How to install electric car chargers in shared community garages?
Over the past year, there has been massive growth in electric vehicle purchases. The objective of the PNIEC (National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan) is to reach up to 5 million by 2030.
More and more chargers are being installed in shared garages. Therefore, the installation of electric car chargers in community parking lots must be carried out efficiently and in the best possible way to prevent a potential overload of the main power grid in the building.
Not only is it important to install chargers in shared garages, but it is also essential to have a proper installation of the charging point, given that it prevents:
- The chaos of individual installations.
- Power grid overload due to overconsumption situations.
Regulations on installing chargers in shared garages
In 2014, Royal Decree 1053/2014 was published, establishing that newly constructed buildings or parking facilities have the obligation to include specific electrical pre-installation for recharging electric cars.
Do you need to ask for permission?
To proceed with installing an electric car charger in a shared garage, in cases where the building is old and lacks pre-installation, it can be done without asking for permission from other owners. However, you must notify them.
Article 17.5 of the Horizontal Property Law states that installing a charging point for private use in a parking garage only requires prior notification to the community, provided it is installed in an individual parking spot.
It is sufficient to inform the other owners by sending a written notice to the president or property manager announcing your intention to install an electric vehicle charging point. Ideally, this should be done at least 30 days prior to the installation. Additionally, you must attach the project details along with the written notice.
Once they are informed, you can start installing the electric car charger in the shared garage with the help of an authorized installer.
Can the homeowners’ association oppose the installation of a charger in your parking spot?
They cannot oppose it. However, the community must be notified of the project that will be executed. This project must account for the pre-installation of cable trays and wiring for 15% of the parking spaces along the path from the connection point to the individual installation.
According to Law 49/1960, of July 21, on Horizontal Property, Article 17 (point 5) establishes: “The installation of an electric vehicle charging point for private use in the building’s parking area, provided it is located in an individual parking space, will only require prior communication to the community. The cost of said installation and the corresponding electricity consumption will be fully borne by the party or parties directly interested in it.”
If I am renting, can I install a charging point?
Yes, by requesting authorization from the owner of the parking spot. In this case, we recommend getting the authorization in writing to prevent any issues later on. You can then present this authorization to the community to fulfill the notification requirement properly.
If I own a parking spot but do not own an apartment in the building—and therefore have no meter—can I install a charging point?
You can request an individual meter for your parking space, although the costs can end up being quite high.
What type of charging equipment is recommended for a shared garage?
There are different types of charging for electric vehicles. For a shared parking garage, we recommend:
- Slow charging, up to 7.4 kW. Recommended for electric vehicles in individual or shared garages.
- Semi-fast charging, between 11 and 22 kW. Recommended for electric vehicles in industrial areas, shopping centers, public roads, etc.
When installing an electric car charger in a shared garage, it is important to choose the type of charger that best fits your needs and those of your vehicle. You can consult us for advice with no obligation.
How to install an electric car charger in a shared garage
To install an electric car charger in a shared garage, you only need to do 2 things:
- Contact an authorized installation company.
- Send a written notice to the homeowners’ association.
The installation company will take care of everything so that you have a fixed charging point in your parking space, installing the meter and carrying out any necessary work. You just need to reach out to the installer to get started.
Community pre-installation for parking space electrification
To complete the pre-installation in shared garages, you can choose between these solutions:
- Individual solution.
- Installation with individual supply.
- Equipment type: under 3.7 kW with protections, without communication.
- Solution with community pre-installation.
- Installation with community supply.
- Electrical panel with meters and protections.
- Individual lines (limit of 20 meters of cable from the electrical panel).
- Equipment type: between 3.7 kW and 7.4 kW without protections or communication.
The second solution is usually standard for large shared parking lots with 24 or more spaces, and also takes future demand into account. It is the preferred choice for setting up charging in a collective parking facility.
What technical requirements are necessary to carry out the installation of a charging point in a parking space?
Meter
Having a community meter controlled by management software that allows limiting the contracted power—considering a simultaneous charging rate of 30% according to regulations—to reduce operating costs.
Electrical Panel
Installing the line from the meter to the electric mobility panel. This panel houses the surge protector, residual current circuit breaker (RCD), and miniature circuit breaker (MCB). Main trunk line and/or individual branch: A large cross-section main line must extend from the panel, secured via cable trays (allows running many cables and is cheaper) or conduits (fewer cables and more expensive). Individual branch lines will run from this main line to each of the chargers installed in the different parking spaces.
Charger
There is a wide variety of slow chargers suitable for shared parking garages. It is important that parking spaces have energy meters and are network-capable. Our technicians will guide you toward the best option based on your garage’s specific needs, helping you select the appropriate charger type.
Management Software
Having energy management software to track and allocate energy expenses among electric vehicle owners. This is an efficient and agile way to distribute costs among all owners in a collective parking garage.
5 reasons why having management software is essential in shared garages
The EVcharge software is a SaaS platform that allows full control over energy and charging points, covering all needs arising from electrifying a shared garage.
- Control charging point energy management. The management platform allows dynamic load balancing between the charger(s) and currently available power. Dynamic balancing reduces electricity bill consumption by ensuring you never exceed contracted power, helping you save money!
- Billing tool. The software enables billing for real, fair consumption costs, allowing fixed garage expenses to be passed on. What fixed costs stem from a shared parking charger? The software subscription, contracted power capacity for vehicle charging, the variable kWh portion consumed by each neighbor, peak/off-peak time slots used, etc.
- Bill per resident. Billing can be handled in two ways: via a monthly invoice or through a prepaid wallet system. We recommend the prepaid wallet card, which users can top up based on their needs.
- Ability to connect more chargers. As electric vehicle registrations increase, so will the need to electrify shared garages with efficient, centralized infrastructure.
- Tracking by owners via the APP. With the EVcharge app, you can view your vehicle’s real-time charging status while connected. Additionally, you can monitor all consumption and statistics for your charger, as well as any chargers on the EVcharge network you have used. Let our technicians advise you on finding the best solution for both your budget and your community.
How much does it cost to install a charger in a shared garage?
The cost of installing a charger in a collective parking lot can range between 1,500 and 2,000 euros, depending on the type of charger and the complexity of the installation. It is best to request a no-obligation quote to get an accurate estimate.
How long does installation take?
It depends on the scope of the project. Generally, it takes about 8 to 10 hours of labor. However, this type of work involves several variables. Ideally, contact us about your specific case so we can provide a tailored answer.
Subsidies to cover charger installation in shared garages
To cover part of the installation costs in a collective parking lot, the MOVES III Plan is available, which has been extended through December 31, 2024.
Do you have any other questions about how to install an electric car charger in a shared garage? Ask us so we can help you.
