EV Charging

Elevate your business with EV Ready fleet plan and charging rebate

April 24, 2024

Your business save significant fuel and maintenance costs with EV fleet. The government of BC has different rebates available to support your business with fleet electrification and EV charger installation. 

To streamline and simplify the transitioning of fleets to electric vehicles, the Government of B.C. and BC Hydro have made some changes to their incentive programs recently.

Starting January 22, 2024, the Government of B.C.’s Go Electric Fleet Charger program will exclusively focus on providing rebates for EV chargers. At the same time, BC Hydro’s EV Fleet program will take on the role of supporting fleet and infrastructure planning, along with electrical infrastructure installations.

Key changes:

1. EV fleet strategy planning and infrastructure support: businesses receiving electrical service from BC Hydro will now apply for funding through our EV Fleet program for EV fleet strategy and electrical infrastructure funding. FortisBC electric customers will continue to apply for funding for fleet and infrastructure assessments through the CleanBC Go Electric Fleet Charger program.

2. Minimum fleet size requirement removed: removed the requirement for businesses to have a minimum fleet size requirement of 20 vehicles. Businesses with fleets of all sizes are now eligible to apply.

3. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicle requirement removed: the requirement for businesses to have a minimum of 20 medium- and/or heavy-duty vehicles to be eligible has been removed. If your fleet includes light-duty Class 1 vehicles such as cars, vans and SUVs, you can now apply for this funding.

4. EV charger rebates: all businesses, regardless of fleet size, can continue to apply for rebates for the purchase and installation of EV chargers through the Government of B.C.’s Go Electric Fleet Charger program.

Rebate details

1. EV Ready fleet plan

Start developing a comprehensive roadmap to transition your fleet to electric. Map out the costs and benefits, assess your fleet vehicle inventory and electrical infrastructure, and the outline steps required to get your facility ready for an electric fleet. BC Hydro provides funding to hire a fleet electrification expert to perform a fleet assessment and help identify charging requirements and electrical infrastructure needs.

The offer

  • Fleets less than 150 vehicles: A rebate of 50% of planning costs (excluding GST) up to a maximum of $10,000.
  • Fleets greater than or equal to 150: A rebate of 50% of planning costs (excluding GST) up to a maximum of $15,000.

2. Electrical infrastructure upgrades

Rebate is available to pre-approved customers for the cost of upgrading the electrical infrastructure in accordance with an approved EV Ready fleet plan.

The offer

  • Up to 50% of infrastructure costs, not including charging equipment, to a maximum of $15,000.
  • Rebate amount is determined based on a review of costs, electrification opportunities, emission savings, and the overall business case.

3. Fleet EV charging rebate

The CleanBC Go Electric Fleet Charging program is intended to support public, private, and Indigenous fleets transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). If your business is planning to install EV chargers to support EV fleets, different rebates are available depending on the type of EV chargers and the size of EV fleets. 

For example, if you purchase and install Level 2 charging stations, you are eligible for up to $2,000 in rebates to a maximum of $25,000 in total. If you purchase and install fast chargers (e.g. 20-99 kilowatts) for light-duty ZEVs, you are eligible for up to $50,000 rebate. For medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs, you can get up to $100,000 rebate for purchase and installation of fast chargers over 200 kilowatts.

Charging cost is less than 1/10 of fuel cost!

We all know the gas price has been skyrocketing across Greater Vancouver region! It costs about $150 to fill a full tank of gas. Lots of people switch to electric vehicles not only because it’s environmental-friendly, but also because the charging costs are considerably low. 

BC Hydro is offering two competitive EV fleet charging rates. 

1. Demand Transition Rate

Demand transition rate is designed specifically for EV fleets that cannon charge overnight and require charging in-route during operation hours. To avoid the peak demand costs for short-duration and large-output charging, BC Hydro does not implement Demand Charge until March 31, 2026. Customers only need to pay Basic Charge at $28.82 cents per day and Energy Charge at 9.90 cents per day. 

2. Overnight Rate

This rate is primarily for customers who leave their fleet vehicle charging overnight. This rate is composed of three parts, Basic Charge at $28.82 cents per day, Demand Charge at $13.30 per kW, and Energy Charge at 8.05 cents per day. 

