Brf Farmen is one of Sweden’s largest housing cooperatives with its 866 apartments and around 50 rental premises. The cooperative includes a large parking area with approximately 1,100 parking spaces, mostly outdoors but also including cold garages and carports. When the cooperative decided to take the step towards offering large-scale electric vehicle charging, the choice fell on Waybler as the supplier of both hardware and software.
Brf Farmen has long been at the forefront of electrifying its parking areas; all spaces have been equipped with engine heater poles for quite some time. The cooperative also invests in energy efficiency, currently working on installing IMD (Common Electricity). The purpose of IMD includes the ability to install solar panels to further utilize energy in a sustainable and economically advantageous way.
Transition to Electric Vehicle Charging
A few years ago, Brf Farmen began gradually offering electric vehicle charging as a complement to the engine heating services. At that time, they chose to install around 60 electric vehicle charging spots through their electricity company but quickly found that the functionality of the installed charging boxes was too limited to establish a scalable process for managing a larger number of parking spaces.
The work to find a new, suitable supplier commenced, and a thorough analysis of their needs revealed that a well-proven and efficient load and phase balancing, combined with simple administration, was at the top of the list of requirements. After surveying the market, which offered many qualified suppliers, the choice eventually fell on Waybler.
Installation of Waybler’s Charging System
Currently, the cooperative has installed a total of 353 charging spots, all of which are active and operational. The process, from presenting candidates for the task to completing the installation, took approximately 1.5 years. Due to its size, the cooperative has extensive experience in procuring complex services with a significant impact, and the process of selecting an electric vehicle charging provider, along with subsequent installation and adjustments, was perceived as relatively straightforward despite the scope and complexity of the installation.
The contact with Waybler throughout the process has been excellent, from prospecting and quoting to training in the administrative aspects of the portal. What truly stands out, according to the cooperative, is Waybler’s support, which has been proactive during the startup phase and has provided a sense of security through its local presence. The proactivity, in particular, is highlighted as especially positive. A cooperative of Brf Farmen’s size has no means to monitor electric vehicle charging throughout all hours of the day, so receiving continuous status reports about any necessary adjustments during the initial period has been helpful.
Aim for an Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Cooperative
Brf Farmen continues to develop energy efficiency and sustainability. Ongoing work with IMD (Common Electricity) is a crucial component for future energy optimization. The goal is an even more sustainable and economically efficient energy usage for the entire cooperative. The next step for Brf Farmen is to install solar panels to further increase its self-sufficiency in electricity.
The plan is to create a comprehensive energy infrastructure where electric vehicle charging integrates with upcoming solar installations. By using self-produced electricity from the solar panels, electric vehicle charging becomes sustainable and, above all, cost-effective for the cooperative and its members.
Here are some valuable advice from Brf Farmen to other cooperatives planning to install electric vehicle charging, both on a larger and smaller scale:
References – Ask the suppliers you contact to provide contact information for references of similar caliber to yours. Alternatively, reach out to other cooperatives that have installed electric vehicle charging and discuss their experiences regarding both installation and operation. That’s where you’ll hear the real truth about whether the supplier meets expectations over time.
Clear Plan – Be clear about what you actually want already at the stage where you request quotations. If you are clear about your requirements and preferences, it becomes easier for the supplier to tailor a solution that matches your needs. This saves time and unnecessary costs.
Comprehensive Solution – Ensure that the supplier can provide you with a comprehensive solution for both billing, administration, and app applications. It will save you a lot of time and headaches regardless of the size of the cooperative.
Professional Electricians – Make sure the supplier offers an installation with knowledgeable and certified electricians. In our case, Waybler completed the installation with AC DC Elektro, and they performed the installation brilliantly. Having true professionals handle the installation creates a sense of security for both the present and the future.
