Charging at home: Electric vehicle chargers in multi-unit residential

An electric vehicle charging station in Saskatoon. (Chad Hills/CTV News)

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers are often searching for their next charge, which isn’t always as convenient as finding the nearest gas station. While EV drivers generally rely on home charging for convenience and affordability, those living in condos or apartment buildings often face unique challenges in getting access to a power source.

The City of Saskatoon reports that as of 2023, 40 per cent of the population, or more than 123,000 people, live in multi-unit homes. For EV drivers living in multi-unit homes, having access to charging is as important as having a designated parking spot.

“Home charging is critical for convenience, but it’s also important for the cost of operating an electric vehicle. When you’re charging at [only] public charging infrastructure, the costs are higher,” says Tyler Krause, a Tesla Model 3 driver and engineer who lives in a condo in downtown Saskatoon.

For EV-driving condo owners or tenants exploring charging installation options, the process begins with a conversation with your condo board or property manager. The City of Saskatoon suggests surveying other owners and tenants to gauge interest, demand, and usage. A request for EV charging should include details on infrastructure needs, estimated costs, charging models, and installation requirements. Power supply location, parking spot availability and monthly electrical bills are a few points to investigate early in the process.

From there, the property managers can determine how to proceed with installation, and who leads the implementation. In Krause’s case, it was tenant-driven.

“A lot of people get a little nervous or intimidated by the idea of installing charging infrastructure, whether it’s in a home or a condo, because they think it’s this really expensive piece of equipment that takes a whole bunch of power. That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case,” he says. “You could do something very simple for most vehicles.”

Krause admits he had a stroke of luck with his own installation inside his condo. His parking spot sat beside the electrical panel, and with help from a skilled electrician friend, his total cost was around $200 in supplies. He notes that real-world costs can vary widely, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the building and it electrical capacity.

There are other ways for building managers to help reduce costs for tenants. Krause suggests solutions like shared charging cables or centralized charging stations for all residents.

“If a condo board or an owner of a multi-family residential building is looking to facilitate charging infrastructure in their building, one of the best things they can do is run the appropriate sized cable, put an electrical box or something that allows for a unit owner, if they choose, to install a charging outlet like a NEMA 14-50 receptacle for EV chargers,” he says. “It encourages people who want an EV to live in that building, and it doesn’t put all the financial strain on the driver.”

While EV charging may still feel like an amenity, Krause believes it is quickly becoming a necessity. Home charging in multi‑unit buildings can offer significant cost savings for drivers, provided the building is wired to support it.

“Charging at home, especially in a multi-family residential building, depending on how they’re wired, you’ll have substantial cost savings. It’s not only a convenience thing, but cost saving for the owner of the vehicle,” he adds.

As EV adoption grows across the Prairies, new tools and incentives can help offset installation expenses.

The City of Saskatoon notes that property owners can charge for using EV charging stations, creating an additional revenue stream to help offset installation and maintenance costs.

The City also highlights a few benefits of a property with EV charging as “attracting and retaining residents who own electric vehicles or who are considering EV ownership, enhancing tenant satisfaction, and potentially reducing tenant turnover. As well as providing credits towards building certification programs like LEED and BOMA Best, demonstrating environmental leadership and a commitment to sustainability."

The City’s Zero Emission Vehicle Roadmap underscores the importance of EV‑ready parking requirements, noting that retrofitting non‑EV‑ready spaces can cost 20 to 200 per cent more. The City also plans to provide guidance on EV‑ready standards for new multi‑unit buildings.

“What do you do first? Do you wait for people to buy the vehicles, then put the chargers in? Or chargers first? I think the simple answer is yes, charging to come before the mass (EV) adoption is going to happen, and we’re on route for that. When it comes to the multi-family dwelling unit, I think there’s a lot of work to do,” Krause says.

For more information about electric vehicles in multi-unit building spaces, please visit saskatoon.ca/MurbEv.