As noted in a previous article, Bill 22 made several amendments to the Strata Property Act, which are intended to increase electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in condominiums. The new sections 90.1 to 90.3 of the Strata Property Act will make it harder for strata corporations to ignore, delay or refuse requests by owners to […]
Tribunal orders B.C. strata to scrap fixed EV-charging fee
A strata complex in White Rock, B.C., has been ordered to stop asking residents to pay to charge their electric vehicles. The order comes after a resident applied to the Civil Resolution Tribunal claiming the strata corporation governing the Miramar Village complex at 1425 Johnston Rd. was overcharging him for the use of an EV […]
BC strata told its EV charging fee is unreasonable in legal case
A BC homeowner felt his strata overcharged him for using the property’s EV charger, so he pursued legal action. In the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal dispute, John Curtis asked the tribunal to order the strata to reduce his charging fee. The strata’s defence was that the user fee it charged was permitted by its bylaws […]
Paving the Way for Electric Vehicles: How HOAs Can Support Sustainable Transportation
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) represents a pivotal shift in our approach to transportation, underscoring a collective movement toward sustainability and environmental responsibility. However, for many residents living in communities governed by Homeowners Associations (HOAs), the shift also presents the practical challenge of setting up accessible EV charging infrastructure. Read the article…………………………….
New Energy Technology: A Look at What’s Here, and What’s Coming
Perhaps the most pressing long-term issue for our society and the planet as a whole is the threat posed by climate change. While some may still deny the established facts, the reality remains that the world is warming at an unprecedented—and unsustainable—rate, with the blame for this resting squarely on human activity based around fossil […]
Australia: National Fire Prevention Month Event ‘E-bikes in Strata’
Spring is here, and the risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires could rise as owners take advantage of the warmer weather. As these temperatures warm-up, so too does the likelihood of these light electric vehicles being left unattended in common areas to charge overnight. Read the article…………………………….
EV owners shocked by charging rate at Waterloo, Ont. condo
Electric vehicle users at a Waterloo, Ont. condo were shocked by a recent update to their building’s EV charging stations. People living at 188 King Street South said the price to charge their EVs unexpectedly jumped from 25 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 75 cents per kWh. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: Where can I put my EV charger? (CA)
With electric vehicles increasing in popularity, many HOA members wonder where they’ll charge their vehicles. California at the end of 2023 had 1,178,948 electric passenger vehicles registered, per the US Department of Energy. In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered that no fossil fuel vehicles shall be sold in the state starting in 2035. In 2017, […]
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: What Is Your Community Association Required To Do? (IL)
As of February 2024, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office reported that Illinois had 96,448 electric vehicles (“EVs”). This is a 51% increase from the number of such cars registered in February 2023. It also is what has made Illinois one of the main hubs for EVs in the United States. Governor Pritzker’s stated goal […]
Can The HOA Ban E-Bikes? (NC)
Can an HOA ban e-bikes? Given the upward trend of electric bicycles today, HOAs face many such vehicles within their communities. However, there is a real risk of fire associated with e-bikes, sparking concerns among homeowners. However, whether or not an HOA can ban these bikes isn’t always so cut and dry. Read the article…………………………….
Hurricane Preparedness and Electric Vehicles (FL)
It is mid-July and we have already experienced two (2) named storms this year. Where are you in your hurricane preparedness? In addition to general hurricane preparedness, local municipalities and programs throughout the state have been warning against the potential dangers of leaving electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, electric golf carts, etc. (“EV”) plugged-in during storms. […]
Hurricane Preparedness and Electric Vehicles (FL)
It is mid-July and we have already experienced two (2) named storms this year. Where are you in your hurricane preparedness? In addition to general hurricane preparedness, local municipalities and programs throughout the state have been warning against the potential dangers of leaving electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, electric golf carts, etc. (“EV”) plugged-in during storms. […]
Australia: Regulating the Use of E/V Chargers
Recently I was asked two questions about the EV charging of vehicles in schemes. EV charging is becoming a concern for our schemes due to the uptake of electric and hybrid vehicles. The questions were not about how to install an EV charging system but about regulating the use of common property power and whether […]
O&R Utilities program energizes hundreds of EV chargers at condo complex (NY)
Through Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) PowerReady incentive program, the Harbors at Haverstraw condo complex has energized hundreds of Level 2 electric vehicle chargers across a dozen buildings in Rockland County. The $2 million project, done in partnership with INF Associates, is the largest EV charging project in O&R’s service territory. Read the article…………………………….
