parking location associated with the home

In other words, you must own the car parking space. So that's fine. Not cheap though to have a pedestal install with cabling done under public footpaths, but thankfully you can take the €600 subsidy off the bill.

edanto

Well, that's encouraging!

In terms of charger choice; I think that I want to have an untethered point (so there are no trailing cables while charger not in use) and be able to control charging via an app (no problem to have my home WiFi at the pedestal) to avoid strangers charging while I'm not at home.

Anyone recommend a brand/model that fits? FWIW, I have solar panels and thus Zappi is attractive, but I think they are off the list as all appear to be tethered.

So far, haven't had any feedback from management agent, but am in the process of getting quotes from installers and have a rough idea of the civils/electrical involved.

unkel

edanto wrote: »

I think that I want to have an untethered point (so there are no trailing cables while charger not in use) and be able to control charging via an app (no problem to have my home WiFi at the pedestal) to avoid strangers charging while I'm not at home.

I've seen Zappis with a pin code. And you could always flick the switch in your consumer unit to prevent it charging. I would highly recommend tethered, for convenience.

edanto wrote: »

I have solar panels and thus Zappi is attractive, but I think they are off the list as all appear to be tethered.

The new model out about now does come in untethered versions too

zg3409

Make sure you have solar electric panels as opposed to solar water heating only tubes.

The Zappi is quite big and has a display, as said it can be untethered now. If you want charge info on phone app you need to buy a hub for 150 euro extra. If you want to use solar you need additional wires to house to monitor solar or wireless needs a harvi at around 50 euro extra. Solar is only really of use if car is at home weekdays and won't be charged overnight at low night rate. It is handy if EV is second car for housewife etc. You need a fairly good solar setup and typically car will only charge at 1 to 2 kWh per hour (compared to 7kwh typical ability) meaning it takes many hours of excess sun power to even half charge car. You could make up a pedestal for a Zappi with a metal bar etc, but it would not be as vandal proof as a proper commercial unit. It depends if area is behind security gates and kids don't play near it. One guy hid his Zappi inside a fake esb Meter box which can be locked using a standard esb tool to open or a key

GerardKeating

I noticed the following condition in a planning approval for apartments recently in Galway, is this common yet ?

“All communal parking areas serving the apartments must provide electric vehicle charging points.”

charlieIRL

GerardKeating wrote: »

I noticed the following condition in a planning approval for apartments recently in Galway, is this common yet ?

“All communal parking areas serving the apartments must provide electric vehicle charging points.”

Yupp it’s coming in on a lot of permissions now, even commercial. Great to see as long as the residents make the most of them.

JohnC.

And hopefully actually maintained when there are problems.

zg3409

GerardKeating wrote: »

I noticed the following condition in a planning approval for apartments recently in Galway, is this common yet ?

“All communal parking areas serving the apartments must provide electric vehicle charging points.”

8.2.4.12 Electrically Operated Vehicles
To encourage the use of Electric Vehicles, in line with
Council and National Policy, developments shall
provide Electric Vehicle Charging spaces as follows:
• Residential developments (with private car spaces
including visitor car parking spaces) - A minimum
of one car parking space per ten residential units
should be equipped with one fully functional
Electric Vehicle Charging Point.
• Non-residential developments (with private car
parking spaces including visitor car parking spaces
e.g office developments) - A minimum of one car
parking space per ten car parking spaces should be
equipped with one fully functional Electric Vehicle
Charging Point.
• Developments with publicly accessible spaces
(e.g. supermarket car park, cinema etc.) - A
minimum of one car parking space per ten car
parking spaces should be equipped with one fully
functional Electric Vehicle Charging Point.
The Charge Point Parking space(s) should be clearly
marked as being designated for Electric Vehicle
charging. Appropriate signage indicating the presence
of a Charge Point or Points should also be erected. All
Charge Points fitted in publicly accessible areas should
be capable of communicating usage data with the
National Charge Point Management System and use
the latest version of the Open Charge Point Protocol
(OCCP). They should also support a user identification
system such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
As sales of battery operated cars increase to meet
the Government objectives of 10% car ownership by
2020 it would be expected that such spaces would
be specifically allocated to that use similar to parking
spaces suitable for the disabled and ‘Parent and Child’.

The DoECLG Apartment Guidelines contain certain ‘Specific Planning Policy Requirements’
which became mandatory on foot of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act
2015that was signed into law by the President on 29th December 2015.

From https://www.dlrcoco.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/cdp2016_section8.pdf

So 1 space in ten for brand new apartments seeking planning, as I read it

Jjohnrockk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/110996132#Comment_110996132

Thanks for tye information. Would you be able to share the cost and point to the installer. Been a while and im unable to find installer for apartment blocks.