A Charging Divide: Struggles with EV Charging in Manufactured Home Communities
Although the November elections in the United States may have disrupted the political scene nationally, California is still committed to combating global climate change. It has set an aggressive goal that all new vehicles sold in the state must be zero-emission by 2035, making a commitment to invest $10 billion in transitioning the state to zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs). Most of the $10 billion is focused on battery electric vehicles (EVs), since hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have, despite the money invested in them, struggled to show signs of widespread adoption. California governor Gavin Newsom recently affirmed the state’s support for EV incentives going forward.
The transition to EVs is a daunting enough task, as it comprises building consumer awareness, funding programs, moving markets, and building charging infrastructure throughout all kinds of industries and housing categories. Within this sea of change are islands of manufactured home developments. While other single-family homeowners and a growing proportion of apartment and condo dwellers can charge vehicles in their driveways or designated parking spaces, many manufactured home parks (MHPs) often lack the electrical infrastructure required to provide an adequate charge overnight.
MHP Electrical Design
Why is home charging more difficult to achieve for MHP residents? To find an answer, let’s look at the history of how the limited electrical systems of MHPs developed.
Before the 1950’s, in the early days of MHPs, a typical home of any type (not just mobile homes) had a 30-amp electrical service panel that did not usually include branch circuits. In the 1950’s, 60-amp service panels were introduced. These usually have 3 or 4 branch circuits of 15 or 20 amps each. As power use has continued to expand, panels on typical homes have grown to 100 or 200 amps (or in rarer cases, even 300 or 400 amps). Current manufactured homes are usually equipped with a 60 A or 100 A electrical service panel. But a significant problem is that MHPs were typically designed with 3 to 6 homes powered by each sub-transformer; each sub-transformer can have its own circuit breaker, typically 200 or 240 amps.
Types of EV Chargers
There are three levels of EV chargers. Level 3 chargers are high-powered DC fast chargers, which leaves levels 1 and 2 as the types used for home charging. Level 1 chargers use 120 V AC at 12-16 A; Level 2 chargers are 240 V AC, usually at 40-50 A, although they can go up to 80 A. Low-power Level 2 chargers are 240 V AC, 16-20 A. Each should be installed on its own dedicated branch circuit with a breaker. Chargers, especially Level 2, can trip circuit breakers, if not on your home’s service panel, then possibly at the sub-transformer, knocking out the power for several nearby houses. Imagine having your power fail in the middle of the night because a neighbor was charging their new EV!
The same electrical capacity issue can occur with any home, but the antiquated design of MHPs exaggerates the problem. Only Level 1 chargers are safe to use before discussing EV charging with your MHP management. Level 1 chargers charge quite slowly, so they often don’t store enough power for longer trips. One suggestion we recommend is discussing installation of a Level 2 or possibly Level 3 charger at a shared location in the park. In this situation in a park with a shared charger, an EV owner planning a long trip could reserve and use the charger the previous night.
Closing the Charging Divide
California’s program called Communities in Charge provides incentives for installing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), also known as charging stations. Although individual homes are not eligible, multi-family housing sites are, at up to $8,500 per EV connection. It’s funded by the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program.
In order to give California’s $10 billion plan the best chance for success, all of the state’s residents need to have the opportunity to charge and drive modern zero-emission vehicles. Manufactured home residents are not an exception! If we’re aware of the peculiarities and weaknesses of our parks’ power systems and have park management that is willing to discuss charging options, then we can be part of California’s contribution to fighting global climate change.