Comparing EV charging proposals fairly

Committees are often asked to choose between proposals that were never written to be compared. Different scopes, different assumptions, and different exclusions make the cheapest submission look decisive when it may simply be the narrowest.

Common sources of mismatch

• Number of spaces served now versus provisioned for later
• Whether switchboard works and cable pathways are included
• Metering, billing and ongoing administration arrangements
• Warranty, maintenance and fault-response obligations
• Assumed capacity, and who carries the risk if it proves optimistic

Write the brief before requesting quotes

A vendor-neutral brief that states the scope, the staging and the assumptions produces submissions that can be read side by side. It also gives the owners corporation a defensible record of how the decision was reached.

Implementation and installer coordination support exists for exactly this stage: preparing the brief, sourcing suitable installers and comparing what comes back on equal terms.

This article is general information only. It is not electrical engineering, legal or compliance advice, and it is not a substitute for a professional EV Readiness Assessment of your building.