Condo owners reporting push-back over electric vehicles

Despite the rising popularity of electric cars, some condo owners say they're facing push-back when they ask their condo boards for permission to install charging stations. 

Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug'n Drive, a non-profit organization encouraging the use of electric vehicles in Ontario, said condo boards are fielding a growing number of requests to install charging stations in parking garages.

Many of these requests are being denied. 

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"Unfortunately we hear this story quite often," she told Craig Norris, host of CBC's The Morning Edition. "I would say we get a call about once a week from somebody who is going to ask their condo board or has asked their condo board and has been refused."

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Clairman said its unclear how many condos in the province have the capacity to charge electric vehicles.

"We do know when it comes to older buildings almost none of them do," she said. "When it comes to newer buildings, we are seeing more and more being built with charging stations put in. It's the retrofit that's much more expensive and you end up with this situation."

Boards often lack information

Condos are not required to install charging stations, and those that do, do so on a voluntary basis. 

Clairman said hesitancy to have them installed often comes down to a lack of information. 

In communities like Kitchener and Waterloo, where demand for electric vehicles is high, Clairman said, condo owners should get informed, and find supportive neighbours before approaching their condo board. 

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"This might be the first request they received, and they're not sure what to make of it," Clairman said. "So we like to give them some information to help them maximize their chances."

Government meeting condo groups 

Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is gathering electric vehicle and condo groups together Monday and Tuesday to look at how revamping the act could encourage more electric vehicles on the roads.

Clairman has attended these meetings as well, and is asking for the right of condo owners to have charging stations installed, barring reasonable exclusions and that new buildings be constructed EV (electric vehicle) ready.