EV CHARGERS IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

By Francisco Beroiz

The wide implementation of electric vehicles is no longer a novelty. Different studies and statistics show that the number of owners who are inclined to opt for an electric vehicle in their next purchase has increased.

The main barrier to change is the difficulty of having a reliable charging infrastructure. In addition, the installation of Level 2 chargers in residential buildings will become more and more a challenge that must be taken into account in order to face a future that is already here.

Under current State regulations, condominium managers cannot prohibit residents from installing EV chargers, as long as residents pay for the installation and maintenance costs. However, this is also an issue that must be planned in advance, in order not to generate an overload on the existing electrical system of the building.

Luckily, current charging technology allows different solutions to be created for large users, including connection to the internet, centralized management of the units, load balancing by establishing total or group maximum demands, the possibility of billing the energy used for both residents and eventual guests and even paying with credit cards.

As explained, there is always the possibility of connecting EV charging stations without having to make significant upgrades to the electrical infrastructure. Likewise, the combination with solar energy can be of great help to have additional power to feed electric vehicles.

Of course, this is also a great investment for commercial buildings, which can offer EV Charging infrastructure to their employees and customers, as a value-added service. Educational buildings, hospitals, hotels, and parking lots are just part of the great facility universe that can benefit from these technologies.

Francisco Beroiz is an Electrical Engineer with 20 years of experience in the electrical field, Licensed Electrical Contractor (#EC13010528), and Manager at Al Siefert Electric.

The articles he writes are about matters of interest and questions from his customers. Please call Francisco if you have questions concerning electric service, installation, and repair.

(954) 493-9411