Proposal to charge in my condo garage

The standard current the car will draw at 110-120V is 12A however, you have a setting option to limit it to 8A. If the line you are planning to use shares another device - 8A could be a viable option to eliminate breaker tripping.
The electrician can assess your situation/options and give you answers.
In general, don't raise hands and go for it after consulting with your electrician, if correctly presented it has good chances to be approved (electrician written report may increase confidence in the proposal).

 

No he doesn't. You don't understand the situation. That would be someone else's power he would be using.

IF......there are any outlets anywhere in the parking area, the it IS doable; that is, the new wires could take the same path.
But the cost might be prohibitive.

 

Somehow I feel it is you that didn't
Bisco's poat #18 was an addendum to his post #16 and it seems he did understand the situation. Post #17 went in between...

 

He means the 110 outlet option.

 

As an electrical engineer (not licensed in Minnesota, though, or providing specific advice), I think the technical issues are simple enough—a dedicated branch circuit from a panelboard with sufficient capacity, a receptacle outlet or hard-wired charger appropriately protected for the environment, and a separate utility service or some other way to measure your usage—but I can think of some other questions that deserve serious thought:

Does your state law require condominium associations to provide for EV charging, and if so, might this help you convince your association to go along with your plan? Here in California, for example, the Legislature enacted SB 880 in 2012 on this subject.

Is it lawful in your state to resell electricity through a sub-meter? Are there any legal requirements that apply to such sales? Is a meter with specific characteristics required? Could you just buy an old revenue meter on eBay, seal it in a meter can, and agree that it’s close enough?

How would the electricity cost be figured? What happens if the utility’s rates go up or down? What about a more complicated change in the utility’s rate structure, like time-of-use or demand metering, or a special rate for EV charging? Consider that the association might choose make such a change, or it could be required by the utility.

Do you own the specific parking space the charging installation would serve, or does the association have the right to move you to another space? If there is such a right, and it’s exercised, would you get to recover your stranded costs? What happens if you sell your unit? Would the buyer take over your rights and obligations?

Who would be responsible for maintenance? If this is shared, exactly which components would be your responsibility, and which the association’s? Would the association have to maintain their components to keep the system working? Would there be any situation in which the other party could step in to make repairs, or just remove the installation altogether, and who would pay for this? Who would be allowed to do the work? Any licensed electrician, or would they have to have specific insurance, be approved by the association, or both? Who would be liable for injuries or damage, during the installation or later? (Consider that the building, your car, and other cars could potentially be damaged.) Would you have to maintain liability insurance with certain coverages or policy limits, and is this available at a reasonable premium?

Who would pay if the installation or part of it has to be removed and reinstalled, perhaps with costly modifications, for an unrelated repair or renovation? If the installation were to be removed, would you be required to restore the building to its previous condition, and how would this be determined?

To help answer these questions, I’d suggest talking with a lawyer, and also the electric utility serving your area. The utility could tell you about any special rates for EV charging, of course, and also give you an idea of their initial and recurring charges for a separate meter, if it’s necessary or advantageous to go that route. The service planner might also know about other EV charging installations in condominiums nearby.

 

as far as tapping into an existing circuit that is supplying power elsewhere, is that a condo or owner circuit? i'm guessing condo since it's in the garage. then your new meter would allow you to reimburse them.

 

Here, where I live, the power company in the neighboring town Littleton, have put up free charging stations at locations to promote alternative energy. One location is a the local Toyota dealership, hey, all the dealership had to do was allow the power company to make modifications to their property.

Maybe a discussion with your local power provider could be revealing. It would be neat if they could install and the charging station and provide the power. You would also need your condo association to be in favor of this, to allow the power company to make alterations to the property.

Your power company may have a PR department, look at what they are doing (peruse their material). They may already be doing something.

jp

 

When you do it well, and your results are available locally, that will help other MN PEHV owners smooth their Condos feathers.

 

This all sounds like a lot of money to get very, very little. No pay off at all. I figure that charging my battery saves me about 1/3rd gallon of gas each charge. You will never pay off the cost of the electrician, wiring, meter, anything else.

 

Congrats, that's exciting!

 

What do the smart and non smart meters cost?

 

Congrats. It would have been so easy for them to have just said no. You must have presented a very good argument. In the long run you will be very pleased.