EV Charging Open

Current Status

Darling Island Apartments already has 36 apartments which have the facilities in place to enable quick connection of an Electric Vehicle charger at their car space.  For all other apartments, some additional work is required when the occupier wishes to connect into the core system.

The Technology

Provision has been made for all occupiers to charge their electric or hybrid vehicle in their carspace.  This provision consists of:

• core infrastucture in all Electrical Rooms and in basement areas which enables one carspace for each apartment to be connected to the apartment's power supply and into the EV Charging Management system;
• a management system which ensures that no parts of the electrical infrastucture are over-loaded and which provides facilities for EV owners to locally or remotely manage the charging cycle for their vehicle.

The Benefits

The installed system is different to most other large strata complexes in that:

• every occupier can charge their vehicle in their own carspace and there's no waiting to get access to a communal charger;
• the charging rate can be up to 7.2 kW which equates to 30 - 35 km range per hour in a typical EV.
• there is no additional billing, all EV usage is part of the apartment's electricity usage;
• the management system enables optimisation of charging cycles to minimise electricity costs;
• there are no ongoing costs other than electricity usage charges.

The Requirements

You will need to have a charger that is compatible with the management system.   The following EV Chargers are the current approved list:

• TeltoCharge
• Schneider ProAC
• Orbis Viaris
• ABB Terra
• Wallbox
• Garo

This list will expand over time as more charges are tested for compatibility.  If a new occupier wishes to use their existing charger, outside the approved list, which can operate at 7.2 kW and which has centralised management functionality, the Building Manager should be consulted for advice.

Where a carspace is not already connected into the core infrastructure, you will need to make application for connection by completing the online form at this link.  Once approved, you make arrangements direct with the Owners Corporation approved contractor for the installation

The Cost of Connection

Where a carspace has not already been provisioned with basic cabling to the location, the indicative cost, including a recommended EV charger, would be $5,500.

Where the carspace already has the basic cabling in place, the indicative cost, including a recommended charger, would be $2,700.

When a carspace is activated in the management system for the first time, an additional cost to the Owners Corporation of $2000 is payable.   Known as the EV Charging Infrastructure Contribution, this payment offsets the capital works cost of the core infrastructure.  This charge will increase based on the formula in By-law 38.4.

All quoted installation costs may be subject to variation by the Owners Corporation approved contractor, depending on specific circumstances.

EV Charging By-law

By-law 38 at this link provides the essential governance of EV Charging at Darling Island Apartments.  The basic considerations are:

• connection into the system must be approved by the Owners Corporation and carried out by the nominated contractor;
• only EV Chargers compatible with the management system can be connected;
• fire safety requirements must be observed.

EV Fire Safety

Electric vehicles properly maintained are less of a fire risk than petrol or diesel powered vehicles.  The facts about EV fire safgety can be found at this link.  Once on the web page, go to the EV Firesafe link to get much more detail from a global authority.