Load Management Systems | Apartment EV Charging Education Series | Ep 4 of 10

Apartment EV charging is quickly becoming a must-have in multi-residential buildings. But without proper planning, it can overload your building’s electrical system. That’s where load management systems (LMS) come in.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What load management systems are
• Why they are critical for apartment EV charging
• When they’re needed (and when they’re not)
• How to future-proof your building for EV adoption

What Is a Load Management System?

A Load Management System helps manage how much electricity goes to electric vehicle (EV) chargers in a building. It makes sure EV charging doesn’t overload the building’s power supply.

These systems are important for apartment complexes and commercial sites where many people share a limited power supply. Without load management, too many EVs charging at once could trip circuits or require expensive transformer upgrades.

How It Works

Every building gets a fixed amount of power from the electricity grid. Most of that energy goes to things like lights, heating, air conditioning, and appliances. What’s left over—called spare capacity—can be used to charge EVs.

A load management system monitors how much power the building is using in real time via a Current Transformer (CT). It then adjusts the rate of EV Charging depending on how much spare capacity is available.

For example, during peak hours (like 6 to 8 PM), more people are using power to cook, cool their homes, or do laundry. The LMS reduces charging speeds during this time. Later at night, when demand drops, it increases charging to make sure vehicles are fully charged by morning.

Load management systems can use a variety of communication protocols to interact with charging devices:

• Wi-Fi
• Ethernet
• Power Line Communication (PLC)
• RS485 or Modbus
• Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)

This lets the system quickly respond to changes in the building’s energy use.

Types of Load Management Systems

There are two main types:

• Hardware-based systems
  Installed onsite with a physical controller. Good for buildings without strong internet or where local control is preferred.
  
• Software-based systems
  EV Chargers are connected to the cloud rather than a central device.

Benefits of Load Management Systems for Apartments

Installing a load management system helps balance safety, convenience, and cost-efficiency in apartment EV charging.

Key advantages:

• Prevents electrical overloads and blackouts
• Maximizes use of existing infrastructure
• Supports fair access for multiple EV users
• Enables faster scaling as EV adoption increases
• Reduces or eliminates the need for costly grid upgrades

Do All Apartment Buildings Need Load Management?

Not necessarily. Load management is highly recommended in medium to large complexes, or any building planning for long-term EV uptake.

You May Not Need a Load Management System If:

• Your building only has one or two EVs with minimal charging demand
• There are shared chargers in visitor bays and excess spare capacity
• The electrical infrastructure has recently been upgraded

However, these cases are becoming less common. Most buildings will eventually need load management to scale EV charging effectively.

Future-Proofing: Why Early Planning Matters

Even if only a few residents own EVs today, demand will rise significantly in the next five years. Installing chargers without a load management strategy can lead to:

• Overloaded circuits
• Expensive emergency upgrades
• Frustrated residents
• Inefficient or unfair access to charging

A well-designed system with load management ensures scalability, cost-efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Load Management System Costs and Pricing Models

Pricing models:

• Building-wide subscription (paid by the body corporate)
• User-level subscription (paid by individual EV owners)
• Hybrid cost-sharing models

Initial setup costs vary based on building size, number of chargers, and whether software or hardware is required.

List of Load Management System Providers

Based on our work consulting with residential apartment buildings and commercial sites, we have documented a list of some of the popular load management systems.

* Pricing based on data supplied to NSW Government during 2024. Note that there can be additional charges hardware installation and setup along with additional ongoing charges for billing software (if required). As this is an emerging space, we expect providers to continue to update their prices in the market.

Common Load Management Scenarios in Apartment Buildings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is spare capacity in apartment EV charging?
Spare capacity is the unused electricity available after the building’s regular usage is accounted for. It is what powers EV chargers without exceeding load limits.

Will load management slow down my EV charging?
Only during high-demand periods. The system ensures vehicles are charged safely, typically completing full charges overnight.

Can I install a fast charger without load management?
Fast chargers require significant power. Without load management or upgrades, they can cause overloads or require costly infrastructure changes.

How much does a load management system cost?
Costs depend on system type, building size, and user volume. Subscriptions may apply to building managers or individual users.

Do I need body corporate approval to install a charger?
Yes. Most apartment buildings require strata or body corporate approval for any shared infrastructure upgrades or individual installations.

Why Load Management Is the Key to Scalable Apartment EV Charging

As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, apartment buildings need flexible, future-ready solutions. Load management systems offer a way to:

• Protect the building’s electrical system
• Meet resident demand for home charging
• Avoid costly upgrades or legal disputes
• Scale EV charging infrastructure sustainably

Get Expert Advice on Apartment EV Charging

If you’re unsure whether your building needs a load management system, contact Solar Choice, Australia’s leading independent EV charging consultant. We specialize in:

• Load management assessment
• Strata and apartment charger planning
• Tendering and product comparison
• Independent guidance for body corporates

• About
• Latest Posts

Daniel Carson

Head of EV Charging Partnerships at Solar Choice

Daniel has first hand experience assessing and designing optimal EV Charging solutions for an array of residential, apartment building and commercial applications. He is passionate about accelerating the electrification journey in Australia and enabling equitable access to EVSE.

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