The Botanica Installs EV Chargers in 30 Bays
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- The Botanica – The 60‑apartment, eight‑level building on St Kilda Rd in Melbourne chose to install EV charging for its 100 car bays after a 2022 owner survey showed 20% expected EVs within two years.
- Gary Buck – As chairman of the owner corporation, Buck coordinated the project, consulting AEVA, engaging Jetcharge for options, and obtaining insurer approval for a compliant, fire‑risk‑reducing system.
- Jetcharge – The firm presented three options (one charger, 30‑bay capability, or a charger in every bay); the OC selected the middle option, installing cabling past every bay and using Chargefox for billing.
- Chargefox – The billing platform lets individual owners be charged for electricity (30c/kWh peak, 18c/kWh off‑peak) and a $12 monthly service fee, while the OC covers the upfront cabling cost (~$600 per apartment).
- AEVA – The Australian Electric Vehicle Association helped publicize the case, emphasizing that proactive EV‑ready planning can add value to strata properties.
- Melbourne – The city’s premium apartment market, as noted by a local estate agent, increasingly expects EV charging, with lack of infrastructure sometimes reducing sales.
- Kia – One of the two EVs owned by Gary Buck (a Kia) shares a charger with his Zeekr, illustrating the feasibility of sharing a single charger between adjacent bays.
Why it matters: The owner corporation secures a future‑proof asset that can boost property values and attract tenants, while individual owners get a reliable, billable charging solution without upfront building‑wide costs. The insurer benefits from reduced fire risk, yet the actual EV uptake remains slower than the 20% forecast, meaning fewer owners are currently using the system.
