The demand is real and it’s rising. In the NMHC and Grace Hill 2024 Renter Preferences Survey, nearly half of renters said they either intend to or are considering making their next vehicle electric or plug-in hybrid. Yet among renters who already drive one, only about a quarter were even somewhat satisfied with their on-site charging setup, and the largest group reported their community had no chargers at all.
In other words, residents want charging, and most current setups are leaving them wanting. That gap is the opportunity, but only if you give residents what they’re actually looking for. Here’s what that is.
Charging That Actually Works
Above everything else, residents want a charger that works every time they plug in. A station that’s down when someone gets home from work isn’t a minor annoyance. It’s the thing they’ll remember and mention when a neighbor asks how they like living there.
Reliability is the whole experience for a resident, which is why it should be the first thing you look for in any charging setup. Chargers that are monitored and maintained so they stay online matter far more than any feature on a spec sheet.
Enough Chargers, and Fair Access
One charger shared by a building full of EV drivers turns a perk into a source of friction. Residents want to know they can count on access when they need it, not circle the lot hoping a spot is open. Good EV charging management software helps here, letting you manage access fairly, see how the chargers are actually being used, and plan for how many you’ll really need as demand grows.
Related: Common Mistakes Fleets Make When Planning Charging
Simple, Everyday Ease of Use
Charging at home should be effortless. Residents don’t want to wrestle with a confusing process every night. They want to pull in, plug in, and know it’s working. The easier and more consistent the experience, the more residents will value it, and the less they’ll be knocking on the office door with questions.
Transparency They Can Trust
Residents want to understand what they’re paying for. Clear, easy-to-follow billing and visibility into their own usage build trust, while a murky setup breeds frustration. A charging platform that shows residents their usage in a straightforward way goes a long way toward keeping everyone comfortable and confident in the amenity.
Someone Who Keeps It Running
Chargers are physical equipment, and equipment eventually needs attention. What residents really want is the confidence that if something goes wrong, it’ll be handled quickly. That’s why proactive monitoring, preventive maintenance, and responsive support, backed by help that’s available around the clock, matter so much.
A well-supported system keeps a small hiccup from turning into weeks of a dead charger and a string of unhappy residents.
Room to Grow
The handful of EV drivers in your building today will be a larger group tomorrow. Residents, and prospective residents, notice when a property is ready for that future. Choosing a setup that can add capacity over time, without tearing everything up to do it, means the amenity keeps pace with demand instead of falling behind it.
Related: What to Look for in an EV Charging Partner
Why It’s Worth Getting Right
Put simply, reliable and easy-to-use charging helps you attract and keep the residents who want it, and it makes your property more competitive as EV ownership climbs. It’s the kind of amenity that can boost both property value and resident satisfaction when it’s done well.
OpConnect designs its multi-family charging around exactly that: dependable, easy-to-manage charging, built on American-made hardware from Portland, Oregon, and backed by the support that keeps it running.
If you’re weighing EV charging for your building, you can see how OpConnect approaches it on its multi-family solutions page.
Source & Further Reading:
- National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and Grace Hill – 2024 Renter Preferences Survey Report: https://www.nmhc.org/news/press-release/2023/national-multifamily-housing-council-nmhc-and-grace-hill-2024-renter-preferences-survey-report-reveals-renters-evolving-priorities/