Can we talk about the push for EV chargers in old apartment buildings?

I was reading a city council meeting report from Portland about making landlords add charging spots. The big thing that got me was a quote from a building owner saying 'the main panel is full and the service drop can't handle more load.' That's the real problem, not just putting in a plug. It means a full rewire and maybe a new transformer from the power company. Has anyone here priced out a full service upgrade for a 60 unit building built in the 70s?

3 comments

3 Comments

simono9010d ago

So the city's answer is to just make the building magic up some extra electricity?

elizabethhart10d agoTop Commenter

Seriously though, how many people in an old building are even gonna own an EV right now? The city makes it sound like every single tenant is begging for a charger, but that's just not true. That owner has a real point about the wiring being maxed out. A full rewire for a place that big would be a nightmare and cost a ton. They'll probably just raise everyone's rent to pay for it, which sucks.

stella_roberts10d ago

Exactly, and that upgrade cost is insane! I saw a quote for a smaller building's new service panel and transformer, and it was more than my entire year's rent. Pushing that onto landlords just means we all pay for it through huge rent hikes.