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Around 1 in 4 Victorians live in strata buildings with no access to home EV charging. That's changing — with smart technology, updated building codes, and a clear pathway for Owners Corporations to act now.
More Australians are choosing electric vehicles every year. But for the millions who live in apartments, accessing affordable home charging has been a persistent headache — one that often stops people from making the switch entirely.
The barriers are real: shared car parks, limited switchboard capacity, complex OC approval processes, and confusion about who pays for what. For residents, it means relying on public charging. For Owners Corporations, it means mounting pressure with no clear roadmap.
Approximately 1 in 4 Victorians live in strata-managed residential buildings that haven't been set up for EV charging, leaving many without an option to charge at home — even though 80–90% of EV owners prefer to charge where they live.
The good news: the landscape has fundamentally shifted. New smart charging technology, updated national building codes, and clear federal government guidance have removed most of the technical and procedural barriers. The pathway now exists — it just needs someone to drive it.
The National Construction Code 2022 came into full effect in Victoria on 1 May 2024. If your building was constructed after that date, EV infrastructure provisions are already required. If it was built before — you're in the majority, and planning ahead now will save significant cost later.
Under the NCC 2022 energy efficiency provisions, which became mandatory in Victoria on 1 May 2024, new apartment buildings must provide dedicated space for switchboards and EV charging infrastructure. This doesn't mean chargers must be installed immediately — but the physical infrastructure (conduit, switchboard space, wiring pathways) must be in place to make future installation straightforward and low-cost.
If your building was constructed under the NCC 2022 provisions, the groundwork is already in place. Installing actual chargers is significantly cheaper and faster than in older buildings because the electrical pathways are already run. A planned rollout now — before demand peaks — is the most cost-effective approach.
Buildings constructed before May 2024 will require a retrofit assessment. The key question is switchboard capacity — in most cases, a smart load management system means a full switchboard upgrade isn't necessary. The Victorian Government's factsheet specifically addresses OC processes for older buildings.
Not all EV chargers are the same, and not all apartment buildings need the same solution. Here's a plain-English breakdown of your options — from a simple shared bay to a full building-wide system.
Important for Owners Corporations: Almost every apartment building we assess does not have sufficient power supply for every parking space to run its own EV charger independently. A building-wide strategy with smart load management isn't optional — it's the only approach that works safely as more residents adopt EVs. Installing ad-hoc, individual chargers without coordination is the most expensive and disruptive path.
The biggest fear for any OC considering EV charging is "what happens when 15 residents all plug in at once and trip the building's power?" Smart load management is the answer — and it changes everything.
EV charging infrastructure isn't just for residents who drive EVs today. It's a building upgrade that delivers real, measurable value across the board.
Costs vary significantly depending on building age, size, current electrical capacity and the solution chosen. The ranges below are indicative, based on typical Australian apartment projects. A proper feasibility assessment — which we provide free of charge — will give your building an accurate picture.
| Component | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility / electrical assessment | $0 (with AEH) – $2,000+ | All Electric Homes provides a free initial assessment. Independent engineering reports may cost more for complex buildings. |
| EV charging "backbone" cabling (car park) | $8,000 – $25,000+ | Conduit and cabling runs through car park. A planned "backbone" approach is significantly cheaper than running separate cables per bay later. |
| Switchboard upgrade (if required) | $5,000 – $20,000 | Smart load management often removes or significantly reduces the need for a full switchboard upgrade. Required only when available capacity is already at or near limit. |
| Smart load management system | $3,000 – $8,000 | Central controller and network platform. One-off cost that manages all connected chargers. Protects the building from overload as more EVs are added over time. |
| Level 2 wall charger (per bay) | $800 – $2,000 installed | Per-charger cost once backbone is in place. Smart chargers with RFID, billing and connectivity are towards the higher end but essential for shared or billed charging. |
| Example: 30-unit building, 4 shared chargers with load management | ~$25,000–$40,000 total — or ~$800–$1,300 per lot as a special levy. Can also be recovered via usage fees over time. | |
The path to EV charging in your building looks slightly different depending on your role. Here's where to focus your energy.
From the first conversation to chargers in the ground.
Survey residents to understand current EV ownership and anticipated demand. A building with 5 existing EV owners and 10 more planning to buy has a very different infrastructure requirement — and a much stronger case for investment — than one with a single request.
A licensed electrician (or All Electric Homes) assesses your building's current switchboard capacity, available space in the car park, and the most practical wiring routes. This produces a clear picture of what's possible, what it costs, and what phasing makes sense.
We help prepare the documentation for your OC meeting: a plain-language summary of the recommended solution, costings, proposed cost recovery method (levy or usage fees), and the draft resolution wording. A well-prepared proposal dramatically increases the chance of a successful vote.
The OC votes to approve the infrastructure upgrade and cost recovery approach. In most cases an ordinary resolution (simple majority) is appropriate. We recommend confirming the voting threshold with your strata manager or legal adviser, as this can vary based on what specific changes are being made to common property.
We install the electrical backbone — the conduit runs, cable trays and sub-boards through the car park — along with the first set of chargers and the load management system. This is the most significant cost. Future chargers are added at minimal cost because the infrastructure is already in place.
Smart chargers connect to a cloud platform. Each resident registers their access card or app account. Billing is automated — every resident pays only for the energy they use. The OC receives monthly reporting and can manage charger access centrally. We provide training and ongoing support.
EV charging in apartments involves a few more moving parts than a standard house installation. Here's plain-language answers to the most common concerns.
Have a question that's not covered here? Our team specialises in apartment EV charging — we're happy to talk through your specific building.
1800 719 873