No charging option in condo - Need advice

[Dewey]

Good morning,

 

as explained in the title there is no charging option in my condo (condo built in 2009). I recently purchased an hybrid car and I started to charge it on the regular electrical outlet in the parking.
I knew from the start that they would not allowed that but I did it to see their reaction.

 

For the background story, I'm the owner of my condo unit and multiple owners raised the question about electric chargers (including me) during annual co-owner meeting last year. So far no action from the condo.

 

As expected, my GF received a text from juristic office to tell me to stop charging my car 2 days after my first charge (I wish they were that fast to take care of other issue in the condo...).

Anyway, I understand that they ask me to stop (after all, all owners will have to share the electricity bill which is not fair) but I'm using this opportunity to put pressure on them (after all, EV is the new trend and we will need more and more chargers in the future) so they can study and propose solutions. I suggested two options myself which were ignored of course:

 

- Since my car is hybrid, the battery is only 12KWh which cost roughly 60THB per charge, I told them that I would be happy to pay for it, they just have to add a meter on one outlet in the parking (which I would be happy to pay for) -> they refused but can't tell me the reason.

- I proposed to contact and find solution with EV company to install chargers in our condo and then submit different proposal during co-owner meeting later this year -> no answer so far.

 

Do you guys have any advice for me ? Is there anything I can do to force them to move forward on the topic ? Is there any law in Thailand (existing law or in process to be released) regarding EV charging in condos ?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[FritsSikkink]

Why should they be pressured in making a quick decision other than the one preventing you from taking electricity for free?

They are there to create good living circumstances, not delivering infrastructure for cars. You should have thought about this topic long before you bought the car.  

[kwak250]

Get a new Ford Raptor.

Problem solved.

[expat_4_life]

16 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Why should they be pressured in making a quick decision other than the one preventing you from taking electricity for free?

They are there to create good living circumstances, not delivering infrastructure for cars. You should have thought about this topic long before you bought the car.  

I'm a condo owner and don't own a car. I'm not interested in footing some portion of the cost to put infrastructure, whether it be the chargers themselves or the other inevitable improvements to accommodate a larger load on the system, into our building to cater to EV owners.  I'm doing more for the environment than any EV owner.

In some condo buildings owners don't even own their own parking space. So where would you charge your vehicle? Put a charging station in every parking spot does not seem feasible or solve the problem.

Seems a bit of an intractable problem especially with the boom in condo units.

Edited February 26 by expat_4_life

[Henryford]

My condo has banned EV parking/charging. Too dangerous for other cars and the condo when it bursts into flames.

[Liverpool Lou]

29 minutes ago, Dewey said:

as explained in the title there is no charging option in my condo (condo built in 2009). I recently purchased an hybrid car and I started to charge it on the regular electrical outlet in the parking.
I knew from the start that they would not allowed that but I did it to see their reaction.

Knowing that you had no charging facility at your home, you bought a vehicle that needed a charging facility just to see the JP's reaction that you now don't like so you think that they should change their infrastructure just for your experiment?  Odd.  How many other EV vehicle owners are there requiring that facility, is it just you?

[Dewey]

12 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Why should they be pressured in making a quick decision other than the one preventing you from taking electricity for free?

They are there to create good living circumstances, not delivering infrastructure for cars. You should have thought about this topic long before you bought the car.  

 

You obviously didn't get my point, I'm not asking to get free electricity, I did it (twice) to get a reaction from them. This is not a quick decision either, multiple owners raised the question a year ago (not sure if you consider that "long enough before I buy my car" and so far nothing was done or even study).

 

"They are there to create good living circumstances" -> yeah right... 

You should have thought about this topic long before you bought the car -> I did, a year ago along other owners. And that is why I did not buy full EV.

 

Once again, I'm not here to try to fight the system, I'm just pushing them to start thinking about solutions rather than doing nothing, EV is the future (like it or not, personally not a fan but that is the way the world is going).

[Liverpool Lou]

"No charging option in condo - Need advice"

 

Don't buy another vehicle that needs a charger.

[daveAustin]

24 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Why should they be pressured in making a quick decision other than the one preventing you from taking electricity for free?

They are there to create good living circumstances, not delivering infrastructure for cars. You should have thought about this topic long before you bought the car.  

 

Reread it. They said they would be happy to pay. Management are being typical in turning this down because it is the easy option and they will not lose face. If they entertain the topic and thus show their ignorance in not understating correctly, they will lose face which as we all know is very important here. I would get a Thai to negotiate with them on your behalf and offer to pay for the socket and for the electric. If they will not budge, sell up and tell them to go and do one (in a polite manner). More condos here will need to conform as this is the way the world is going.

[Dewey]

15 minutes ago, Henryford said:

My condo has banned EV parking/charging. Too dangerous for other cars and the condo when it bursts into flames.

I wonder how they decided that EV charging was too dangerous, how many charging station started a fire in the last year in Thailand ? How many fire started in condos over the last year ?

It would be interesting to have the actual statistics before categorized it as "too dangerous".

 

Once again, no judgement and I don't take side but I like to have numbers in front of this 🙂

Edited February 26 by Dewey

[quake]

Op go rent/buy a house or change the type of vehicle you have.

 

 

[KannikaP]

Does a hybrid not charge the battery from the petrol engine?

 

A friend has just rented a Honda Accord Hybrid, but does not need to charge it.

Edited February 26 by KannikaP

[topt]

42 minutes ago, Dewey said:

Is there anything I can do to force them to move forward on the topic ?

The only thing I think you can do is gain the support of other condo owners and propose a solution to be voted on at the next AGM.

