9 OCTOBER 2023PropTechOutlookinfrastructure. Is the building governed by a condo association? Is it under contract with a property manager? Does every parking space come with a charger? Can an "on-demand" system be created for residents? Is charging an amenity that is integrated into the rental price, or can a community ownership or individual price structure be created? In each instance, the charging business model for the property can determine the location and infrastructure deployment strategy. 2. Energy Management (both for supply and costs): Energy management, or simply understanding the current consumption of electricity in a property, can be a significant, but oftentimes an overlooked hurdle. Growth in electric vehicle charging will create an increase in the consumption of electricity. Where is the best location in the property to site charging installations? Where is the physical location of the power supply in the building? While in many instances, the increase in electrical consumption can be minor, it is important to understand a baseline of power consumption. Such information creates a mode for energy infrastructure and can help support owners with other electrification needs and upgrades. 3. User Experience: Chargers need to be in safe locations, they need to be reliable and universally accessible. 4. Vendor Selection and Technology Needs: There are a growing number of companies that can provide charging equipment, but can they provide reliable construction, telecommunications, and engineering solutions? Additionally, do the operating systems meet the data or business intelligence needs of the owner? 5. Financing, Operations and Maintenance: There are several financial solutions that are becoming available. From grants and utility readiness programs or rebate packages to "charging as a service" solutions that allow for infrastructure and operations and maintenance to be bundled together and paid for like the copier in your office, and create cost effective and agile business models that fit your needs are available. Much like the diversity in property operations, electric vehicle charging requires bespoke decision making and professional guidance. Real Estate investors need to be able to have access to detailed locational analysis, awareness of energy consumption patterns and keen insight into the impacts on infrastructure and operational footprint to make the right investment in charging infrastructure. It is important for commercial and multi-unit residential real estate owners to begin such evaluations in earnest now, or they could be left behind the curve. Installation of charging infrastructure should not be done as a "one-off" activity, but thoughtfully integrated into the capital investment considerations and operating decisions of a real estate asset
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