Fairfax County adds five HOAs to EV charging station grant program (VA)
Five more homeowners’ associations have been selected to receive grants for electric vehicle charging stations through Fairfax County’s Charge Up Fairfax program. Spearheaded by the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), the initiative originally launched in 2023 as a pilot program to encourage residential neighborhoods to invest in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by reimbursing […]
Downtown Seattle Condo Unveils First Robot EV Charging System in the PNW (WA)
Spire, a $350 million, 41-story luxury condominium tower completed by Laconia Development, has launched the first robotic EV charging system in a condominium project in the United States. Read the article…………………………….
Eye-Opening: First-Time Tesla Model 3 Owner Learns They Can’t Charge at Home
Someone just like you and I weighed the pros and cons of EV ownership and decided to buy a Model 3 Standard Range. The California-based individual replaced an old Dodge Dart. He needed the ride to commute, so it was paramount to get something reliable because they work for a federal agency. Besides that, they […]
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations and Community Associations (CT)
Legislation regarding the installation of electric vehicle(EV) charging stations at community associations, known as Connecticut General Statutes Section 47-261g, became effective on October 1, 2022. This legislation prevents associations from imposing unreasonable restrictions on the installation of EV charging stations. Read the article…………………………….
Energy bill affecting HOA’s on Governor’s desk (MI)
A bill to invalidate certain provisions in homeowners’ association agreements that prohibit the replacement, maintenance, installation, or operation of certain energy-saving improvements or modifications or the installation of solar energy systems; to provide for the adoption of certain policy statements; to prescribe penalties and remedies; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain […]
765 ILCS 1085: What Community Associations need to know about the Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act
Requests to install electric vehicle charging stations have become commonplace in Illinois community associations. By 2040, experts project at least 35% of all new vehicles will be hybrids or fully electric vehicles. The increasing number of requests to install electric vehicle charging stations by those who live in condominiums or homeowners associations has resulted in […]
Comment: Condo owners face steep costs for potential future electrical needs (BC)
Condo owners who have water and heat provided by electricity, and no intention of adding an electric vehicle (EV) charging station are required to provide an electrical planning report (EPR) to see if their home can handle an electric water heater, a heat pump and EV charging stations. Failure to do so by the end […]
In Arlington’s race to become carbon neutral, some residents seeking green upgrades feel left behind (VA)
“Being a condo owner, getting some support and how to navigate these conversations for a condominium association would be helpful,” she said. “I think the county has some good staff and are doing a lot of work. It’s just having resources of people that have successfully done that with their condo association — kind of […]
Insuring Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on HOA Grounds (CA)
QUESTION. Are homeowners who install an EV charging station required to carry insurance and name the association as an additional insured? –Andrew S. ANSWER. Yes, owners are required to carry insurance. Unfortunately, the Legislature created some confusion over the additional insured requirement. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Your Next Apartment Or Condo Must Have EV Charging
The US has just eight new electric vehicle charging stations so far from a $7.5-billion program, and even automakers like General Motors and Ford Motor Company that have gone all-in on EVs are starting to pull back as interest in such zero-emissions vehicles levels off. Then there’s the question of what will happen to the […]
Q&A: Regulating Risk
Q. During the warmer months, owners in our condominium building have noticed a few e-bikes/scooters with lithium batteries around our community. At night these e- bikes/scooters seem to be housed in owners’ or renters’ dwellings. Based on some news stories we’ve seen (although I’m sure they are pretty isolated incidents), we have concerns that these […]
Everything You Wanted to know about EV Charging at Your Condo (FL)
We recently held an educational webinar with Dan Tiernan from Campbell Property Management, David Peterson from ChargePoint and Andrew Llorens from Rexel USA to discuss EV charging at condominiums. Watch the webinar……………………….
Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Charging Act and Its Role in Modern HOAs
The excitement over new vehicles combined with today’s technology is never-ending. Car shows and showrooms are filled with new and future models headed to market. The electric vehicle (EV) is one innovation growing in popularity, especially in Illinois. Between 2022 and 2023 sales of electric vehicles grew by 60% with 94,000 EVs registered in the […]
Are Electric Car Charging Cords the New HOA Nightmare?
How do electric vehicles charge? They must plug into an outlet to send the source’s electricity into the vehicle’s battery. Although this is similar to how we fill gas tanks in traditional vehicles, we don’t have personal gas tanks in our garages. The safety and security of electric car charging cords make it possible for […]
How this former Tesla engineer plans to get more EV chargers in apartments and condos
Multifamily homes—including condo and apartment buildings, townhouses, and mixed-use developments—make up some 30% of housing in the U.S. today. In those residences, parking spots may not be near outlets, residents may not have their own parking, and building owners and boards may not want to deal with the cost of installing EV chargers, especially if […]
Plugging into Progress: What HB 5109 means for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Michigan Condominiums
HB 5109 was introduced by the Michigan Legislature in 2023 to provide more flexibility for Michigan condominium associations when considering requests for co-owners to install electric vehicle charging stations. Specifically, as will be discussed below, HB 5109 would amend MCL 559.147, of the Michigan Condominium Act, to address co-owner modification requests for electric vehicle charging […]
Electric Vehicles – Still an Unsolved Issue
In 2011 I wrote an article for Common Ground, the national magazine for the Community Associations Institute (CAI). In looking at it, not much ground has been covered since then. I am afraid the issue will be dealt with by state legislatures, who will probably screw it up royally. Here’s the article (PDF): https://communityassociations.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Common-ground-pgs-39-43-2017_10_23-20_24_34-UTC.pdf
E-Bikes and Batteries (FL)
Florida has not escaped the growing epidemic of fires started by lithium-ion batteries, like those used in e-bikes and other battery-operated personal transportation devices. A recent Miami bike shop caught fire after the shop owner left an e-bike battery charging and closed the store for the day. Surveillance cameras caught the moment the battery exploded, […]
The intricacies of EV infrastructure remain at odds with condo legislation (ON)
The electric vehicle landscape is complex, ever-changing and at the cutting edge of technology. For condominium corporations and their owners, this means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Unfortunately, the current iteration of the condominium legislation in Ontario, the Condominium Act, 1998, treats the installation of electric vehicle charging stations or electric infrastructure to support […]
Charge Up Fairfax Program Open to Communities Looking to Install EV Charging (VA)
Starting May 1, community associations in Fairfax County interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations for their residents will be able to apply for technical assistance and partial reimbursement through the Charge Up Fairfax program. Electric vehicles, or EVs, are better for the environment and less expensive to fuel and maintain than gas-powered vehicles. The […]
EV fast-charging comes to condos and apartments
Right now, the electric vehicle ownership experience is optimized for the owner who lives in a single-family home. A level 2 home AC charger costs a few hundred dollars, and with a garage or carport, an EV that gets plugged in each night is an EV that starts each day with a 100 percent charged […]
Condo board considers installing EV chargers for unit owners (IL)
Q: I am on the board of directors of a homeowners association (HOA) in Evanston, Illinois. The board is gathering information about installing electrical vehicle (EV) chargers on our HOA property. The board is particularly interested in the concept that was described in your article from last year. You said there is an option for […]
HOAs are blocking solar panels and native lawns. Here’s how to fight back.
More Americans than ever are running afoul of their HOAs for updating their homes in ways that benefit the environment, adding solar panels, native lawns, EV chargers, clotheslines or gardens. Once a rarity, 84 percent of newly built, single-family homes sold in 2022 were part of HOAs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the […]
EV charging in FL condos – can an Association prohibit owners from installing EV charging outlets in their assigned parking spaces?
