90-Unit Condo EV Charging Case Study
Executive Synopsis
Retrofitting an existing condominium for EV charging is rarely straightforward, especially when original drawings are incomplete and utility capacity is uncertain. This case study documents how a 90-unit Chicago condominium progressed from a single owner’s EV charger request to a fully permitted, make-ready charging infrastructure serving all privately deeded parking spaces in approximately 14 months. The project required new as-built documentation, a stamped electrical load analysis, coordination with installers, engineers, legal counsel, and municipal reviewers, and clear board-level governance. The result is a scalable, equitable EV charging framework funded from reserves and designed to support future owner installations without utility service upgrades or special assessments.
Abstract
This case study chronicles the process that led to the formation of Ready EV Now and documents an end-to-end retrofit of an existing urban condominium to support EV charging across all privately deeded parking spaces.
Starting with no EV-ready provisions and limited documentation, the project progressed from an individual owner request to a fully permitted, constructed, and governed charging system over a 14-month period. Deliverables included permanent electrical infrastructure, an EV charging resolution incorporated into the association’s governing documents, executed service and installation agreements, and a standardized framework for managing future EV charger requests.
While the timeline reflects the learning curve associated with a first-of-its-kind retrofit, subsequent projects can be significantly accelerated through early scoping, complete documentation, and proactive coordination among engineering, legal, and municipal stakeholders.
Background
The property is a 90-unit condominium located in the West Loop Gate neighborhood of Chicago with ground-floor commercial space. The parking facility consists of 92 privately deeded spaces distributed across three distinct areas: a heated basement garage beneath the building, a lower parking deck, and an upper parking deck.
The original structure was constructed in 1918 as an industrial building and converted in 2000 into a heavy-timber loft condominium. The adjacent parking deck was added as part of that conversion. The main electrical room is located at one corner of the basement garage. At the outset of the project, the property had no public, metered, or designated EV charging spaces.
The Initial Request
Month 0 began in late 2024, when I submitted a formal request to install an EV charger following my decision to purchase an electric vehicle. Prior to submitting the request, I conducted preliminary research on technical feasibility and governance considerations, including recent Illinois legislation that limits a condominium association’s ability to deny reasonable EV charging requests when owners are willing to fund the installation.
At that point, I faced a strategic choice informed by my background in architecture and construction. I could pursue approval for a single charger serving my own parking space or advocate for a building-wide approach that could equitably serve all current and future owners. I elected to pursue the community-based approach while formally submitting my individual charger request to initiate the statutory review timeline.
In addition to requesting approval for a single charger, I volunteered at my own expense to perform a building-wide feasibility assessment to determine whether shared make-ready infrastructure could be developed for all parking space owners. I requested that the topic be placed on the agenda for the next scheduled board meeting.
The property manager added the item to the agenda for the next quarterly board meeting. During that meeting, the board expressed strong interest in a comprehensive assessment. One board member noted they were previously unaware of the updated Illinois EV charging statute, underscoring the need for a proactive and structured response rather than incremental owner-by-owner decisions.
Information Gathering and Assessment
Following board authorization, I initiated a detailed assessment of existing conditions. Multiple EV charging service providers and installation contractors were invited on site to review the garages and electrical infrastructure. Each visit required coordination with the property manager and on-site building engineer to access the main electrical room. Comprehensive photographic documentation of all parking areas and electrical equipment was collected.Early in the process, substantial documentation gaps were identified.
Figure 1. As-built architectural floor plan of garage.
While partial architectural as-built drawings existed for the basement garage, no as-built drawings were available for the parking decks, and no electrical as-builts existed for any portion of the property. Attempts to recover archived drawings from the original architectural firm were unsuccessful due to record retention limits and loss of older files. To establish a reliable baseline, I prepared new scaled architectural drawings of all parking areas, including identification of each deeded parking space. I then performed a physical trace of the existing electrical distribution and developed a preliminary one-line diagram. To formalize this work, I retained a licensed electrical engineer to conduct a site survey, prepare stamped electrical as-built drawings, and perform a load analysis of the electrical service serving the common parking areas. The engineering scope, personally funded at a cost of $2,250, was intentionally structured to avoid any modification to the building’s existing utility service.
