Multi Unit Residential & Electric Vehicles
In Saskatoon, the adoption of Elective Vehicles (EVs) has been growing steadily, reflecting a growing need for charging infrastructure. Multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) house a significant portion of the City's population so equipping these buildings with EV charging stations (EVCS) is essential for supporting current and future EV owners.
As the adoption of electric vehicles continues to grow, having EV charging infrastructure in place may help the property stay competitive and relevant in the future. Properties with EV charging stations are seen as more modern and forward-thinking, providing benefits for property owners, managers, landlords, and residents, such as:
- Attracting and retaining residents who own electric vehicles or who are considering EV ownership, enhancing tenant satisfaction, and potentially reducing tenant turnover.
- Providing credits towards building certification programs like LEED and BOMA Best, demonstrating environmental leadership and a commitment to sustainability.
- Property owners can charge for using EV charging stations, creating an additional revenue stream to help offset installation and maintenance costs.
The discussion about installing charging stations in existing MURBs can be initiated by the property manager, owner, condo board, or the tenant.
Information for MURB Property Managers and Condo Boards
Getting Started
To get started with implementing EV chargers in MURBs, here are some considerations:
Planning
- Buildings and residents are all different and the design for EV charging solutions will need to consider what is unique about your building, its governance, and the people that live in it, to develop a plan that works.
- Form a group within the condo board to manage the project. This group should include people who know about EV charging and building management.
- Consult with a licensed electrical contractor or electrical engineer during this planning stage to get preliminary information and to help determine your next steps.
- With the electrician or engineer, determine if the building’s electrical system can handle EV charging stations by looking at the current power usage and seeing if any upgrades are needed.
- Resident surveys can help measure interest, priorities, and budget for a Multi-Unit Residential Building's EV charging strategy. Murbly has a sample survey that can be tailored to your building’s needs.
- Review the feedback to determine interest and support for further development of an EV charging station design for the property.
Design
- Work with a licensed electrical contractor or electrical engineer to design the property’s EV charging station(s). Choose a contractor or engineer who is knowledgeable about local rules and regulations for EV charging installations. This will involve getting permits and making sure everything meets safety standards.
- Working closely with the contractor or engineer, choose appropriate EV chargers based on the needs of the residents and the building’s capacity.
- Plan where to put the EV charging stations, what electrical upgrades are needed, and any construction work required.
- Consideration will need to be given for parking configuration whether assigned stalls, community (shared between residents) stalls, or mixed-use (residents and public) stalls.
- It is the responsibility of the owner, contractor / engineer to design and ensure all construction is in accordance with the National Building Code, the Building Bylaw, Zoning Bylaw and other regulations.
- Look for government incentives, rebates, and grants that can help offset the costs of installing EV charging stations.
- Get a cost estimate from the contractor or engineer to anticipate the full cost of the work, including equipment, installation, upgrades to the building’s electrical system, and any other required work by trades such as concrete, drywall, painting, landscaping, etc.
- Request an operational cost estimate that anticipates usage, loads, monthly utility costs, and maintenance costs.
- The plans may include approved metering solutions that enable individual billing for EV charging based on energy usage. This could allow for public charging in parking lots as a cost-recovery option, or a user pay system for cost-recovery from residents.
Approvals
- Take the EV charging station plan to the property manager and/or condo board for approval of site planning, budget, operational plan and other details.
- Complete any formal agreements or assurances that are required prior to engaging a contractor / electrician to carry out the work.
Installation
- Engage a qualified trade/contractor to carry out the EV charging station installation and associated retrofits.
- For new services or upgrades to existing services, Saskatoon Light and Power (SL&P) or SaskPower must be contacted.
- Depending on the power utility the property is connected to, please refer to SL&P’s Customer Information Guide or SaskPower’s Electric Service Requirements for information on electric connection and service requirements
- Electrical permits are administered by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK). For information on how to apply for an electrical or gas permit, visit their website at www.tsask.ca, email info@tsask.ca, or call 1-866-530-8599. Permits of this type are typically pulled by the contractor.
- Ensure that the charging stations are commissioned by the contractor prior to commencing use.
Operation and Maintenance
- Use an energy management system to balance the electrical load and prevent overloading the building’s electrical infrastructure.
- Establish a maintenance schedule to ensure the chargers remain in good working condition and address any issues promptly.
- Set up a protocol for maintenance if EV stations are not operational.
- Ensure that all safety equipment and safety protocols are in place prior to starting to use the EV charging stations.
Communication
- Provide information sessions and resources to educate residents about the benefits of EV charging and how to use the chargers.
- Keep residents informed about the progress of the project and any changes or updates to the charging infrastructure.
Required Resources
- Contractors
- Find local certified electricians and contractors experienced in EV charger installations. (The City is not responsible for the quality of work performed by contractors on these lists.)
- Charger Suppliers
- Companies like ChargePoint, FLO, and Tesla provide EV chargers for residential buildings.
- When you’re ready to install chargers at your multi-unit residential building (MURB), talk to an electrician for advice.
- Pick one with good reviews and experience installing Level 2 or 3 charging stations.
- Utility Companies
- Signage
- For public and commercial charging stations, use clear and visible signs to show the rules for using the space and any penalties for not following them.
- Directional signage – placed off-site and along traffic corridors to inform EV drivers that charging stations are available at the site
- Wayfinding signage on site is essential to help EV drivers navigate to charging stations
- Station signage should provide information about policies (who can use the stations, costs (if any), time limits, hours of use, potential penalties).
- For public and commercial charging stations, use clear and visible signs to show the rules for using the space and any penalties for not following them.
Information for MURB Unit Owners and Tenants
How To Request Installation of EV Charging Stations
- Talk to your Condo Board or Property Manager
- Survey other unit owners/tenants in your building to gauge interest and potential usage
- Submit a request to the Condo Board or Property Manager detailing plans for infrastructure (power supply location, parking spot), costs (installation and monthly electricity billing), charger model, and installation details (performed by an electrical contractor)
- If the Condo Board or Property Manager determines that the Tenant should lead on implementation of the EV charging station, refer to MURB property owners and condominium board section for planning, design and implementation guidance.