Key Takeaways
- EV-readiness in new buildings avoids costly retrofits later, which can cost three to four times more than installing the electrical infrastructure—such as panel space, wiring, and conduit—needed to support Level 2 charging upfront.
- Across British Columbia, 33 local governments representing about 79% of the population already have some form of EV-readiness requirements, creating a patchwork of regulations that results in uneven access to home charging and higher costs and complexity across regions and housing types.
- A province-wide EV-readiness standard would reduce costs, simplify compliance, and improve access to at-home charging for residents—regardless of where they live.
Executive Summary
Buildings last for decades. As British Columbia embarks on a historic buildout of housing, decisions made today must account for how these buildings will be used and adapted to support a growing need for EV charging over their lifetimes. Failing to do so risks locking in costly and complex retrofits after construction, while also locking many British Columbians—particularly those living in multi-unit buildings and in more rural communities—out of the transition from gas to electric vehicles, a shift that’s been shown to save households in the province thousands of dollars annually.
The solution is clear: building homes EV-ready from the start, using a province-wide approach that saves time and money for builders, local governments, and future residents.
This roadmap, informed by nearly 50 interviews with local governments, developers, utilities, EV charging companies, homeowner associations, and policy and charging experts across the province, sets out a clear, step-by-step path to developing and implementing a province-wide 100% EV-readiness requirement in B.C.
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