A new report released by Clean Energy Canada recommends that Canada implement mandatory standards requiring EV-ready parking spaces in newly constructed apartment buildings. The report highlights this measure as essential for accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
According to the Simon Fraser University-based think tank, building codes at both provincial and federal levels should mandate that all new multi-unit residential buildings include parking spots specifically equipped for electric vehicle charging.
Currently, more than a third of EV owners living in apartment complexes lack access to home charging options, a significant contrast to just two percent among single-family homeowners.
Quebec is currently the only province mandating EV-ready infrastructure in new homes, while municipalities such as Toronto and Vancouver have independently introduced local regulations.
Provinces like Nova Scotia also provide incentives or rebates to offset costs for installing EV charging infrastructure in both new and existing buildings.
The report emphasizes that the cost of incorporating EV charging during initial construction is significantly lower—approximately three to four times less expensive—than retrofitting existing buildings.