As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to grow in popularity, the need for charging infrastructure in Alberta’s apartments and condo buildings becomes increasingly critical. A new guide published by the Pembina Institute explores how Alberta can ensure its multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) are ready.
The federal government is mandating that zero-emission vehicles make up 100 per cent of sales for all new light-duty vehicles by 2035, with interim targets of 20 per cent by 2026 and at least 60 per cent by 2030. Meanwhile, Alberta’s urban centres are witnessing a rapid increase in population density. About 30 per cent of the province’s households reside in MURBs. That figure is expected to rise as urbanization continues.
Authored by Jason Wang and Sara Vorlicek, the guide says that this growth is expected to drive up the demand for EV chargers in residential complexes, underscoring the need to ensure they are equipped with the right infrastructure.
The guide explains that an EV-ready building is one that has all the essential infrastructure, except the actual chargers, already in place. And by investing in EV-readiness during construction, property owners can significantly reduce future costs and complexities associated with retrofitting existing structures.
Municipalities play a crucial role in advancing the adoption of EV infrastructure, the guide adds. With strategic policies and programs, local governments can accelerate the transition to EV-ready buildings. These measures can include mandating new residential buildings be 100 per cent EV-ready, offering rebates to ease retrofitting costs, and developing educational initiatives for residents and property managers.
The guide also recommends that provincial and federal governments streamline building codes for EV readiness, provide financial support for retrofitting MURBs, and encourage utilities to invest in charging infrastructure and adequately respond to market demand.
The guide highlights Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Richmond, B.C., and Waterloo, Ont., that have successfully implemented EV-readiness policies. They say they are models for Alberta to emulate and ensure equitable access to clean transportation.
Explaining a building’s EV-readiness, Wang and Vorlicek write:
Property owners who invest in making their building EV-ready will, on average, see cost savings that are two to six times greater than the expenses that would be incurred by incremental upgrades and retrofits. The substantial savings are the result of minimizing the inefficiencies of multiple retrofit construction projects and spreading out the costs and risks associated with installing chargers in stages. Additionally, being EV-ready reduces the complexities that come into play when individual tenants install a charger in their assigned parking spot.
“Installing Chargers in Apartments and Condos: Policy Pathways to Make Alberta Multi-Unit Residences EV-Ready,” by Jason Wang & Sara Vorlicek. Report, Pembina Institute, July 25, 2024.
Download the full report originally published by the Pembina Institute on July 25, 2024.
Editor’s note: The report says approximately 20 per cent of Alberta households are in multi-unit residential buildings. The Pembina Institute has confirmed the correct figure is approximately 30 per cent.
