California’s recently announced ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035—and New York’s recent decision to follow suit—are putting pressure on multifamily property owners to install charging stations for tenants.
Owners have numerous business models and potential partners that offer multiple types of incentives, making the formation of a strategy a complex undertaking. They must consider the costs for chargers and the potential need to install additional electrical capacity costing up to six figures per apartment building.
One option is to outsource chargers to third-party vendors, but vendors may be cool to the idea because of the current lack of a critical mass of users. Even if this option is available to them, owners could still be on the hook for installing electric infrastructure to support charging stations.
Some programs have been created to address that need. Southern California Edison, for example, earmarked $436 million to install 35,000 charge ports. The program focused on disadvantaged communities with 30% of funds dedicated for multifamily homes.
While that program has proven to be popular, attracting twice as many applicants as it can serve, the utility expects to run out of these funds by the end of the year. It’s important that landlords find solutions to the charger challenge soon, with demand from renters predicted to grow significantly in coming years as declining sticker prices of some EV models make them more attractive to a wider swath of the population.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jul 17, 2019
What multifamily developers are saying about Ori Living's robotic interior system
This robotically controlled, space-saving furniture system can add more than 100 square feet of usable space to apartment units.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 17, 2019
Robotic interiors: How to make a studio apartment feel as big as a one-bedroom unit
Meet Ori Living's robotically controlled, space-saving furniture system.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 17, 2019
Cost of living: Apartment construction costs for 2019
Using RSMeans data from Gordian, here are the most recent construction costs for low-rise and mid-rise apartment buildings across 10 U.S. cities.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 15, 2019
Call for entries: Student housing roundup
We're looking for the best new "student housing" communities for our Fall Issue of Multifamily Design+Construction.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 15, 2019
7 new multifamily developments to track this summer
Ballpark living in Anaheim, Calif., and a water-friendly apartment complex in Seattle highlight the noteworthy multifamily developments to open in 2019.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 27, 2019
David Baker Architects wins 2019 HUD 'best in affordable housing' honor
The firm's Williams Terrace project is the first dedicated housing for Charleston, S.C.’s low-income seniors. It's one of four developments to win 2019 AIA/HUD housing awards.
Building Tech | Jun 26, 2019
Modular construction can deliver projects 50% faster
Modular construction can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods and drastically reshape how buildings are delivered, according to a new report from McKinsey & Co.
Design Innovation Report | Jun 25, 2019
2019 Design Innovation Report: Super labs, dream cabins, office boardwalks, façades as art
9 projects that push the limits of architectural design, space planning, and material innovation.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 25, 2019
Historic New York hospital becomes multifamily development
CetraRuddy designed the project and Delshah Capital is the developer.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 25, 2019
New Joint Center housing report foresees steady rental demand over the next decade
However, supply shortages, especially on the affordable end, are likely to push rents even higher.
