Owning an EV Whilst Living in an Apartment

catboy123 on 08/07/2021 - 10:13

I'm looking to buy a new car but I feel like I'm in a weird time period where its a bit too late for a new ICE car and abit too early for an EV, given the lack of charging infrastructure. This is really the only thing holding me back as I live in an apartment.

I've yet to approach strata to see if I can install a power outlet/charger in your basement car parking space (wired to my indivual meter of course), but I have high doubts they would approve. Has anyone actually had success with this?

If home charging is out of the question, how viable would it be for me to get a Model 3 SR?

I drive about 200km per week, so how often and how long would I need to charge at a destination charger or supercharger? There are some in shopping centres I that go to.

Automotive Electric Vehicle

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 08/07/2021 - 10:16
    +2

    I drive about 200km per week

    You could get away with a weekly charge and perhaps charge it while shopping.

    To me that is too constraining. EV infrastructure is still a big issue and probably will be for a few more years.

    Can you run your current ICE for a few more years or do you really need to buy soon?

    • afoveht on 08/07/2021 - 11:10

      Can you run your current ICE for a few more years or do you really need to buy soon?

      This. Price-wise it's not the best time to get a new car. Charging-wise your not in the best place to get a new electric car. Seems to me that it just might not be the best time or place. Maybe save your money and wait a bit. Even if "its a bit too late for a new ICE car " it's still the perfect time to hang on to an existing ICE car if it has any good life left in it.

  • websterp on 08/07/2021 - 10:23

    Easy

    • catboy123 on 08/07/2021 - 10:33
      +1

      hahah, trust me I've thought about it

  • spackbace on 08/07/2021 - 10:28
    +5

    ICE will be here till 2035 at least, so no you're not too late to get a petrol car. In the next 14+ years you may even move to a new house/apartment, and you can make sure EV charging infrastructure is in your list of needs then for the new place

  • bobbified on 08/07/2021 - 10:31

    If home charging is out of the question, how viable would it be for me to get a Model 3 SR?

    I think you're right to assume that the building manager will tell you you're not allowed to charge it in the carpark. So then the viability comes down to how motivated you are with getting it charged regularly somewhere away from home. You might have to sit there for a few hours or you might need to find another charger if you rock up to your usual and it's being used.

    IMO, If saving money is your aim, you're probably better off sticking with a normal petrol car for now. It is just much more convenient.

    Also, if you enjoy long distance driving, an EV is probably not the most convenient yet because of the availability of chargers.

    • catboy123 on 08/07/2021 - 10:44

      Hmm I think my main aim was to just get something nice for myself haha. I've been eyeing the newer BMW 3 series for quite some time now, but since covid happened, I can't justify the inflated prices, wait times and omission of features.

      So I figure the longer I wait for things to go back to 'normal' (to which theres no guarrantee that they will), the more obsolete ICE cars will become.

      I may be completely wrong here but my thought process is, if I get the BMW itll be close to worthless in the future, whereas the Tesla will hold its value better.

      Thoughts?

      • bobbified on 08/07/2021 - 10:54
        +6

        aah.. If you get a BMW 3 series, it'll be long dead before ICE cars become obsolete. The process for obsolesce will be a very long one. Firstly, they'll have to stop selling those cars and then wait as existing cars die off slowly, one by one. You can see on the road that some of these ICE cars on the road now are 20-30 years old and they're still going. The government isn't going to one day just say "OK.. all ICE cars are banned". That is not going to happen unless they come up with a plan to buy them all back. So ICE cars becoming obsolete should be the last of your concerns.

        • catboy123 on 08/07/2021 - 11:42
          +4

          Good points. I must admit I've fallen for the scaremongers around forums who say that it would be completely stupid to buy an ICE car at this stage.

          • jflcon88229 on 08/07/2021 - 13:19

            @catboy123: Catboy123 I used to be EXACTLY like you. Was reading too many comments and forums that gave me the illusion that in a few years you would be banned from driving an ICE car, or all the petrol stations would be shutting down, or an ICE car will be worthless in a few years and things along those lines.

            I bought a new ICE car a few days ago for the first time in more than a decade which I plan on driving for the next 15 years before I buy an electric car.