Now, let’s Imagine if you use a 150kW fast charge to charge an electric vehicle with a range up to 400 km, and it only requires 30 mins to finish charging. Your cost per charge is only $6-7 dollars. When comparing the cost of fueling gas vehicles, which may costs $150 per fill-up, the charging cost is less than 1/10 of fuel cost! 

For example, if your business operates 5 gas vehicles that require refueling each week per vehicle, the monthly fuel cost totals $3,000, equating to $36,000 annually, while EV charging only costs about $3000. This translates to a potential annual savings of $30,000. Over a decade, these savings in fuel costs alone amount to $300,000. Even though the upfront costs to invest in electric vehicles and EV chargers seem substantial, you can definitely make a return on investment in the long run.

Amor Energy has recently completed the installation of 12 EV chargers at IKEA Richmond, enabling them to electrify their EV fleets, while also helped them leverage government incentives effectively to support their EV ready fleet plan, electrical infrastructure upgrade and EV charger installation. If you’re ready to elevate your business with EV fleets and chargers, we are more than happy to offer comprehensive one-stop service, from on-site assessment, EV ready fleet plan, electrical infrastructure upgrade, EV charger installation and assistance with rebate.

Interested to work with us to electrify your business? Email info@amorenergy.ca to get free assessment and quotation!
EV Charging

EV Charging Options And Rates In Condo/Apartments

April 18, 2024

Are you EV owner who lives in condo and apartment buildings? You should know about the 3 ways residents can monitor and pay for EV charging! 

Option 1: Use an existing common account

Stratas can request to add EV chargers under an existing common use area account, such as hallways, parkades, and stairwells.  If the strata chooses this option, they will need to find a way to administer the billing and payments separately from the BC Hydro account. In this case, the most common payment approaches have been time-based or a flat monthly fee. Recently, Measurement Canada has also allowed EV charging rates to be billed based on the amount of energy used (i.e. in kilowatt-hours). 

Option 2: A separate meter and account for all charging

Stratas can request a separate meter to measure the electricity use from all EV chargers, and use a separate account from an existing common use account. This option is popular among many stratas. Similar to Option 1, the strata will need to find a way to administer the costs separately from their BC Hydro account. 

Option 3: Install separate meters for individuals
 

Stratas may find it useful to allow EV owners to set up dedicated meters for their EV charging. Under this option, residents pay directly for the EV charging energy they use combined with the unit’s electricity use under the existing residential account. However, there may not be space for another meter in an electrical room. The owner has to obtain approval from the strata for the electrical work and pay for the costs of the installation.

 
Interested in installation? Book your free assessment with us today! Email info@amorenergy.ca or call 604-267-1677.
EV Charging

EV Charging Regulations For Strata

April 18, 2024

Lack of home charging infrastructure is often seen as a key barrier for consumers to adopt EVs. BC has recently introduced a new regulation that will make strata owners’ request to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations easier. 

This regulation allows owners to request the installation of charging stations and determine a timeline for strata corporations to respond. The response timeline depends on whether strata have an electrical planning report (EPR). 

  • If the strata does not have an electrical planning report and the deadline to obtain one has not passed, the strata is not required to consider the request.
  • If the strata has obtained an electrical planning report, or the deadline to obtain one has passed, council must decide whether to approve an owner’s request within 3 months after receiving the request.
  • If the strata is not required to obtain an electrical planning report (it has fewer than 5 strata lots), it must consider requests received on or after December 31, 2026.

The regulations also enable strata corporations to grant permission to an owner to exclusively use a parking stall on common property that is a common asset for as long as five years if EV charging has been installed and the installation resulted from an owner’s request for EV charging.

What is Electric Planning Report (EPR)?

This is a report to help strata councils and owners understand and assess your electrical capacity for future needs.

Whether your strata corporation’s goals include cooling, heat pumps, electric vehicle charging, or other electrical systems, your electrical planning report is important to plan for the future.

EPR and EV Ready Plan share some similarities, such as the current capacity of the electrical system, the current peak demand and spare capacity, the reports have different information and purposes.

