As electric vehicles (EVs) gain traction across North America, the demand for scalable and efficient charging infrastructure in multi-unit residential and commercial buildings continues to rise. Developers, property managers, and building owners are quickly realizing that making buildings EV ready is only part of the equation. The real challenge—and opportunity—lies in efficient energy management, distributing costs fairly, and planning for long-term scalability.
At Intellimeter, we believe that EV charging infrastructure must go hand-in-hand with smart energy monitoring and load management. Our Electric Vehicle Charging Management Controller (EVCMC) is designed to meet the specific needs of multi-tenanted and commercial properties, providing transparency, control, and flexibility for sustainable EV adoption.
WHY EV CHARGING NEEDS MORE THAN JUST OUTLETS
It’s easy to think of EV chargers as plug-and-play devices. For single-family homes, that is often true, but in multi-unit residential buildings, office complexes, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments, it is far more complicated. Shared electrical capacity, unpredictable usage patterns, and limited infrastructure often create bottlenecks.
Key challenges include:
- How to allocate energy fairly amongst tenants
- How to avoid overloading the building’s electrical system
- How to scale the charging infrastructure as EV adoption grows
- How to manage billing, monitoring, and reporting accurately
These issues can result in tenant disputes, inefficient energy use, and/or expensive service upgrades—unless the building is equipped with a smart energy management system.
WHAT MAKES CHARGING SMART?
Smart EV charging combines intelligent hardware, dynamic software, and real-time data insights. Unlike traditional setups that simply deliver power, a smart system adjusts to the building’s energy usage, adapts in real-time, and gives facility managers and tenants full visibility into what’s happening.
With smart charging systems, you can:
- Dynamically balance electrical loads across charge ports
- Avoid peak usage surcharges and optimize energy use
- Track individual tenant consumption for accurate billing
- Remotely monitor performance, status, and diagnostics
- Easily scale the system without overhauling the infrastructure
This approach supports cost efficiency, sustainability, and grid stability while also improving tenant satisfaction.
INTRODUCING INTELLIMETER'S EVCMC: THE SMARTER WAY TO CHARGE
The EVCMC is Intellimeter’s advanced monitoring and control system tailored specifically for EV charging in complex environments. It turns a standard EV charging setup into a comprehensive energy management system.
Main features include:
- Real-time monitoring of energy consumption at each EV charge port
- Load management to prevent overloads and optimize power distribution
- Tenant-specific billing is based on accurate energy consumption (kWh)
- Custom alerts and automated reports for efficient management
- Integration with the i-meter® Energy Analysis Software platform, offering centralized access to energy data across the building
The EVCMC provides building operators with the tools to allocate energy efficiently and responsibly while keeping operational costs under control.
SOLVING REAL CHALLENGES IN MULTI-TENANT AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Let’s take a closer look at how the EVCMC directly addresses the most common issues in multi-unit residential and commercial charging environments:
1. Fair Billing
No more estimating usage or splitting costs equally. The EVCMC records each charging session per user, enabling precise billing and preventing disputes. Residents and tenants only pay for the electricity they use.
2. Load Balancing
Older or undersized electrical infrastructure can’t always support multiple EV chargers operating at the same time. The EVCMC balances the loads dynamically, switching charge ports, and ensuring that the building remains within safe limits while maximizing charging availability.
3. Scalability
Whether you're starting with two chargers or twenty, the EVCMC makes it easy to expand. As EV adoption increases, building owners can add more stations without major electrical upgrades, thanks to smart load control.
4. Remote Monitoring and Control
Through the i-meter® platform, facility managers gain 24/7 access to real-time performance data, user reports, and system diagnostics. This proactive management ensures reliability, faster maintenance response, and an overall better user experience.
5. Support for Green Building Certifications
Energy efficiency and sustainability are increasingly important for building standards like LEED and ESG reporting. With precise submetering and data reporting, the EVCMC helps buildings earn points in energy performance, innovation, and demand management—key elements of green building certifications.
BUILT FOR THE FUTURE
As EVs become the standard mode of transportation, EV charging stations will soon be expected amenities—just like Wi-Fi or HVAC. Investing in the right infrastructure now ensures buildings are ready to support growing demand.
The EVCMC is brand-agnostic, enabling compatibility with all types of dumb EVSE (Chargers) including portable chargers. This transfers the operating costs from the building owner (HOAs) to the users, future-proofing and ensuring that your investment in EV infrastructure remains viable for years to come.
WHY CHOOSE INTELLIMETER
With over three decades of experience in energy metering and monitoring, Intellimeter understands the unique needs of residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings. Our systems are engineered to provide total visibility and control over energy consumption.
Whether you're outfitting a new development or retrofitting an existing property, our team offers end-to-end systems that include:
- Submeters for water, gas, BTU, and electricity.
- Web-enabled energy management platforms.
- Customized monitoring systems like the EVCMC for EV charging.
We’re committed to helping property managers make informed decisions, reduce operational costs, and prepare for a cleaner, smarter future.
CONCLUSION
Smart EV charging goes beyond just installing hardware—it requires strategic energy management. Intellimeter’s EVCMC system brings transparency, scalability, and intelligence to EV charging, making it an essential tool for any forward-thinking building. Ready to future-proof your property?
Discover the EVCMC and Smart Charging Solutions
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