ENERANDO: Shared or Individual EV Charging Infrastructure for Housing Associations?

Enerando, a provider of electric mobility infrastructure solutions, has released guidance for housing associations on planning electric vehicle charging points. The central question is whether to invest in a unified, jointly managed charging infrastructure or to allow individual charging points to be installed by each owner.

According to the company, a jointly planned and managed infrastructure is a more sustainable solution for the future in most cases. It facilitates the expansion of charging capacity, enables centralized load management, and prevents a scenario where each new charging point requires its own separate system. However, an individual charging solution may be justified if the number of charging points remains limited and clearly defined.

Shared charging infrastructure typically includes a central power supply, prepared cable routes, sub-distribution boards, load management systems, and a unified backend system for user management and billing. While the charging box at the charging point may be the responsibility of a single user, the technical foundation of the infrastructure is shared.

Enerando emphasizes the importance of dynamic load management in residential buildings, as the electrical connections of buildings are not unlimited. Load management ensures that the power used by the charging points is distributed evenly and optimally within the available total capacity. Although the initial costs for a shared system may be higher than for the installation of an individual charging point, it can prove more economical in the long run by reducing planning, installation, and maintenance costs, and by enabling seamless future expansion.