British Columbia’s government has introduced legislation to make it easier for strata corporations and owners to install charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) in residential strata buildings. 
 

These amendments to the Strata Property Act, combined with other provincial initiatives on EV charging, make British Columbia a world leader in supporting EV-charging infrastructure. – John Stonier, EV advocate and past president, Vancouver Electric Vehicles Association 

Benefits of the Legislation

The proposed amendments to the Strata Property Act will improve access to EV charging stations in residential strata buildings by: 

• Lowering the voting threshold from 75% to 50% approval for expenditures and changes to common and personal property that are needed to install EV charging stations. 
• Requiring strata corporations to obtain an electrical planning report to help understand the building’s electrical capacity and plan for the expansion of EV charging stations. 
• Requiring strata corporations to approve owners’ requests to install EV charging stations at the owners’ expense, when reasonable criteria are met.

 Government’s Objective

The government’s objective is to help people reduce their carbon footprints by improving access to EV charging stations in residential buildings. The government believes that the lack of charging stations in strata buildings is a significant barrier to the adoption of electric vehicles. The proposed legislation will help to overcome this barrier.

Benefits of Home Charging Stations

According to Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, when people have access to EV charging stations at home, they are much more likely to purchase electric vehicles. The government has introduced several initiatives, including the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate program and a provincial sales tax exemption on used EVs, to encourage people to purchase electric vehicles. As a result of these initiatives, the number of EVs on British Columbia’s roads has increased from 5,000 in 2016 to more than 109,000 as of December 2022. 

 These amendments are a practical solution that reduce barriers for communities and owners converting to electric vehicles in stratas. They strike a good balance between enabling the adoption of more EVs, electrification of parking garages, and providing strata corporations with the flexibility necessary to appropriately manage their properties and protect the interests of all the owners. – Tony Gioventu, executive director, Condominium Home Owners Association of BC 

This new legislation builds on the government’s ongoing work to get more EVs on the road, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and meet climate goals. As an electrician, we can help strata corporations and owners to take advantage of this legislation and facilitate the installation of EV charging stations in their buildings. 

Get Your Strata Building EV-Ready Today with MJR Electric

If you’re a strata owner or part of a strata corporation in British Columbia and want to take advantage of the proposed legislation to install EV charging stations in your building, contact us today!  

We are experienced electricians who can help you navigate the process and ensure that your building is EV-ready. Don’t let a lack of charging infrastructure be a barrier to EV adoption in your community. Contact us now to get started. 

Source: BC Gov News