Costs of Making New Construction "EV Ready"
Along with the rapid rise in EV ownership in Canada comes the increase in at-home charging infrastructure needs, especially in cities where the EV adoption rate is high. To accommodate this trend, more governments are now requiring new developments in these locations to incorporate “EV Ready” parking for residents (ie. stalls with enough electricity adjacent that EV chargers can be installed now or when needed). Policies like this are intended to “futureproof” local architecture and prepare for mass EV adoption, likely in the not-so-distant future. A solid plan can ease this process, but until recently it was difficult to find accurate and detailed information with which to create and implement one.
As an answer to this problem, the City of Calgary and the City of Edmonton commissioned this Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Costing Study to analyze the costs involved with incorporating EV Ready parking in new construction. It is a comprehensive resource that examines this in three building types typical of new residential construction in those cities: high-rise, mid-rise, and townhouse. It explores various electrical designs for each type and provides itemized lists of associated costs for all. In addition to providing background information on EV Ready requirements, the study also provides recommendations for design options in different scenarios and strategies that can help keep costs down. Notably, the study highlights the importance of incorporating EV Ready parking into new construction rather than retrofitting since it is much less costly and complicated.
While it is helpful to inform the general public, the study most effectively acts as a resource for local governments, developers, electrical engineers, utilities, and other project stakeholders. Detailed appendices include specific building archetype details and load calculations, single line diagrams, and parking layout drawings for each building type that are excellent references for similar projects.
The costing study was conducted and prepared by AES Engineering Ltd., an electrical engineering firm and leader in “EV Ready” charging requirements. They provide policy advising, infrastructure planning, program design, and strategy development services to support the transition to zero emissions buildings and transportation.
Want to read the full report? Download the study!
