Developers of residential properties have made great strides in implementing EV charging solutions in their car parks, giving thousands of electric vehicle drivers convenient access to charging at or near their homes. Becky Hornby, residential charging expert at Rolec, highlights why EV infrastructure has become essential for developers.

It is not new to suggest that more needs to be done to tackle the current climate emergency. The push for rapid decarbonisation can be felt throughout the UK and expands far into the world. Something that has been acutely felt in the built-environment industry. This is especially apparent with the UK Government’s Part S building regulations.

Residential and commercial EV infrastructure has been a huge conversation point the last few years, and the Government’s Part S regulations have only worked to further cement this concept. Making it compulsory for all new build properties, with off-street parking, to provide an EV chargepoint for future occupants. It also applies to properties undergoing major renovations that will have more than 10 parking spaces upon completion and set minimum standards for all new chargepoints.

The aim, of course, being to make EV more accessible and create infrastructure to support the switch to electric.

This regulation specifically aims to tackle this problem of electric vehicle infrastructure we currently have in the UK. Highlighted as one of the greatest problems facing the adoption of electric vehicles, many people have stated the inaccessibility of electric vehicle chargepoints as one of their main deterrents against taking the step to emission-free transport.

Rolec’s 18 years of experience in the EV industry means that the company can offer solutions that meet both your current and future charging needs. Providing you with assistance from planning to breaking ground and after. Streamlining the installation of chargepoints while ensuring full compliance. 

 
Key Considerations 

DESIGN & SPECIFY 

Architects, do you feel like your plans are missing something but can’t quite put your finger on it? Rolec is giving you the pieces to build your development from the ground up.

Rolec are partners with NBS, which means you can find our products on NBS Source. A free-to-use construction product platform that allows you to find, select and specify our products quickly and easily. Giving you the detailed information you need to make informed product decisions. As well as access to BIM & CAD packages to help you visualise our chargepoints in your development.

INSTALLATION 

The first thing you need to consider when selecting the right charge point is where it will be located. For example, a home charger such as, EVO, Zura, or WallPod, is likely to only be used by you and often only once a day (overnight) whereas chargers located in a residential estate or commercial development are likely to be used by a number of different electric vehicles, and subject to a greater level of wear and tear. This is where BasicCharge and Quantum chargers step in.

Furthermore, factors such as the complexity of the installation, site conditions, the types of chargers, and labour will determine the installation cost.

A fully qualified and experienced EV chargepoint installer will be able to give you the best advice on what would work for your specific location and based on their assessment they will give you an accurate cost for the installation. To aid you in this process, the team at Rolec can recommend an Approved Installation Partner, who can offer a full turnkey solution from site survey, to civils, installation, and commissioning.

Additional considerations for commissioning, like opting for wireless setup via Bluetooth allows for building control approval before the homeowner or resident installs Wi-Fi. This approach therefore gives you the freedom to set up chargepoints without ongoing costs to the developer until the property is occupied.

LOAD BALANCING AND MANAGEMENT 

Adding chargepoints to your development means that the demand on your available electrical load can increase notably. Therefore, influencing the capacity needed on site.

Load balancing solutions can allow you to increase the number of chargepoints you can operate on the site’s existing available supply. Rolec can provide this in two ways.

For single charging units, Automatic Dynamic Load Balancing via a CT clamp that is attached around the property’s live cable between the meter and consumer unit.

For multiple charge points, a load management profile is created at point of installation and balances the property’s available power: Dynamic Load Management via a DLB & Fuse Protection Device which is connected directly to the main electrical supply.