 

Getting it on the agenda my be the first hurdle but your condo rules should have some guidance on this .........possibly 

[Dan O]

11 minutes ago, Dewey said:

 

You obviously didn't get my point, I'm not asking to get free electricity, I did it (twice) to get a reaction from them. This is not a quick decision either, multiple owners raised the question a year ago (not sure if you consider that "long enough before I buy my car" and so far nothing was done or even study).

 

"They are there to create good living circumstances" -> yeah right... 

You should have thought about this topic long before you bought the car -> I did, a year ago along other owners. And that is why I did not buy full EV.

 

Once again, I'm not here to try to fight the system, I'm just pushing them to start thinking about solutions rather than doing nothing, EV is the future (like it or not, personally not a fan but that is the way the world is going).

Throw a long extension cord out your condo window and connect to that, problem solved for everyone

[quake]

1 minute ago, Dan O said:

Throw a long extension cord out your condo window and connect to that, problem solved for everyone

 

Should see a nice glow in the dark down the side of his condo.

maybe get 20 others to do the same,  it could look very nice at night. 

 

 

[Dewey]

5 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Does a hybrid not charge the battery from the petrol engine?

 

A friend has just rented a Honda Accord Hybrid, but does not need to charge it.

 

Depends on the model. Some hybrids recharge themselves by driving only (such as Toyota Prius) and some can be recharged both while driving or on electrical outlet.

[scubascuba3]

You should have checked all this prior to buying the vehicle

[Liverpool Lou]

54 minutes ago, Dewey said:

after all, EV is the new trend and we will need more and more chargers in the future

Hydrogen-fuelled cars are the real future so ask them to provide an H2 supply while they're installing old-fashioned EV charging points!

Edited February 26 by Liverpool Lou

[Liverpool Lou]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You should have checked all this prior to buying the vehicle

He did but chose not to care reckoning that AN could sort it out for him!

[quake]

It's bad enough getting a parking space in many condos by the owners.

but can you imagine the fighting that would go on, over 10 charging points, in say a 70 car parking area.

Somchai will be ready with his tyre iron or machete very quickly.

To much agro for condos to provide this service. unless it's a very small, very exclusive, fantastically run condo building.

Good luck with that.

 

Edited February 26 by quake

[scubascuba3]

4 minutes ago, quake said:

It's bad enough getting a parking space in many condos by the owners.

but can you imagine the fighting that would go on, over 10 charging points, in say a 70 car parking area.

Somchai will be ready with his tyre iron or machete very quickly.

To much agro for condos to provide this service. unless it's a very small, very exclusive, fantastically run condo building.

Good luck with that.

 

As you say not enough spaces for electric charging, he needs to move to a house and then he can deal with it

[transam]

I didn't know hybrid cars had an electric charge point, I thought it was all down to engine and braking..

We have a hybrid bike, no charge point, just has a bigger battery...

 

If it has a charge point on the car, what is the car...?

[KannikaP]

6 minutes ago, transam said:

I didn't know hybrid cars had an electric charge point, I thought it was all down to engine and braking..

We have a hybrid bike, no charge point, just has a bigger battery...

 

If it has a charge point on the car, what is the car...?

Apparently there are two types pf hybrid. Self-charging....which get ALL their power from fossil fuel, and the other type which get their power from the petrol engine, plus some from the power station down the road, which is possibly burning coal, gas or uranium!

[KhunLA]

Do you know  if there are others driving hybrids or BEV owners at the complex.  Also is the parking area 'open' to public or guarded.

 

Elexa will install charging station at vendors, condos.  If 'open' parking, then anyone could use, would be a plus, and no cost the the condo owners themselves.  We've stopped at coffee shops that have Elexa charging cables while O&A.

[KhunLA]

13 minutes ago, transam said:

I didn't know hybrid cars had an electric charge point, I thought it was all down to engine and braking..

We have a hybrid bike, no charge point, just has a bigger battery...

 

If it has a charge point on the car, what is the car...?

PHEV or BEV vs FHEV (no plug in options)

Edited February 26 by KhunLA

[KannikaP]

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

PHEV vs BEV vs FHEV

Please translate.

 

Oh, Mr Bingle did it for me, sorry.

 

Edited February 26 by KannikaP

[KhunLA]

5 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Please translate.

Really ... nobody uses google any more 

Plug in Hybrid EV

Battery EV

Full Hybrid EV

Edited February 26 by KhunLA

[Fruit Trader]

A serviced apartment building near to us has banned EV charging in the car park located directly below the apartments at ground level. My brother-in-law who provides services to this building was asked to disconnect several wall sockets in the parking area and erect warning signs. The building insurers were communicating with the owners about this along with complaints about trip hazards created by cables charging electric scooters.

 

It's quite understandable that insurers would want to reduce risk from vehicles parked within a building structure knowing that some are extremely difficult to extinguish when on fire. I guess risk assessment for EV's on charge is still in its early stages.

[Bandersnatch]

Having spent several years on a building committee I know that buildings get many requests to spend the very limited condo fees. The best way to make a request is to make a suggestion that makes the condo money such as power outlets that are accessed via RFID card that you purchase from the condo. Power is sold at a premium over what the condo pays to buy it. 

 

As pointed out above the limited number of parking spaces in most condos make such a system difficult to get started, but such system do exist in condos around the world.

 

[eisfeld]

53 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"No charging option in condo - Need advice"

 

Don't buy another vehicle that needs a charger.

 

It doesn't need a charger. It can use one, it doesn't need one. It's a hybrid.