Section II — Infrastructure
Where Your Building's Power Comes From
Electricity follows a chain from generation to your vehicle. Every link in that chain matters to multifamily electrification. Here is how it works.
Step 1
Power Generation
Electricity is generated at power plants — coal, gas, nuclear, solar, wind, or hydro — and fed into the high-voltage transmission network.
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Step 2
Transmission
High-voltage lines carry electricity across regions. These are the large towers you see crossing open land. Voltage is too high for building use at this stage.
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Step 3
Distribution
Substations step voltage down for local distribution. This is the grid infrastructure that runs through your neighbourhood — poles, underground conduit, and local transformers.
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Step 4
Utility Service
Your utility delivers power to the building's service entrance. The transformer, meter, and service capacity determine the maximum load the building can draw.
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Step 5
Building Infrastructure
The main electrical room, switchgear, risers, and panels distribute power throughout the building. This is where EV load competes with existing systems.
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Step 6
Parking Garage
Conduit runs, panel locations, and existing electrical infrastructure in the garage determine what can be installed, how quickly, and at what cost.
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Step 7
Charging Equipment
The charger itself — EVSE — converts building power to the format your vehicle accepts. Load management software coordinates multiple units to prevent overloading the building.
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Step 8
Vehicle
The onboard charger in your EV accepts power from the EVSE and manages the charge cycle. The process that started at a power plant ends in your vehicle's battery.