Systems and methods for energy management and demand-based installation of charging stations

An energy management system (EMS), comprising:

• a communications cartridge operable to communicate with one or more high current applications (HCAs) that are electrically connected to the EMS;
• and
• one or more power cartridges, wherein each power cartridge is electrically connected to a high current application (HCA) and electrically disposed between a master breaker and a subpanel of an apartment unit, and wherein each power cartridge is configured to monitor a power consumption of an electrical system of an apartment unit to which it is electrically connected.

An energy management system (EMS), comprising:

• a communications backplate with a respective communication board operable to communicate with one or more high current applications (HCAs) that are electrically connected to the EMS;
• and
• one or more power monitoring backplates with respective monitoring boards, wherein each power board is electrically connected to a high current application (HCA) and electrically disposed between a master breaker and a subpanel of an apartment unit, and wherein each monitoring board is configured to monitor a power consumption of an electrical system of an apartment unit to which it is electrically connected.