Installing EV Chargers in an Apartment Complex: The Importance of Load Management

Over 10% of the Australian population live in apartments according to the last census data, and this percentage is projected to increase over time. 

As electric vehicle uptake continues to grow, these apartment dwellers are faced with the issue of how to manage the increased electrical demand presented by EV charging equipment. Exceeding the building’s electrical capacity can lead to power outages and unwanted disruptions for residents, but upgrading the capacity is often a long and costly process. What if there was an easier solution?  

Effective load management – or as we like to call it, smart energy management – can negate the need for expensive electrical upgrades and offers a range of benefits for apartment owners. This includes protecting the property’s electrical infrastructure, and eliminating the risk of overloading, as well as ensuring the efficient operation of all chargers.  

Here at EVOS Energy, we have developed sophisticated energy management systems to help your apartment balance your electrical loads successfully. This includes both the Dynamic Energy Balancing System and the Capacity Energy Balancing System. 

Dynamic Energy Balancing System 

The Dynamic Energy Balancing System (DEB) allows your organisation to install many EV charging stations to the EV power circuit without increasing the electrical capacity of the apartment building. 

This system constantly monitors the power capacity used in the circuit and automatically allocates the excess power to charge. Your power circuit limit will never be exceeded, and the electrical circuit won’t be overloaded at any point. Even better, this system allows for solar or battery charging.  

What if you don’t want to charge all EVs at the same rate? The DEB can adjust each station’s power based on your preconfigured priorities. This could be the lowest state of charge, highest average daily kilometres, average time parked at the charger, or how range required for the next trip.  

Capacity Energy Matching System 

It’s highly likely that your apartment complex is underutilizing your electrical capacity at certain times of the day, especially during the evening. This makes apartments well suited to the Capacity Energy Matching System. 

When you use EVOS’s Capacity Energy Matching system, the entire building or selected circuits can be used for EV charging. Our real-time monitoring of the apartment complex’s power circuits and main power feed means that we can safely over-subscribe the charging circuits and hence allocate the spare capacity to demand. The system constantly assesses all energy used in the building and automatically allocates capacity to what charger needs it most. 

As electric vehicle uptake continues to grow, having EV charging infrastructure installed in an apartment complex will significantly elevate the property value, and ensure that existing owners are able to make the transition to electrification. 

If you have any questions about EVOS'S energy management solutions, reach out to our friendly sales team at sayhi@evos.com.au