Summary
– Robert Till wants to switch his car to an EV but faces challenges due to lack of charging infrastructure in his apartment building
– Current strata legislation in Australia requires committee approval for EV charging infrastructure installation in apartment buildings
– NSW is leading in supporting EV infrastructure changes in buildings, with amendments to laws making it easier to convert to EV
– Older apartment buildings like Till’s lack the electrical capacity for communal chargers and face challenges in upgrades
– Calls are being made for government to change legislation to make it easier for apartment dwellers to install EV charging infrastructure in their buildings.
Article
Robert Till, an Australian man from Brisbane, has been trying to switch his 2011 Holden Calais for an electric vehicle for the past three years. However, as a resident of an apartment building, he faces the common dilemma of not having access to charging infrastructure in his block. Despite offering to cover the costs, Till has been denied permission by his body corporate to install a standard 10 amp—240 volt power point in his car space. Current strata legislation in Queensland, and across other states in Australia, prohibits owners from installing EV charging infrastructure without permission from their strata committee, posing a challenge for apartment dwellers like Till.
Fred Tuckwell, chair at the Owner’s Corporation Network, acknowledges that the lack of EV charging infrastructure in apartment buildings is a significant issue across the country. In New South Wales, recent amendments to the Sustainability Infrastructure Act have made it easier for owners to make changes within their building to support EV infrastructure, with only 50 per cent of owners now required to vote in favor of such changes. The NSW government has also mandated that all new apartment buildings must be built with infrastructure to allow for electric car charging from October 2023, setting an example for other states and territories. However, older buildings like Till’s in Brisbane, face challenges due to their limited electrical capacity.
Till has expressed his support for type 1 charging, which does not require significant upgrades to the building’s electrical infrastructure, in contrast to type 2 superchargers. He believes that state and federal governments should intervene to change legislation and shift the decision-making power for EV chargers away from body corporates. The Owner’s Corporation Network has advocated for a change in legislation on a “right to charge” basis, with the Victorian and NSW governments showing interest in potential legislative changes. Till stresses the need for a simpler approval process to facilitate the transition to an EV future.
The NSW government has taken a proactive step towards supporting EV ownership by allocating a $10 million budget to retrofit 100 apartment buildings with EV charging stations across the state. This initiative aims to make EV ownership more attractive and accessible for apartment residents, as more than 90 per cent of EV drivers charge their vehicles at home. The grants provided by the NSW government will co-fund up to 80 per cent of the necessary upgrades for buildings with 10 or more apartments, to a maximum of $80,000. This move has been welcomed by stakeholders, including Till and Tuckwell, who hope that similar initiatives will be implemented nationwide to support the growing EV network in Australia.
As the federal government commits to increasing the uptake of electric vehicles, the demand for EV charging infrastructure in apartment buildings is on the rise. Apartment dwellers like Till are calling for legislative changes that would simplify the approval process for installing EV chargers and make it easier for residents to transition to electric vehicles. With support from the NSW government and advocacy from organizations like the Owner’s Corporation Network, there is hope for a more EV-friendly environment in Australia. Initiatives like retrofits for EV charging stations in apartment buildings demonstrate progress towards a more sustainable and accessible future for EV ownership in the country.
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