Figure 2. Stamped as-built electrical one-line diagram.
Historical electrical demand data was required to complete the load analysis. Working with a board member, three years of data were retrieved from the association’s common meter account. Obtaining a full five-year dataset proved challenging due to meter replacements and account number changes. After extensive coordination with utility representatives, the necessary demand history was ultimately assembled.
Installer Selection
With architectural drawings, electrical as-builts, and a verified load calculation in hand, installation and service providers were re-engaged for formal proposals. Several firms were eliminated due to incomplete responses or inconsistent follow-through. One contractor distinguished itself by demonstrating a clear understanding of condominium governance, phased implementation, and long-term operational considerations.
The shortlisted contractor, InChargeE, submitted the most complete and competitively priced proposal and demonstrated a collaborative approach aligned with the association’s approval cycles. While contractor endorsements are not typically published, this project represents a formative experience that led directly to the creation of Ready EV Now. In this context, it is appropriate to acknowledge the contractor’s specialized experience with condominium EV charging installations and their ability to navigate the unique constraints of multi-family properties.
Following iterative refinement of scope, assumptions, and several additional site visits, a final proposal was prepared for board consideration.
Board Presentation and Approval
Approximately five months after the initial request, the EV infrastructure proposal returned to the board agenda. I presented the technical findings, recommended approach, cost structure, and governance implications for discussion. Formal authorization required a subsequent board meeting.
Figure 3. Introduction slide of board presentation.
At Month 8, the board approved the make-ready infrastructure project by majority vote. The project was funded entirely from existing garage reserves, avoiding the need for a special assessment. Concurrently, the board approved an EV charging resolution establishing rules, processes, and owner responsibilities. Full integration of the resolution followed final construction approval.
Contracting and Payment
Following board approval, contract negotiations commenced. Over approximately one month, the association’s legal counsel reviewed and revised the construction agreement and prepared a rider to address risk allocation and long-term responsibilities.
Initial mobilization was delayed by the association’s transition to a new property management firm, which temporarily disrupted payment processing. Approximately one month after contract execution, the contractor confirmed receipt of the initial payment and scheduled work.
Plans and Permits
The contractor’s first task was preparation of permit drawings for the new electrical infrastructure. Early submissions required revision after City of Chicago municipal reviewers clarified that make-ready infrastructure and individual EV chargers require separate permits.
After revisions, the drawings were approved within approximately two weeks, allowing construction to proceed.
Figure 4. EV Zone Plan in permit set.
Service Agreements and Governance
In parallel with permitting and construction, service agreements were finalized with association counsel. These included amendments to the EV Charging Rules, agreements with the charging equipment and network provider, and an infrastructure maintenance agreement with the installer. Owner-level agreements governing individual charger installations were also reviewed. The board approved these documents approximately 11 months after the initial request.
Construction
Construction began with a site coordination meeting to address access, staging, and safety. Electrical work commenced the following week, beginning with junction box placement, followed by conduit installation and primary feeder wiring. Two new distribution panels were installed to serve the upper and lower parking areas.
Each junction box was labeled by zone and assigned parking spaces. Typically, one circuit served four spaces, with load managed through networked smart charging technology to prevent overload conditions.
Figure 5. EV Zones breaker panel.
Figure 6. Single EV Zone junction box.
Figure 7. Exterior mounted EV charger.
Infrastructure Cutover
Activating the infrastructure required a coordinated power shutdown affecting elevators and common area lighting. Due to concerns regarding aging elevator equipment, the board required the elevator service contractor to be present during the shutdown. Scheduling was further delayed by advance payment requirements for elevator service. Once coordination was complete, the cutover was scheduled.
Owner Communications and Information Session
At the board’s request, informational materials were developed, including an EV charging FAQ, application forms, and account setup guidance. These materials were posted to the association website.
The installation contractor and charging service provider plan to host an on-site information booth to answer resident questions and explain enrollment and usage expectations.
EV Charging Service Activation
As of this publication date, final service activation is pending. This case study will be updated following commissioning and initial operational experience.
