EVs and their chargers are a perfect fit for single-family homeowners with garages, but for condo and apartment dwellers, charging is often a challenge (a recent Charged article explored this issue). Carports can be located far from electrical service lines, homeowners’ association rules may discourage charger installation, and electricity may be billed on common meters.

This week, the California Energy Commission announced a new project in San Diego to address the needs of EV drivers who live in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs). More than one-third of San Diego County residents live in MUDs, as the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Charging network operator ChargePoint won a competitive bidding process to provide 206 EV charging stations, financed by $500,000 in Energy Commission funding (derived mostly from vehicle registration and smog abatement fees).

San Diego Gas & Electric and the City of San Diego will help identify eligible owners of apartment buildings and condominium associations. Successful applicants will get free charging equipment and two years of network services, but must pay for installation.

Owners of properties with three or more housing units are eligible. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2014. Projects completed before the end of the year are also eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit against installation costs, up to $30,000 per site.

For more information: http://www.chargepoint.com/multichargesd                   

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune