B.C. strata restrictions cause problems for EVs: Installer

A Vancouver-based company that installs electric car chargers says there is a barrier stopping some locals from transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs).

ChargeFWD owner Ryan Chan says a common strata rule requiring 75 per cent support from the strata council to get installs in strata buildings is a little extreme, adding it slows the transition to greener technology.

“There’s a little bit of a disconnect, yes, we’re going to be going to do this green-future thing. We’re gonna have EVs, we’re gonna do home charging, but I’m willing to fork over the bill, but my strata won’t let me,” outlined Chan.

“We’ve had cases a couple of cases where, you know, the homeowner says, ‘yeah, we’ll pay for everything. We’ll get it all done.’ And then the strata votes no,” he added.

Although, Tony Gioventu with the Condominium Home Owners Association says there are reasons why strata councils vote no — sometimes for example he says bringing in a charger would put electric systems beyond their capacity, especially in older buildings.

“The difficulty is … the casual, ‘I’d like to put it in the station, somebody will do it for me, can I get permission?’ Strata takes it to the owners, and the owners probably are not well enough informed to make a good decision,” he explained. “With their first response, really, they vote against it.”

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Gioventu adds he thinks strata corporations need to take a step back and make certain recommendations to owners when potentially permitting the installation of EVs charging stations.

He says a tight alteration agreement in which “the owner who is making the application is responsible for every related cost.”

Related costs could include damages, additional installation needs, and energy bills.

Even if stratas are digging in their feet, changes of some sort may be coming in B.C.

Premier David Eby and the province addressed and made promises related to this very issue during a recent throne speech.