Scalable EV Charging Programs for Apartments

Property managers and developers worldwide are beginning to feel the pressure to install electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions at a high volume in their properties. This demand results from a combination of immediate resident needs and ordinances requiring EV charging installation during new construction. Regardless of the reasoning, it’s essential to strategize how to implement a cost-effective charging program that can scale with demand while maintaining a positive user experience. In this blog post, we will explore how energy management solutions can support your charging program implementation.

What is Energy Management?

Most charging stations today are installed with their own dedicated breaker and circuit (e.g., 40 amps for most Level 2 chargers). This setup provides a consistent power supply to the station; however, when a high volume of charging stations is required, the electrical capacity needed can be immense. For example, installing 100 charging stations, each on its own dedicated circuit, would require 4,000 amps of capacity.

To offset this electrical capacity requirement and still install the same volume of charging stations, energy management solutions can be used. This approach involves installing multiple charging stations on a shared circuit. For example, most energy management systems allow for installing four Level 2 charging stations on a shared 40 amp circuit. Instead of each charger operating at full capacity, the software intelligently allocates power based on the number of connected vehicles, ensuring each receives an appropriate charge. For instance, if only one car is connected, it may receive the full power output, but as more cars connect, the system dynamically adjusts the distribution to balance the load.

Key Benefits of Energy Management:

• Reduced Infrastructure Costs: Reduce total costs by up to 40% by installing the same volume of chargers with a quarter of the capacity requirement.

• Lower Monthly Utility Costs: Energy management ensures your energy use is as efficient as possible, reducing transmission fees from your utility provider.

Considerations for Charging Programs with Energy Management

Although energy management can be an effective tool for reducing project costs, it’s important to configure your program to maintain a positive user experience.

1. Open Charger Access vs. Assigned Chargers

   
   The setup of your charging stations—whether open access or assigned—is crucial. In an open charging setup, chargers are shared by all residents who can plug in whenever they wish. With open access, many residents may wait until their vehicle is near 0% charge and expect a predictable overnight charge, which is difficult to achieve with energy management as charge times may increase with more users plugged in, leading to a poor user experience.

   
   

   Alternatively, an assigned charging setup means each station is reserved exclusively for one resident 24/7. This consistency allows energy management systems to optimize power distribution effectively by predicting and balancing the load based on known usage patterns. For example, on a shared 40A circuit with four chargers, the system might allocate 10A per car when all are plugged in, enough to meet daily driving needs, as the average American drives about 32 miles a day, requiring around 8 kWh. Assigned charging allows the system to distribute power predictably, ensuring a positive user experience with reasonable charge times.

   
   

2. Charging Speed Flexibility

   
   Increased flexibility can enhance the user experience. This flexibility primarily comes from allowing users to request additional energy when needed. For example, a system that enables users to ‘skip the line’ for faster charging provides added convenience and satisfaction.

   
   

3. Charge Time Transparency

   
   In most energy management-based charging systems, it can be difficult for users to understand how long it will take to fully charge their vehicles, especially as other users plugging in can significantly reduce power delivery. Consider an energy management software that focuses on informing users of expected charge times when power delivery changes.

PlugOp’s Approach to EV Charging at Scale in Multi-Family Complexes

At PlugOp Technologies, we offer tailored solutions for EV charging in multi-family complexes based on the following principles:

1. Assigned Charging: To attract and retain EV owners, provide them with the best charging experience possible through assigned charging. With PlugOp, grant users exclusive station access for a monthly fee.

2. Energy Management: Reduce total costs by up to 40% with our energy management software—install four chargers on a single shared circuit. PlugOp AI tracks residents' driving behavior to ensure the right EVs are charged when needed most.

3. User Experience First: With PlugOp, users receive the best charging experience possible through energy management solutions. They are consistently informed about anticipated charge times, and ‘Priority Charging’ allows users to request additional energy when they need it most.