Shared EV charging for condo and rental buildings

Residents who charge at home parking, with agreement from the condo board or landlord. Some buildings may also pay a setup or service fee.

Residents are billed per kWh or by monthly plan through charging software. You earn a margin over your electricity cost, and may add a small management fee to the building.

• Presenting proposals to boards and property managers
• Basic electrical and cost planning
• Organized with billing and records
• Customer service

• A building's electrical capacity may limit how many chargers fit, so get a load assessment first
• Condo boards often need a vote or formal approval, so approval can take months
• Check Measurement Canada and provincial rules on billing residents for electricity by the kWh
• Licensed electrician and permits, check your provincial rules
• Commercial general liability insurance and clear contracts about ownership, maintenance and removal
• Payment collection and customer support are ongoing, so plan for resident questions and faults
• Quebec has its own language and legal rules for contracts, so check before working there

Estimates are typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on how many chargers you install and each building's electrical setup. Get a load assessment first, since a building's capacity may limit how many chargers fit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on the number of buildings, chargers and resident use. Estimates suggest at least about 4 hours a week, though approvals can take months.

Check whether the condo board needs a vote or formal approval. Also check Measurement Canada and provincial rules on billing residents by the kWh, licensed electrician and permit rules, insurance, clear contracts, and Quebec's language and legal rules.