Electric Car in a Condo: Rules, Installation and Costs

The legal scenario: what the legislation says

The matter of electric vehicle chargers in condos has gained legal support in recent years. See the main milestones:

• Federal Law 14,681/2023: establishes that new residential developments must provide for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It does not apply to existing buildings, but it sets a precedent.
• Civil Code (art. 1,335): the unit owner has the right to use their garage space. Installing a charger in the private space, as long as the energy comes from the individual meter, is considered an exercise of that right.
• ABNT NBR 17019 standard: the technical standard for installing charging infrastructure in buildings, published in 2022. It defines safety and sizing requirements.
• Municipal legislation: Curitiba and some cities in Paraná already have laws that facilitate the installation of chargers in condos.

The condo cannot prohibit the installation of a charger in a private space when the resident bears all the costs and the energy comes from their individual meter. This understanding has been reinforced by recent court decisions.

Step by step: how to install the charger

1. Initial technical assessment

Before anything else, hire a specialized electrician (or the company that sells the wallbox) to assess:

• The distance from your space to the apartment's electrical panel
• The capacity of the unit's panel and main circuit breaker
• The cabling route (conduit, cable tray or exposed cable)
• The need to increase the load with Copel

2. Electrical design

For installations above 7 kW, a design signed by an electrical engineer is recommended (and required in many condos). The design must include:

• Sizing of cables and protections
• A dedicated circuit with a breaker and an RCD (residual-current device)
• A routing path that does not compromise common areas
• Compliance with NBR 17019

3. Notice to the condo

Although the law is on your side, the best approach is collaborative:

1. Formally notify the building manager of your intention to install the charger.
2. Present the electrical design signed by an engineer.
3. Demonstrate that the energy will come from your individual meter.
4. Offer to share the point with other interested residents (it reduces resistance).

4. Installation

The installation itself usually takes 1 to 3 days, depending on the complexity. Typical components:

• Wallbox: the charger itself, fixed to the wall near the space. Brands like ABB, WEG, Schneider and Brazilian EVSE makers.
• Cabling: PP or Sintenax cable, sized according to the power (minimum 6mm² for 7 kW).
• Protections: a double-pole breaker + a 30mA RCD in the unit's panel.
• Conduit: for organized cable routing, usually in a metal cable tray.

Detailed costs

Item	7 kW charger	22 kW charger
Wallbox	R$ 2,500-5,000	R$ 6,000-12,000
Electrical design	R$ 800-1,500	R$ 1,500-3,000
Cabling + materials	R$ 1,000-3,000	R$ 2,000-5,000
Labor	R$ 1,000-2,000	R$ 2,000-4,000
Load increase (Copel)	R$ 0 (usually)	R$ 0-3,000
Estimated total	R$ 5,300-11,500	R$ 11,500-27,000

The factor that varies most is the distance between the space and the electrical panel. Spaces near the panel cost up to 50% less in cabling.

Options for those who can't install at home

If installation in the condo is too expensive or politically unfeasible, there are alternatives:

• Common 220V outlet: a 220V 20A outlet in the garage (if available) charges 30-40 km per night. For light urban use, it may be enough.
• Charging at work: more and more companies offer chargers for employees.
• Charging at the mall: malls in Curitiba have AC chargers that cover weekly demand in 2-3 hours.
• Fast DC charging station: Elektro Charge in Pinhais offers 60 kW fast charging. In 30 minutes, you cover the whole week.

Condo with a shared charger

A growing trend is for the condo to install shared chargers. In this model:

• The condo invests in the infrastructure (cabling, panel, chargers)
• Energy is metered individually by the wallbox software
• Each resident pays for what they consumed, apportioned in the condo fee
• The charging spaces are shared (a rotating model)

Companies like Tupinambá and Zletric offer complete solutions for condos, including hardware, software and management. The cost per installed unit is lower than individual installation.

If you are the building manager, installing shared chargers is an investment that adds value to the condo. Buildings with EV infrastructure already sell and rent faster in Curitiba.

Tips to avoid conflicts

1. Be transparent: inform neighbors and the building manager before starting. Surprises generate resistance.
2. Present data: show that it is safe (NBR 17019 standard), legal and at no cost to the condo.
3. Invite other residents: if more people are interested, the shared project becomes more feasible and accepted.
4. Hire a qualified professional: don't do an amateur installation. Besides being dangerous, it gives arguments against you.
5. Document everything: the design, the engineer's ART (technical responsibility note), the notice to the building manager. In case of a challenge, you have backing.

While you don't have a charger at home

If you are in the installation process or evaluating the options, Elektro Charge in Pinhais handles the charging demand quickly. With 60 kW DC and a CCS2 connector, a 30-minute stop once a week keeps the car charged. And with 24-hour operation, it fits any routine — including at dawn, on the way back from work.