The fair way to compare EV charging quotes for a strata building is to reduce each one to the same set of numbers: the cost per parking bay of the shared infrastructure, the cost of each charger for residents who want one, how many cars can charge at the same time, and the ongoing cost of billing and software. Contractors often quote very different designs, with one wiring a few chargers directly and another building a backbone to every bay, so their headline prices mean little until you break them down this way.

Backbone or individual chargers?

There are two broad approaches, and many quotes mix elements of both.

Individual chargers can suit a small building where only one or two owners are ever likely to charge at home. For most mid-size and larger buildings, a backbone plan avoids a first-in, best-dressed contest for the building's electrical capacity.

A staged backbone is a common middle path: the design covers the whole car park, but cabling is installed one level or zone at a time as demand grows. If a contractor proposes staging, ask for the cost of each stage and confirm that later stages won't require the first stage to be reworked.

Load management decides how many cars can charge

Every building's electrical supply has a limit. Without load management, each charger must be allowed its full power at all times, which caps the number of chargers early. With load management, chargers share the available capacity and slow down when the building is busy, so far more cars can be charged overnight. Ask each contractor:

• How did you work out the spare capacity, from logged maximum demand or from estimates?
• How many chargers can the design support, and at what minimum charging power each?
• Does load management respond to the whole building's demand or only to the chargers?
• What happens to charging if the internet connection drops?
• Will a supply or main switchboard upgrade be needed, and is it priced?

Treat any quote that offers high power to every bay without a capacity study with caution.

Billing and ongoing costs

Residents should pay for the electricity they use, and common-property power shouldn't subsidise private charging. Quotes handle this differently, from metered chargers linked to a billing platform to simple sub-meters read by the strata manager. Compare:

• the set-up cost of the billing system;
• software subscriptions per charger or per building;
• payment processing or transaction fees;
• who owns the data and account, and whether it can move to another provider;
• whether chargers are locked to one billing platform, limiting future choice.

Ten years of ongoing fees can outweigh a difference in installation price, so ask for them in writing.

Questions about the chargers themselves

Charger hardware matters less than the backbone and load management, but residents deal with it every day. Ask each contractor:

• Are the chargers tethered with a fixed cable or fitted with a socket, and which suits a shared car park?
• Can residents choose a different compatible charger later, or must every bay use the same model?
• How are chargers protected from vehicle impact and water, particularly in open car parks?
• Can each charger be locked so only the bay owner can use it?
• When a charger fails, who responds, how quickly, and who pays?
• Are the chargers single-phase or three-phase, and does that match the backbone design?

Many cars accept only limited power from AC chargers, so a higher charger rating does not always mean faster charging for a particular vehicle.

Plan for future capacity

Charging demand in a car park usually grows gradually, and a good design makes the next stage straightforward. Check whether each design allows for:

• adding chargers bay by bay without new building works;
• visitor or shared bays;
• rooftop solar or a shared battery supplying common property later;
• a future supply upgrade if demand outgrows what load management can handle.

Also confirm that the work meets fire safety and car park requirements and that the building's insurer has been consulted. All electrical work must be carried out by licensed electricians.

Build a fair comparison table

Put every quote into the same table before the committee meets:

1. Shared infrastructure cost, divided by the number of bays served.
2. Installed charger cost per bay, including the charger model and its warranty.
3. Load management system cost.
4. Billing set-up cost plus an estimate of ten years of ongoing fees.
5. Required electrical upgrades, and any exclusions.
6. Maximum chargers supported and minimum charging power per car.
7. Workmanship warranty and support arrangements after installation.
8. Staging plan and expected disruption to residents.

Where a quote excludes something another contractor included, add an allowance so you compare complete projects. Check licences, insurance and track record with our guide to choosing an installer; the same checks apply to electrical contractors. If rooftop solar is also on the agenda, our system sizing guide helps with the combined picture, and our blog has a companion guide on requesting strata solar quotes.

Next steps

Start with a capacity study and a clear brief so every contractor quotes the same project. For a design and quote for your building, request a free assessment from Blue Energy Solar. The energy market lists an EV Charging Backbone for Every Parking Bay from $1,190 per bay, Apartment EV Charging (Per Bay) from $2,490, an EV Load-Management System from $1,490 per site and an EV-Ready Building Study from $1,490. These prices are indicative and are confirmed after a site assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Does the owners corporation have to approve a charger in a resident's own car space?

Usually, yes. Even when the space belongs to a lot, the cabling, switchboard connection and wall or slab penetrations typically involve common property, so approval is normally required, often with a by-law covering costs, maintenance and removal. Your strata manager can confirm the process. A building-wide plan makes each approval simpler because the conditions are agreed once for everyone.

What charging power do residents really need at home?

Often less than they expect. Cars in apartment buildings are usually parked for many hours overnight, so modest charging power covers typical daily driving. Under load management, chargers may run slower at busy times and still fill the car by morning for normal use. Very high-power chargers mainly add cost and consume building capacity without much benefit for overnight parking.

Who pays for the backbone if only a few owners drive electric cars?

That is a decision for the owners corporation. Some buildings fund the backbone from the capital works fund because it prepares every lot, then residents pay for their own charger connection and electricity. Others recover part of the cost through a connection fee as each owner joins. Whichever approach you choose, set it out clearly in the motion so owners know exactly what they are voting on.