Comprehensive and Cost-Effective EV Futureproofing for Multifamily Communities

Challenge: Understand what policies, investments and approaches can be taken to accelerate cost-effective, equitable access to EV charging in multifamily buildings across Canada.

Solution: A report that details the optimal approach to implement EV charging infrastructure in multifamily buildings at scale. Our report documents how comprehensive approaches that futureproof all parking for EV charging are typically the most cost-effective and convenient strategy on a life cycle basis. Such EV charging retrofit strategies can also enable broader building decarbonization by reserving limited electrical capacity for heat pumps and other electrification retrofits.

Impact: The report represents the first national roadmap for futureproofing multifamily buildings. It provides clear recommendations for overcoming technical and financial barriers, presents a detailed business case for investment, supports equity among residents, and recommends specific actions that governments, utilities, regulators, and lenders can take.

The Challenge and Urgency of Accelerating Accessible EV Charging in Canadian Multifamily Homes

We are amid a transition to plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). Driven by improving battery technology and rapidly reducing costs, automakers are retooling supply chains to produce EVs. Further underpinning this transition are Canada’s new Electric Vehicle Availability Standard and provincial zero emissions vehicles requirements.

It is critical that reliable, convenient and affordable EV charging be available to enable this transition. Charging at home is usually the most cost-effective and convenient solution. However, while installing EV charging in a single-family home is usually straightforward, residents in multifamily buildings face significant barriers to implementing home charging.

The experience from leading jurisdictions where EV adoption is highest (e.g. British Columbia) demonstrates that comprehensive futureproofing that provides EV charging infrastructure to all parking is the most cost-effective approach in both new construction and existing multifamily buildings. However, while such comprehensive EV futureproofing is the lowest cost approach on a life cycle basis, a variety of market failures prevent the condo and rental apartment sectors from implementing these approaches without supportive government policies and programs.

Commissioned by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network, and with the support of the Alectra GRE&T Centre and McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Dunsky developed a report that details comprehensive futureproofing approaches and innovative policies and programs to address these barriers and drive widespread adoption of EV charging in multifamily buildings.

The Business Case for a Comprehensive Approach to EV Ready Retrofits

Typically, buildings install only a few chargers at a time, which has proven inefficient and costly, lacking foresight for expansion and risking stranded assets. Our report highlights how governments and other actors can embrace a comprehensive retrofit strategy for existing buildings whereby all parking stalls are futureproofed for easy installation of EV chargers as households adopt EVs.

Our report documents the cost-effective futureproofing strategies enabled by EV Energy Management Systems (EVEMS).  Comprehensive futureproofing can realize a number of benefits, including:

• Lower life-cycle costs compared to piece-meal approaches
• Avoiding stranded assets due to limited electrical capacity in buildings
• Increased convenience for drivers based on a simple, predictable charging setup
• Allowing drivers to reap the savings from EVs by enabling lower cost at home charging
• Generating revenue for multifamily buildings that provide EV charging.
• Providing an opportunity to align and plan broader building electrification efforts.
• Increasing the property values of impacted condo units. 

Actions for Governments, Utilities and Lenders

Despite the benefits, comprehensive EV futureproofing requires a significant capital investment. Incentives and financing are necessary to help building owners overcome their high hurdle rates and lack of access to cash. Additionally, clear program structures supporting comprehensive futureproofing and standard specifications are required to support condos, building owners and industry. 

Our report recommends key actions that can be taken by different levels of government, utilities, development financial institutions and non-profits to enable this comprehensive approach.

By integrating these recommendations, governments, utilities, and stakeholders can have a significant impact on scaling EV charging in multifamily buildings and contribute to net-zero targets.

To learn more, we invite you to read the Briefing Note for Municipalities or consult the full report using the links below. You can also contact us directly at info@dunsky.com.