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
| Sep 7, 2012
Related Companies and unions agree to wage-cutting deal on Hudson Yards
The Related Companies has won wage-cutting agreements with four dozen construction unions in its efforts to save money on the $15 billion development of Hudson Yards.
| Sep 7, 2012
Lorain, Ohio considers halting downtown construction while it works out development plan
Construction would stop downtown for six months while Lorain, Ohio officials consider a development plan for the city, according to new legislation.
| Sep 7, 2012
Business, labor groups push for easing of California’s Environmental Quality Act
Business and labor groups have combined forces to push for a change to California's Environmental Quality Act, specifically its complex review process for building and construction projects.
| Sep 7, 2012
Twenty years later, Florida contractors cite Hurricane Andrew as construction game-changer
Remarking on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated south Florida; contractors are noting the storm’s impact on their industry—including the state’s adoption of tougher building codes.
| Sep 7, 2012
At risk for nine types of natural disasters, Texas trails most coastal states on building codes
Texas has the most diverse weather risk in the country, with exposure to nine different types of natural disasters.
| Aug 30, 2012
OSHA plans new crane-safety standards for demolition and underground work
The new rule will streamline OSHA’s standards by eliminating the separate cranes and derricks standard currently used for underground and demolition work.
| Aug 30, 2012
Federal government cancels defense contracts worth $2.15 billion
This action may foreshadow federal spending cuts scheduled for year's end if Congress takes no action on the federal budget.
| Aug 30, 2012
Public comment period is open for CRRC-1 standard
The CRRC-1 standard covers specimen preparation and test methods for measuring the initial and aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance of roofing products.
| Aug 30, 2012
LEED system's footprint reaches 2 billion sf, with 7 billion sf in the pipeline
About 7 billion more sf of commercial space is expected in the pipeline.
| Aug 30, 2012
Georgia drops LEED wood source standard on state projects
Currently, LEED green building standards only accept timber products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
