I’m on the Executive/Strata Committee of two properties I own, one in ACT and one in NSW. I find this issue intriguing.
My view is that an Owners Corporation should not withhold reasonable permission for a lot owner to install and be responsible for installation of EV charging equipment where it is practicable and technically feasible to do so. This extends to metering as well.
However, for the same reasons an Owners Corporation wouldn’t allow an owner to store 44 gallon drums of diesel or petrol on their lot because it is cheaper for them to buy fuel this way I don’t think an Owners Corporation shouldn’t be falling over themselves to facilitate or retrofit elaborate systems for faster charging simply because an owner wants it, especially in older blocks. It just may not be safe or appropriate to do so.
In newer complexes this may be less of an issue especially if there is existing infrastructure to support a/c and induction appliances.
Installing EV equipment on Common Property I see being fraught with issues as they will inevitably become defacto carparks for EV owners. Having appropriate bylaws or rules in place to manage access to Common Property EV chargers, and even timed billing for each use of them, should be part of the mix.
Finally, part of the discussion needs to be that although EVs are cheaper to run, electricity is not free – at the end of the day we live in a user-pays society.