Owners predict chaos as EV charging explodes

Strata owners are warning that the Government-led push towards making electric vehicles more affordable could cause “chaos and conflict” across NSW apartment blocks.

Issues range from the number and type of charging points and their location withing parking garages, to how EV owners can pay for common property electricity that they use to charge their cars.

The Owners Corporation Network (OCN), the peak body for owners in the NSW apartments sector, says the surging demand for electric vehicles, especially in the face of record fuel prices, will leave thousands of apartment blocks unsure of how to go about organising and installing electric vehicle charging.

Installing the infrastructure is only part of the challenge, says the OCN. The issue of who pays for the electricity, and exactly how to charge individuals for it, is already playing out in apartment buildings and is likely to get worse as electricity prices rise significantly.

The OCN says the $10million offered by the NSW Government in the State Budget earlier this year to co-fund electric vehicle charging capability in 125 apartment buildings is a great start, but likely to be inadequate.

The push by the Electric Vehicle Council – supported by over 100 major Australian companies – for one million electric vehicles on Australia’s roads by 2027 adds to the urgent need to address the lack of charging capability in NSW apartment buildings. 

OCN Chair, Fred Tuckwell, said it had decided to mobilise the voice of apartment owners in the $400billion sector to demand change in the lead up to the State poll.

“As part of our commitment to sustainability, the OCN supports the push for more electric vehicles.

“But the right infrastructure needs to be in place, starting with more charging capability in apartment buildings, with the same ease that standalone homeowners enjoy.

“The EV issue is a big one for apartment owners due to the complexity of approval processes, expensive electrical works in buildings, risks and increasing miscommunication, and the question of who pays for the electricity when vehicles are charged in common areas like apartment building garages.”

“Given the expected hike in EV sales, we want both major political parties to review their policies and offer a helping hand to the thousands of apartment buildings in this State that are unprepared for the EV rush and the growing anxiety and chaos it will bring.”

The OCN is the peak body representing the interests of the 1.1million apartment owners in NSW and plans to enter the State election policy debate for the first time in its 20-year history to push for several policy changes for new apartment buildings to offer net zero emission designs and inclusions by 2030.

OCN is finalising a 10-point plan to overhaul urgent sector issues and will lobby all sides of politics to seek policy change commitments before the March State election.

“Apartment owners want a stronger voice in Government policy making and we also want to see a senior Ministerial voice for apartment owners.  We will remain 100% apolitical but apartment owners in this State want their voice heard before decisions are made.”

OCN says it is committed to a sustainability agenda headlined by pushing for all new NSW apartment builds being designed to meet net zero emission standards from 2030.

“Our 10 point plan seeks that a clear policy change be put into place wherein apartment owners have a greater say about what happens in their communities.

“Over the next few months we will be highlighting to apartment owners in this State that their combined voice will be loud enough to bring change and we will be insisting that we see evidence of major change to these new policies within 100 days of the newly appointed Government winning office.”