EV charging in Florida condo buildings and communities is much more involved than having a charging outlet installed in the garage of your Single-Family Home. Today we are doing an overview of Florida Condominium Owners Associations (COAs) allowing unit owners to install a dedicated charging outlet at their individual parking spaces, and/or the Association installing […]
Storing e-bikes, e-scooters in your condo? A handful of B.C. strata councils say no
Faced with growing concerns about e-bike and e-scooter battery fires, a small but growing number of strata councils in the province are banning them from buildings. “The number of strata corporations, … probably 15 or 20, have in the last year taken the position, ‘We’re not going to permit them at all,’” said Tony Gioventu, […]
Clarified Rights and Obligations Under the Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act: What Do Illinois Community Associations Need to Know?
The Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act (“Act”), which imposes certain requirements to foster widespread adoption of electric vehicles (“EVs”), took effect on January 1, 2024. Per its original terms, the Act applied only to “newly constructed single-family homes and multi-unit residential buildings that have parking spaces and are constructed after the effective date of this […]
ADS-TEC Energy Unveils the Future of Ultra-Fast EV Charging for Residential Complexes with Deployment at Marina Palms in Miami
Condominium association and homeowner association boards, property managers and developers are all seeking the most cost-effective, least-disruptive ways to integrate EV charging into existing and future projects, and the Marina Palms deployment leads the way in Miami—and the country—in showing how this can be done. Read the article…………………………….
EV charging in FL condos – can an Association prohibit owners from installing EV charging outlets in their assigned parking spaces?
EV charging in Florida condo buildings and communities is much more involved than having a charging outlet installed in the garage of your Single-Family Home. Today we are doing an overview of Florida Condominium Owners Associations (COAs) allowing unit owners to install a dedicated charging outlet at their individual parking spaces, and/or the Association installing […]
E-bike battery ignites flames in Bonita Springs condo (FL)
Fire crews say the call came it just after 7:30 p.m., after multiple neighbors reported they could see smoke coming from a unit on the second floor. The three-story building had to be evacuated as crews tried to put out the fire caused by an e-bike’s lithium-ion battery, according to Chief Greg DeWitt. Read the […]
Navigating the Complex Landscape of E-Bike Bans or Restrictions in Condos, Coops and HOAs (NY)
In recent times, the proliferation of E-Bikes, coupled with concerns about their combustible batteries, has thrust the issue into the spotlight. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the bustling streets of New York City, where E-Bikes seem ubiquitous. The potential dangers, including fire risks, property damage, and casualties, have prompted association boards to grapple […]
New strata development regulations streamline EV charging station installations in B.C.
British Columbia has introduced new regulations that will facilitate the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in strata developments. Effective Dec. 6, these changes are aimed at supporting the transition to a low-carbon future and adapting to climate change, according to a recent press release from the Ministry of Housing. Read the article……………………………..
Powering E-Devices Safely: There Are Fires … And There Are E-Device Fires
All over the news, from coast to coast, reports of fires and explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries describe blazes that are out of control, difficult to extinguish, and excessively smokey. Tragically, many have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries, and certainly all have caused extensive damage to properties and the environment. Read the article………………………..
New B.C. strata rules make it easier for owners to ask for EV charging stations
The B.C. government has introduced new rules that make it easier for homeowners to ask strata developments to provide electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations. Read the article…………………………..
Multifamily leads uptake of EV charger funds (Canada)
Multifamily landlords and condominium corporations have claimed more than a third of the funds the Canadian government has thus far allocated through its Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) to subsidize EV chargers that are made available to multiple users. That’s largely because applicants from the multifamily sector were the most proactive among the four […]
Michigan Bill Could Stop HOAs from Blocking Home Chargers
Homeowners associations could be prohibited from blocking energy efficiency upgrades – from rooftop solar panels and home EV charging to rain barrels – under a new proposed bill in the Michigan House. Read the article………………………………
Herndon resident upset with HOA’s electric vehicle charging station restrictions (VA)
A Virginia who woman wants to buy an electric vehicle says her homeowners association won’t allow her to build a suitable charging station for the vehicle. “I would like to have an EV,” Herndon resident Michaela Hamiary Janotova said. “I would like to be able to charge it here at home.” Read the article………………………………