  • An electrical planning report provides an overview of your electrical system to help you understand the current demand and plan for the future. The strata is required by law to obtain the report.
  • An EV Ready Plan focuses on EV charging onlyand includes a budget to proceed with a defined project. The EV Ready Plan is not required by law. It exists for the purpose of applying for rebates from the Clean BC – Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program to install EV charging infrastructure.
Which strata are required to obtain an EPR?
 
Developments that have fewer than five strata lots are not required to obtain an electrical planning report. Otherwise, all other strata cooperations are required.

This includescondo, townhouse, bare land, residential, commercial, hotel, industrial, and other types of strata corporations. There is no ability to waive or defer the requirement.

 
What information is on the report?
 

The electrical planning report provides a wide range of information, including, but not limited to, the current capacity of the strata corporation’s electrical system, a list of existing demands on the electrical system, peak demands of the electrical system, an estimate electrical needs for anticipated future demands. If applicable, upgrades or modifications needed to increase the current electrical capacity.

For complete details, see under Regulation 5.11(3). 

When is the deadline?

The deadline to obtain an EPR depends on where the strata development locates. 

  • December 31, 2026: located within the Capital Regional District, Fraser Valley District, and the Metro Vancouver Regional District. Strata located on islands within these districts have until December 31, 2028 if the island is accessible only by air or boat
  • December 31, 2028: in all other areas of BC

The Era of Electric Vehicles

As we are moving towards the target of 100% ZEV sold in 2035, it’s not only important to expand the public charging stations and infrastructure but also focus on home charging, where people need it the most. Lack of access to EV charging should not be the reason that prevents people from adopting electric cars, especially for those who live in strata properties. 

Home charging offers peace of mind. 

It’s convenient, time-saving, and flexible. You don’t need to wait in line at the public charging site during the holiday or long weekends; You have 24/7 access to your home charging without the uncertainty of available public charging; You can also control your charging schedule anywhere on your phone. Most importantly, you get to leave for work with a fully charged vehicle everyday!

 Interested to work with us on Electrical Planning Report? Email info@amorenergy.ca or call 604-267-1677.
EV Charging

What affects the installation cost of your EV charger?

August 17, 2023

Here are some factors that could affect the cost of installation. 

House/Townhouse

There are 3 main factors that affect the installation cost of EV charger

  • Type of residence – installation costs depend on whether you live in condo/apartment or house/townhouse. Different type of residence requires different electrical work.
  • Capacity – if your load is not enough for EV charger installation, you may need a service upgrade or load management device (DCC-12) to help you manage your load.
  • Length of installation –installation cost will depend on the distance of your EV charger from your main electrical panel. The cost will be the lowest if your electrical panel is in the garage, and the installation is within 6m of the panel.

Apartment/Workplaces

  • Installation costs depend greatly on the distance between your parking lot and the main electrical room. If your stall is at P1, and the electrical room is on P2, then the installation could be complicated and costly because electricians need to run wires through the floor.

Note: For installation in townhouses and apartments, we need to go into the main electrical room to do a load calculation for the entire complex. Owners need to ask strata for access to central electrical room and strata approval letter before installation.

Interested in installation? We provide free assessments! BOOK HERE now.
EV Charging

Simple Switch versus DCC-12

June 7, 2023

You will need a load management system if your electrical panel does not have sufficient breaker space or electricity capacity for EV charger installation. There are two types of load management systems: Load Switch and DCC-12. They are both great alternatives to costly service upgrade. 

Simple Switch is used when there is no additional breaker space in your electrical panel. It provides a simple way for homeowners to add electrical devices without impacting the existing load. It allows power sharing between two home appliances. For example, dryer and EV charger can share the same breaker slot. 

In power sharing, there is always a primary device and secondary device. In this case, dryer will be a primary device. When you are using the dryer, EV charger will be automatically shut off. After you are done with the dryer, the power will relocate back to the EV charger automatically after a certain delay. Load Switch will constantly monitor energy consumption from electrical appliances, when the threshold is achieved, it will switch off the appliance that has a lower priority. 

