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- This story was first published March 26, 2022.

As the price of gas soars, the buzz around electric vehicles is getting louder, however two electric vehicle owners in B.C. are finding significant pushback when it comes to charging their cars in their condo buildings.

In two recent cases, separate owners have taken their strata to task after their condo buildings refused to allow them to use common sockets in the parkade to charge their vehicles.

In both cases, the electric vehicle owners took the strata to a Civil Resolution Tribunal arguing they were being treated unfairly by the strata for not being allowed to use the common sockets.

However, in each case, the Tribunal sided with the strata saying neither man had any right to use the sockets, and therefore the power, to charge their vehicles.

READ MORE: Cost of new home could go up if Kelowna requires electric vehicle charges

According to a Civil Resolution Tribunal decision, Mar. 24, Ian Wong offered to pay the strata so he could charge his vehicle in his parking stall.

However, the strata refused, saying he had to use one of two electric vehicle charging stations that were located in a different parkade at the large-scale condo building.

The strata even went as far as to shut the power off to the socket next to his parking stall.

While Wong argued his treatment by the strata was "significantly unfair" the Tribunal disagreed.

In a separate Feb. 8 Tribunal decision, Ruslan Ulko was forbidden by his strata from charging his new Tesla Model Y in the parkade.

Ulko argued he'd initially been told by the strata he could charge the vehicle from the socket in the parkade near his parking stall.

However, the strata decided it was unsafe for Ulko to use the socket to charge his car, then passed a bylaw banning all-electric vehicle charging.

Ulko appealed the decision, but the Tribunal ruled in favour of the strata.

"I find the strata is not obligated to allow Mr. Ulko to charge his EV using the parkade’s existing electrical outlets," the decision says.

Ulko then asked for a dedicated electric vehicle charging station to be installed and requested the Tribunal to force the strata to install one.

However, the Tribunal refused.

The Tribunal pointed out there is nothing in the Strata Property Regulation Act that requires strata corporations to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Where Ulko is supposed to charge his $75,000 Tesla remains to be seen.

READ MORE: Canada's new electric-vehicle registrations soar in 2021 but still lag behind Europe

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