Condo board needs a practical roadmap: feasibility, vendors, and EV rollout

[JerryL]

I'm part of a condo board, and we're starting to receive more requests from residents to install EV charging infrastructure in our underground parking garage, but we're overwhelmed by the logistical and financial considerations. Our main concerns are the upfront cost of upgrading our electrical capacity, fairly allocating usage and costs among residents, and choosing a scalable system that won't be obsolete in a few years. For other multi-unit building managers or boards who have navigated this, what was your step-by-step process for assessing feasibility, selecting a vendor and payment model, and dealing with the installation without causing major disruption to residents? We need a practical roadmap.

[VioletR]

Reply 1
Solid goal. Here’s a practical road map you can actually run: 1) do a baseline electrical load assessment with a licensed electrician to determine if the existing service can handle a few ports and what upgrades would be required. 2) forecast demand by analyzing current usage, resident counts, and growth—and decide on a phased approach (start with 2–4 ports, plan for expansion). 3) inventory options for chargers (level 2 vs DC fast, future-proofing) and a load-management strategy so you don’t spike the building’s peak. 4) define a formal budget, including electrical upgrades, equipment, installation, permits, and a contingency. 5) draft a roll-out plan with a 12–24 month cadence, including a simple governance model for approvals. 6) run a stakeholder outreach to explain benefits, costs, and timelines so residents aren’t surprised. 7) establish a measurement plan (uptake, residential use, peak demand, outages) and a quarterly review. If you want, I can tailor a checklist for your building size and service level.