DCC-12 is designed for electrical panels at full capacity. Similar to Simple Switch, it does not affect the load capacity. It provides real time reading of the total power consumption. When the overall consumption reaches 80% of the main breaker circuit, it will temporarily shut off the EV charger. However, once the power consumption is less than 80% of its capacity for more than 15 minutes, it will automatically re-start the EV charger. It is recommended when the panel is at full capacity but still has breaker slots available. 

Starting from December 2023, BC Hydro will be offering $200 rebate to homeowners who need load management devices for EV charger installation. On top of $350 EV charger rebate, you may be eligible for total $550 rebate! For more information, visit BC Hydro EV charger rebate program.

Interested in EV charger installation?

Contact us for free assessment and quote today!

Call 604-267-1677 or email info@amorenergy.ca 

EV Charging

What is the difference between EV charging levels?

July 8, 2022

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular in recent years, it is important to understand the concept of different charging levels so that you can get a more efficient charging experience. There are four different ways to charge your electric vehicles (EVs): level 1, 2 and 3, and the well-known SuperCharger.

1. Level 1
  • Uses a connection to a standard 120-volt outlet
  • Charges about 8 km per hour
  • Takes 60+ hours to fully charge a battery EV (6 to 12 hours for a plug-in hybrid)
  • All EVs come with a kit, also referred to as a mobile charger, used mostly at home
  • Maximum charging power is 15 Amps x 80% x 120 Volts = 1.4 kW
  • The slowest way to charge
  • Depending on the current battery charge and temperature, a 10-hour overnight charge could add over 75 km of range

2. Level 2

  • Uses a connection to a 240-volt outlet, also used by ovens and dryers
  • Could charge up to 50km per hour
  • Takes 6 to 14 hours to fully charge a battery EV (4 to 8 hours for a plug-in hybrid)
  • Used in homes, businesses, and common areas
  • Maximum charging power varies from about 7 kW to 11 kW or more
  • These chargers use either a J1772 plug or a Tesla plug
  • Depending on current battery charge and temperature, a 5-hour charge at 7 kW could add over 190 km of range

3. Fast charger (Level 3)

  • Uses a direct current connection to a car battery
  • Charges 100 km per 30 minutes or 80% charge at 50 kW (varies by vehicle type)
  • Takes an hour to 2 hours to fully charge a battery EV (15 minutes to 3 hours for a plug-in hybrid)
  • Used mostly in businesses and common areas
  • There are two types of plugs for DCFC charging: CCS and CHAdeMO

4. Supercharge

  • Superchargers are just Tesla’s proprietary version of DCFC chargers
  • Maximum charging power is up to 72, 150, 250 kW
  • Actual charging power/speed depends on the battery state of charge, temperature and maximum power supported by the EV
  • Similar speed to level 3 charger

Need to install an EV charger? Amor Energy will be your expert. 

Call us at 604-267-1677 or info@amorenergy.ca 

EV Charging

What are the benefits of investing in commercial EV chargers?

May 5, 2022

Did you know that the city of Vancouver has proposed a 10,000 annual fee for gas stations and parking lots that don’t have EV chargers, starting in 2025?

Many business owners consider adding EV charging facilities to their properties as the EV wave arrives. So, what are the benefits of having commercial chargers?

1. Attract more customers

Imagine this – you own a small motel. if your competitor across the street just installed an EV charger, who will win more customers? EV drivers are more likely to choose theirs, paying just a few bucks more to get their vehicle charged! It also helps to increase customer satisfaction and reputation by going green!

2. Increase property value

Even if you are selling your property – you will get more money when there are EV chargers! Investors and realtors are considering EV facilities when evaluating the property value!

3. ROI in 5 years – and even shorter with the Carbon Credit program!

Let us do the math for you – If you set your fee at $3/hour/car, you will earn more than $10,000 in revenue per year, per charger. With the installation cost of $30,000~$60,000, the ROI is in 5 years! Now, you also have BC Hydro’s $5000 rebate (limited time) and carbon credit program for commercial chargers (contact us for details).

Energy Storage EV Charging

What Determines the Future of Bi-directional Charging

March 2, 2022

German carmaker Volkswagen recently announced an ambitious plan to pull 350 kilowatts of power from electric vehicle batteries, putting it on par with electric energy companies. Volkswagen’s move marks not only the mainstreaming of electric vehicles but also a potential change in the EV business model. Bi-directional charging may become an important feature in evaluating the suitability of electric vehicles.

