Question: My hybrid car requires an AC charger but my building only has DC chargers. I use a common property power point to charge the car but have been told that this is not allowed. What do I do now?
One of the main reasons I purchased my apartment last year was because the building has EV charging stations. I recently bought a hybrid car. Since then, I found out there are only DC fast chargers available, while I need an AC charger.
I have checked our owners cooperation rules, but there is not any reference to EV chargers.
I’m paying owners corporation fees but I’m not accessing the facilities.
The DC EV charger is common property and makes up part of my levies, so I’ve been charging my car from a power plug on common property near my parking lot. My car only needs 7kw to charge and I’m using a certificated charging cable that is safe in a common area.
I’ve received an email from the building manager stating I can’t use the power point because it is common area power, and not for private use.
I’ve ignored the building manager’s email, continued to charge my car via common property power and sent a complaint to the owners corporation. I have not received a response from the committee. The building manager has sent me another email with a second warning.
What should I do? Surely this issue will become more prevalent as a growing number of lot owners purchase EVs.
Answer: The most effective recourse would be for you to engage with the building manager and strata manager to investigate charging options that would be acceptable to the community.
Many apartments now are wrestling with how to accommodate EV charging, particularly as many apartments were built well before the concept even existed. Residents with electric vehicles should ensure there is adequate EV Charging for their needs before purchasing or moving into a property. This means also checking the number and type of chargers that are suitable for your needs.
You cannot use the common property power to charge your car. It effectively means that all the owners at your building are subsiding your private car charging.
The most effective recourse would be for you to engage with the building manager and strata manager to investigate charging options that would be acceptable to the community. This could involve engaging a private company to install an EV charger in your car space. This installation should be at your cost, as it is for your benefit only. Alternatively, if there is enough demand in the building, you could ask your strata committee to investigate installing an AC charger on common property.
Alex Smale The Knight Email P: 03 9509 3144