            I agree with others that now isn't the best time to buy a car, but we don't really know when it will be a good time again. I'm not overly familiar with BMW but my understanding is that European cars don't really hold their value well anyways. No idea what resale on Tesla is like but I would anticipate in the coming years the technology for EVs would be significantly better than of EVs today. So I don't think you should think about resale too much.

            Can't go wrong with either the 3 series or Model 3. Good luck!

      • spackbace on 08/07/2021 - 11:30
        +3

        As above, but also the Tesla you buy today could very easily be superseded in the next 10yrs with better battery tech (quicker charging, longer range), as well as bigger players hitting the EV market, which could bring down the pricing for the new EVs. Imagine paying $60k+ now on a Tesla EV, and then in 10yrs the same car is $40k due to the competition, and yet charges quicker and has a longer range… imagine the depreciation you'd see then.

        Whereas a petrol car, in good trim level, could be seen as a 'collector's car', or even just something that ICE die-hards want to buy and own once everything is EV and they're still stuck to hearing an engine noise.

        Long story short, you can't predict what will happen so far down the track, what will be popular etc

  • Stopback on 08/07/2021 - 10:45
    +1

    https://www.plugshare.com/

    if you want something enough you will make it work, there will be a transition period where it will get better.

    • catboy123 on 08/07/2021 - 10:53

      That's true. I guess I could start doing regular visits to the shopping centre and staying there for the time I would if I were charging to see if its something I can do long-term.

      Does anyone know the km/h charging rate for a Model 3SR, at a destination charger and supercharger? So I know how long I should be expecting to stay at the location.

      • Muzeeb on 08/07/2021 - 11:03
        +1

        Just my opinion, but if you were really into EV and researching your options you wouldn't need to ask this info. It's all readily available on the internet.

        Example

        Example 2

        • catboy123 on 08/07/2021 - 11:07
          +2

          Yep understood, was just looking for anecdotal experience as I believe the range stated on the cars dont really equate to real life range, right?

          • brendanm on 08/07/2021 - 12:12
            -1

            @catboy123: As ms paint has said, there are tonnes of Teslas around, with lots of people recording the actual range they get, as well as lists of where to charge them. The information is not hard to come by.

  • pandadude on 08/07/2021 - 11:32

    The only problem here is the use of common property to get the cables to your car bay. Also this might cost a lot to get an EV charging cables from your power meter to your car bay.

    I have assumed this car bay is actually part of your unit and is not an "exclusive right to use" common property.

  • JDMcarfan on 08/07/2021 - 11:35
    +1

    Nissan Note E-Power? I'd agree with your opinion that the mass market automotive world is in a transition period between ICE and EVs hence my suggestion. The car is the most popular car on sale in Japan atm, so supply would be fine and reliability clearly must be good for it to be in the #1 spot.

    It has an ICE working as a generator, and comes with Nissan LEAF (EV) underpinnings. Kinda the best of both worlds, with the quiet and smooth power delivery whilst also having long range you'd be used too. You wont ever have to worry about charging or the upcoming (current if your Victorian) EV tax.

    Unless your in Tassie, the electricity you use is largely going to be coal-sourced, so realistically replacing that with petroleum isn't the worst alternative and overall the energy efficiency of making, transmitting, storing and then using that mains electricity would be somewhat equivalent to the ICE generator in the Note.

    Further with the Note only having a 1.5kwh battery, the financial costs are minimised (battery's are by and large the most expensive component), whilst the environmental effects of related lithium mining is reduced (compared to Full EV's).

    With pricing of about $20k for a 1-3yr old Japanese Import, I think this is the Ozbargainers way to go. It has the lowest environmental impact of mainstream cars that I can think of, but also comes at a really low cost (compared to peers), and with fuel economy on JC08 of 2.9L/100km is probably the cheapest car for running costs (esp given the EV tax guaranteeing a min $2.5/100km cost excl electricity costs).

    Plus you'd also be combating relatively consumerist behaviour in Japanese culture, whereby they offload cars after only a few years, despite they effective life being easily 10+ years. Thus the ecological impact of you buying one would effectively be the ride on the Ship here, and thats a cost that any car in Australia incurs as everything is imported now.

