Key Takeaways
- One in three (34%) Canadian households live in a multi-unit residential building, yet apartment and condo residents make up fewer than one in five (19%) of EV drivers. For many MURB residents, the lack of at-home EV charging keeps them from switching to an EV.
- Home charging typically costs two to eight times more than public charging. Without closing this gap, Canada risks locking out many MURB households from the full savings of EV ownership.
- The barriers are structural. Building retrofits can be costly and complex, often requiring strata or condo corporation approvals.
- At the same time, planning for EV readiness is an opportunity to future-proof buildings for rising charging demand while avoiding the costs and disruptions of repeated, one-off installations.
- The guide outlines a clear, five-step process and lists available rebates to help building residents, boards, councils, and developers implement building EV-ready infrastructure with confidence.
Executive Summary
Make Your Condo EV Ready is a comprehensive guide designed to support owners and residents, boards and councils, building management teams, and developers who wish to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in existing multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).
The guide details legal requirements, best practices, available government and non-governmental resources, and a step-by-step implementation process. It also tailors its advice for British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
The resource walks building decision-makers through the exploration, planning, and execution stages of installing EV chargers while considering MURB-specific challenges and opportunities, including the role of EV energy management systems (EVEMS) in potentially reducing both upfront capital and ongoing operational costs.
EV chargers are both a practical amenity and a strategic investment that will future-proof a MURB against rising market demand. Packed with practical advice, Make Your Condo EV Ready is an indispensable resource that will help the millions of Canadians who live in condo and apartment buildings and who either drive electric today or would like to do so tomorrow.
