Why Phase Balancing is Critical for EV Charging Sites

As businesses and strata properties install more EV chargers, sites are beginning to face new challenges—most notably peak demand and phase load imbalance. The more chargers that are added, the greater the potential problems. And as EV adoption accelerates, we are now seeing first-hand the energy management issues that EVOS has been focused on solving

Most commercial sites operate on three-phase power, where the objective is to distribute demand evenly across all three phases to keep the grid stable and infrastructure efficient. In practice, this balance depends on how the site is wired and maintained. While electricians may set up circuits correctly at installation, balance often breaks down as additional chargers are added over time.

At the EVOS HQ office, we tracked live charging data across five three-phase chargers and one single-phase unit. Even with only two vehicles charging, the imbalance was clear:

• Tesla Model Y on a single-phase charger forced all demand onto Phase 3.

• A Tesla Model 3 on a three-phase charger still drew unevenly across the network.

Meanwhile, the building load—our office equipment, lifts, and air-conditioning—is already spread across the three phases. The random mix of EVs (single-phase vs. three-phase onboard chargers) and the chargers they connect to can quickly tip a site into imbalance.

The risks are significant:

• Transformer stress and switchboard overloads – leading to outages and costly upgrades.

• Reduced efficiency and local network instability.

• Escalating demand charges – since utilities bill on peak load, not average usage.

For example, a strata property might install 15 single-phase chargers (five per phase). If all lot owners on Phase A plug in at once, Phase A could overload while Phases B and C remain underutilised. Although the probability of this scenario may not seem high, it’s increasingly common as strata properties opt for single-phase chargers due to their lower upfront cost and simpler wiring. It’s a short-term saving that creates long-term problems.

To solve this challenge, EVOS has developed the Phase Load Switcher—a smart controller that dynamically reallocates demand across phases in real time.

With intelligent load balancing in place, site owners benefit from:

• Even load distribution, maximising the use of existing electrical capacity.

• Reduced peak demand, cutting down costly demand charges.

• Deferred or avoided infrastructure upgrades, lowering capital costs.

• Greater charger availability without compromising grid stability.

Put simply: businesses and strata properties can support more chargers on the same infrastructure—while spending less.

The future of EV charging isn’t just about installing hardware—it’s about smarter energy management. As fleets, workplaces, and residential complexes expand EV infrastructure, phase balancing will be the difference between scalable, affordable charging and spiralling costs.

By addressing load imbalance at the source, EVOS is enabling faster rollouts, protecting local networks, and ensuring businesses avoid unnecessary demand penalties.

The takeaway: unmanaged charging equals hidden costs. With the EVOS Phase Load Switcher, site owners can unlock the full potential of their existing infrastructure—supporting EV growth while keeping energy reliable and affordable.

If you’re looking to install EV chargers at your business or home or explore energy management solutions, reach out to our friendly sales team at sayhi@evos.com.au