    P.s I'm a massive petrolhead but also have a sense of environmental awareness at heart. I love ICE's but am aware of the changing needs of society and would enjoy driving an EV for daily duties, whilst maintaining a variety of ICE's for recreational use. I'll mock up a quick cost chart comparing EV's, PHEV's, ICE's and this Note to illustrate the cost advantages shortly

    • Cluster on 08/07/2021 - 13:48
      +2

      SA resident here. Unless importing power from Victoria, there is no coal fired power here either. Renewables make up the bulk of power production on most days, with gas filling in the rest. There is dwindling demand for gas fired power so AGL is about to permanently shut down one of its turbines at Torrens Island too.

      • JDMcarfan on 08/07/2021 - 13:57

        ahh yes sorry. did glance over SA and the fact that you're also positively renewable focussed. My mistake!
        I was honestly just focussed on the East Coast states given we're majority coal, and remembered that Tassie was hydro.

        Was just highlighting (esp for OP) that coal-sourced energy has a substantial CO2 output, so if the goal is emission reduction (instead of smoother driving) then the benefit is partly negated.

  • Drakesy on 08/07/2021 - 11:41
    +4

    Does your workplace/have space for a charger?
    Otherwise i'm afraid you're probably right, unless strata gives you the opportunity then there's not a lot of options for charging.

    Personally, Local governments should be making the provision of charging infrastructure on new dwellings mandatory, or at least power outlets. I was pushing for this 3 years ago, knowing the complexes would be getting built now. The decision makers would push back saying EV mass viability was still 10+ years off. Now we're here and new complexes have no provisions built in.

    Maybe ICE for now until you move into a villa/townhouse?

  • bobbified on 08/07/2021 - 12:01
    +2

    Personally, Local governments should be making the provision of charging infrastructure on new dwellings mandatory,

    They're thinking about themselves first.. they'd rather introduce taxes on EV mileage first. Everything else can come later. Those corrupt bastards!

    • Caped Baldy on 08/07/2021 - 14:57

      Local governments don't have the funding to install charging infrastructure and then residents will complain that they don't have one in front of their house.

      EV charging infrastructure should be tackled at a higher level than local councils.

  • WreckTangle on 08/07/2021 - 12:51
    +1

    You can get chargers installed where each user is charged for use using pin numbers or swipe cards and with its own smart meter so body corp power resources arent used. These are common in North America. You’ll need to talk your body corp into installing it though, but the install company might help with this. A quick google search will find these companies in australia

  • EightImmortals on 08/07/2021 - 13:34
    +1

    "I'm in a weird time period where its a bit too late for a new ICE car and abit too early for an EV,"

    Hybrid?

    • Cluster on 08/07/2021 - 13:49
      +1

      Plug in hybrid. All the fuel excise of a petrol car, with the added penalty of 2c/km when driving on petrol or electric. Thanks Victoria. Leading the way.

      • Drakesy on 08/07/2021 - 14:11

        Yeah i remember reading the thread from a couple of weeks ago, the guy did have a point. He was effectively getting taxed twice for the same car.

        Pretty poorly thought out.

        • EightImmortals on 08/07/2021 - 16:01

          Whoopsie! Didn't know the poor bugger was a Victorian. :(

  • The GM on 08/07/2021 - 15:49

    See how you go with Strata. You can request that you will cover the full cost of the unit + installation - get 1 or 2 quotes to send through. Also, make it clear that, should you ever move, you will be taking the unit with you. It would not be impacting any other lot owners, and provided it is installed by a licensed professional, there should be no real dramas with it. Paul Maric from Car Expert has a nice write-up on his experience here.

  • brad1-8tsi on 08/07/2021 - 19:06

    I live in an apartment with a basement carpark.

    The guy in the space next to me had a charger put in for his Model X at his cost which was around $1800 for what was 14mtres in a straight line from the DB but 28m of actual conduit.

    The process here was that he sent out an email to all the tenants (8 of us) with a proposal. As I was the only adjacent space him and had a chat about where it would be mounted. Job done. Maybe other stratas are more complicated.

    Honestly, I can't see the value in the $2k outlay.

  • ialam99 on 14/08/2021 - 21:53

    See if there is a regular power point in the carpark (most have at least a couple) and see if you can spot parking spots with a close parking spot. Using just a granny charger is usually enough for most people (i can do about 80km of range each night on my granny charger which is more then enough for me). I wouldnt be investing in an expensive wall unit unless you plan to drive long distances over consequentive days.

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