Case Study: EV Charging Backbone – Level 1
Multi-Residential EV Charging Backbone with Network-Connected Resident Charge Points – 20 Nancarrow Avenue, Meadowbank
Project Overview
Future Charging Solutions was engaged to deliver an EV charging backbone for the multi-residential apartment development at 20 Nancarrow Avenue, Meadowbank, NSW. The project involved the supply, installation, commissioning and network integration of a new dedicated EV switchboard and seven resident charge points across the building's basement car park, giving apartment owners reliable, individually metered charging at their own parking bays.
The solution included a new EV distribution board, dedicated circuits and metered socket outlets, communications infrastructure and network connectivity, allowing each charge point to connect to the building's nominated EV charging network operator for usage monitoring and billing. The result is a scalable, network-ready backbone designed to support growing EV adoption across the strata community.
Key Features
Dedicated EV Charging Backbone
Installed a new dedicated EV distribution board (EVDB-B2) on Basement 02, supplied from the existing house board via a new 63A three-phase circuit breaker and 16mm² four-core-and-earth cable. Seven individual circuits were run from the new board out to seven nominated resident car spaces, creating a purpose-built backbone ready for long-term expansion.
Individually Metered Resident Charge Points
Supplied and installed seven Schneider Easy56 switched socket outlets (3-pin, 15A, 250V), one at each allocated parking bay. Each outlet is individually protected by its own dedicated RCBO and clearly labelled to correspond with the resident's parking space, ensuring safe operation and accurate, per-user charging.
Network and Communications Infrastructure
Installed dedicated communications infrastructure including a new PoE router and two additional Wi-Fi access points on separate basement levels, connected back to the existing PoE router and reticulated up to the ground-floor communications riser. This ensures every charge point stays reliably connected to the EV network operator's management platform.
Energy Metering Upgrade
Relocated the existing Rogowski energy meter within the main switch room from the incomer to the house service, ensuring accurate energy monitoring of the new EV charging load as the system scales.
Testing, Commissioning and Compliance
Completed comprehensive testing and commissioning in accordance with Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3000), including earthing integrity, insulation resistance, polarity, correct circuit connections, RCD operation and fault-loop impedance testing, with a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) issued on completion.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenge 1: Reaching the Services Riser Behind Finished Walls
The cabling needed to reach a services riser that sat behind a finished plasterboard wall, with no existing access point.
Solution: Carefully cut a neat access opening in the plasterboard to reach the riser, then reinstated the area, allowing power and communications cabling to be run cleanly without disrupting the existing car park.
Challenge 2: Working Safely Around a Live Switchboard
Relocating the existing energy meter in the main switch room meant working on live building infrastructure that the whole site relies on.
Solution: Planned and coordinated a controlled power shutdown with the building so the meter and current transformers could be relocated safely, then restored supply with minimal disruption to residents.
Challenge 3: Running the "Last Mile" Across Multiple Basement Levels
The seven charge points were spread across different basement levels, each with its own cable route and existing electrical infrastructure to work around.
Solution: Designed individual cable routes for each bay, reticulating through existing risers, cable trays and conduit wherever possible to keep runs tidy, minimise new penetrations and maintain a consistent, high-quality finish throughout the car park.
Challenge 4: Keeping Every Charge Point Connected to the Network
For network-connected charging to work, each outlet needed a continuous, reliable data connection back to the EV network operator's platform.
Solution: Installed dedicated communications cabling, a new PoE router and additional Wi-Fi access points across the basement levels, ensuring every charge point stays connected for monitoring and billing without dropouts.
Project Outcome
Future Charging Solutions successfully delivered a turnkey EV charging backbone for the Meadowbank development. The completed installation provides reliable, individually metered charging for seven resident car spaces, with secure network connectivity to the building's EV charging operator and infrastructure designed for long-term operation, easy maintenance and future expansion.
The project demonstrates Future Charging Solutions' capability to deliver end-to-end EV charging infrastructure for multi-residential strata buildings, from switchboard and electrical installation through to communications, network integration, compliance certification and handover.
Key Results:
7 resident EV charge points installed across the basement car park.
1 new dedicated EV distribution board (EVDB-B2) supplied and installed.
Dedicated communications infrastructure installed, including a new PoE router and two Wi-Fi access points for reliable network connectivity.
Existing Rogowski energy meter relocated to accurately monitor the new EV charging load.
Fully tested and commissioned in accordance with Australian Standards, with a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) issued.
52-week workmanship warranty and manufacturer warranty provided.
At Future Charging, we're dedicated to powering the future with innovative EV charging solutions. Whether you're looking for residential, commercial, or public charging infrastructure, our expert team is here to help. For any enquiries, please feel free to reach out to us.