By Chris Kaiser

When I wrote the post a few weeks ago titled "Turns out you do really need DC Fast Charging" it was in response to an article on InsideEVstitled "You don't really need DC Fast Charging" and you can read all about it but one of the premise of InsideEV's was that there's too much focus on DCFC to the detriment of L2, but I think that's hogwash and I'll use the example of Apartment complexes to demonstrate.

First, let's get this out of the way: DCFC needs more financial support (on a strict $ basis) because:

1) DCFC is just that much more expensive to install compared to L2 and I've covered that extensively but also

2) The business case of installing Public DCFC is totally different than the business case of installing L2 at an apartment complex. The former is a speculative for-profit business, and the latter IS AN AMENITY.

Webster defines "Amenity" as Something that helps to provide comfort, convenience, or enjoyment.

And if you don't think an EV driver views an L2 charger in her apartment parking deck as an amenity, well then please stop reading and head back to TikTok. What are examples of amenities at Apartments?

• Swimming Pool
• BBQ Area
• Fitness Rooms
• Dog Parks
• Laundry Rooms
• Media Rooms
• ETC

And how many of the above amenities do you think the owners ask, "What's the ROI on the swimming pool?" or "How much will the Federal government pay for my Dog Park?" THEY DON'T! Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE AMENITIES THAT ENTICE RENTERS TO RENT THERE. This is obvious and not a hard concept and yet it seems the EV Charging industry ties themselves in knots around this topic.

My new sales question for apartment ownership groups is "Do you view EV Charging as an amenity?" and if the answer is "No" I say, "Thanks, go back to TikTok." (I'm joking but that's what I think).

Sona Energy Solutions recently installed our 9th apartment L2 EV Charging project and it was the first one where the owner of the development was rushed because she was losing tenants because - while they had done Make Ready for L2 charging - she hadn't found a vendor that could solve her EV Charging problems yet. So not only did we design and install the solution, but we're also helping her manage the chargers (as part of an O&M contract). She needed chargers installed BECAUSE SHE REALIZED THEY ARE A NECESSARY AMENITY.

So, we've established EV Charging is an amenity and therefore does not need the same financial support as DCFC (which is a speculative business) but now that we've established this, we can talk about the financial support that is out there for EV Charging at Apartments:

1) There are companies like Sona Energy Solutions or 3V Infrastructure or Tesla Energy (yes, I think they're back doing this after Elon fired everyone in March and then realized that was silly) that will provide EV Charging for these communities at zero cost (yes, zero) and this is done through a variety of ways that involve incentives and/or capturing the revenue of the drivers. This obviously doesn't work in all demographic regions, but it works in more areas than one would think and will only increase as EV adoption increases.

2) Even if a third party won't provide a free EV Charging system there are ways to reduce the cost of this amenity like:

• A Federal tax credit if the community is in the right area and uses prevailing wage
• Many utilities have EV Charging incentives for hardware and installation ESPECIALLY for multi-family
• State grants
• The amenity will produce cash flow to help pay for the cost of installation! (if configured by someone who knows what they're doing like your truly).

What other amenities in an apartment complex has this many financial options with this much government support? To the public and media who aren't in the field selling and installing EV Charging systems, I'm sure it feels as if DCFC gets more $ and attention but understand there are good reasons for that. We design and install both L2 and DCFC at Sona Energy for apartments and retailers and businesses and we approach each type of project and each customer and business type and use case as separate problems to solve.

L2 charging at apartments isn't a big deal just like installing a pool at an apartment complex isn't a big deal. Ownership just must want it and view it as a necessary amenity. It's that easy.