So, what is bidirectional charging?

The principle

When charging an electric car, alternating current (AC) from the grid is converted to direct current (DC), which is stored in the car battery. This is usually done by an onboard converter in the car. If the energy stored in an EV’s battery is to be used to power a house or send electricity back to the grid, the DC power stored in the car must be extracted and then converted back to AC.

Two-way charging piles can make this energy conversion possible and store energy for emergencies or add solar panels to become a member of the home energy ecosystem.

What is the future?

One of the necessary foundations for the widespread use of bidirectional charging stations is industry regulation and collaboration. While regulations in the industry won’t change overnight, the early success of bi-directional charger adoption on a global scale is encouraging. According to industry reports, there are many important projects focusing on this technology going on around the world.

More than half of these projects are in Europe, such as Octopus Energy Powerloop in the UK. In this program, customers can sign up to install bi-directional chargers and be eligible for discounts and monthly rebates for putting surplus electricity back into the grid.

The outlook for North America is also positive.

Building a two-pronged model of solar and stationary battery storage is now the ground-breaking new energy technology. The solar industry has largely driven regulations for back-feeding power to the grid, and the battery storage industry has pushed regulations for back-feeding power to homes from batteries.

Once the regulations are settled, the final element is the hardware that makes them work together. Chargers from manufacturers such as Princeton Power already have this capability. Bi-directional chargers like Wallbox Quasar, which will be launched this year, are the first to receive UL certification.

However, these early bi-directional chargers were bulky and expensive, so they are not consumer products. The future direction is smaller and more affordable products, tailored for different regions and markets.

What determines the future?
  • Car and battery manufacturers need to develop more products capable of bidirectional charging
  • The charging and energy industries require stringent regulations to provide standardized business models
  • Charger manufacturers need to develop safer, easier-to-operate bidirectional charging technology
EV Charging

Five-Step Instruction to Apply for BC Hydro’s Charger Rebate

February 15, 2022

Get up to $350 for single-family homes (house, duplex and townhouse) for EV charging! Here are the details of the rebate offer.

Eligibility
Eligible costs
Amor Energy will provide all the documents and help you apply for the rebate after the installation. Reference and link to apply for the rebate: https://electricvehicles.bchydro.com/incentives/charger-rebates

Having trouble in the application process? Here are 5 steps when you apply on BC Hydro’s website. 

  1. Applicant Information

    Rebate Application - Step 1

  2. Property InformationRebate Application - Step 2
  3. Charger InformationRebate Application - Step 3
  4. Payment InformationRebate Application - Step 4
  5. Review & Submit
Would like to get the $350 today? Contact us for free assessments!
Solar Energy

What are the six benefits of Solar Energy System?

February 2, 2022

Solar energy systems convert sunlight into electricity and supply energy consumption for your home. As solar systems are more and more popular, what are their benefits?

1. Rate of Return (from actual energy savings & sell back)

Did you know that solar panels generate electricity even when it is not sunny? As long as it is not raining, they are always generating electricity! With the annual electricity and gas price increasing, solar systems help you to reduce the bills! BC Hydro’s Net Metering program helps you to generate revenue from your solar energy system.

2. Reduce Carbon Footprint

A 5-kW solar system can save 2.306 tons of CO2 per year, which equals 96 trees on the earth! A 5-kW system also helps to reduce GHG by 324 square meters per year.

3. Enhance House Cooling

Houses with solar panels can be extra cool during the summer because they help absorb some of the heat.

4. Dependable & Reliable

Solar panels usually don’t require much maintenance, you just need to clean them one or two times a year. The product warranty is 25 years, which is very reliable.

5. Storage System

When it is connected to an energy storage system, a solar system can be used as a backup power source in a power outrage. Energy storage system helps to store the extra electricity generated from solar systems and supply the daily energy use in your houses, such as EV charging, dryers and ranges.

6. Government Rebates & Tax Credits

With the current Greener Home Program, you can get up to $5000 for your solar energy system! Amor Energy provides one-stop service for your solar system needs, including rebate application and discounted Energy Advisor services, contact us today and let us serve you!

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