Residing in an apartment and driving an electric vehicle: My experience charging a Chevy Equinox EV and suggestions for my city to simplify charging procedures

In recent times, the electric vehicle (EV) market has been experiencing a significant surge, with the Chevy Equinox EV recently selling over 8,500 units in one month, marking a milestone as the best single month for any non-Tesla EV in the U.S. This growth, however, brings about the challenge of providing adequate charging infrastructure, especially in densely populated areas.

One solution that is gaining traction, particularly in Europe and now being trialled in countries like Australia, is the socket-only EV charger model, known as Bring Your Own Charger (BYOC). This model is becoming common in Europe, with examples in the United Kingdom's lamp column chargers and municipal curbside networks in the Netherlands and Germany.

The BYOC chargers offer several advantages. For starters, they eliminate the need for a permanently tethered cable, which can be prone to vandalism, theft, or damage. This results in improved uptime. Furthermore, maintenance is lighter, connectors stay cleaner, and streetscape clutter drops with BYOC chargers. In the event of damage, the driver replaces a cable rather than taking a whole post out of service.

J.D. Power reports that 84% of public charging attempts succeeded in the first quarter of the year, but there is still a 16% failure rate. Most unsuccessful charging sessions are due to equipment being out of service or malfunctioning. With BYOC chargers, drivers get predictable neighborhood charging, reducing the frustration of unsuccessful attempts.

For those who cannot charge at home, options include using public level 2 chargers, DC fast chargers, and charging at work if available. For apartment dwellers, the challenges of EV ownership are discussed frequently on platforms like Reddit. One user, Substantial-Coffee33, shared their experiences, highlighting the need for solutions like BYOC chargers.

In the U.S., 31% of car owners live in rented accommodations. SanDiegoSporty suggested negotiating with the landlord for the installation of a charger. In Germany, public charging stations for electric cars suitable for condominium owners without private garages are primarily offered by various municipal utilities, energy providers, and specialized charging network operators. However, for private residential buildings, owners often need to collectively decide on the installation of charging infrastructure.

Charging industry executives are focusing on improving reliability by replacing weak components, standardizing firmware, and tightening remote monitoring. Retailers and councils gain dependable availability, steadier revenue, and safer sidewalks with BYOC chargers.

Pilots for BYOC chargers are emerging in several US cities and campuses. In California, the state is now covering up to $8,500 per Level 2 EV charging port in eligible multi-unit buildings through the Communities in Charge program run by CALSTART. This initiative is expected to further boost the adoption of BYOC chargers, making electric vehicle ownership more accessible for all.

As the EV market continues to grow, solutions like BYOC chargers will play a crucial role in ensuring that everyone, regardless of their living situation, can enjoy the benefits of owning an electric vehicle.

Residing in an apartment and driving an electric vehicle: My experience charging a Chevy Equinox EV and suggestions for my city to simplify charging procedures