5 Reasons Why Prioritizing Home Installations Over Public Infrastructure Will Win the Day for Electric Vehicles

As electric vehicles continue to gain traction, the conversation around charging infrastructure is more critical than ever. While public charging stations are essential, incentive funds would be more effectively spent installing EV chargers in homes, particularly in multifamily housing like apartments and condos. Here’s why home-based EV charging solutions present a more sustainable and user-friendly approach.

1. Convenience and Accessibility

One of the most compelling reasons, by far, for prioritizing home EV chargers is convenience. For EV owners, the ability to charge their vehicle overnight, just like charging a phone, eliminates the need for regular trips to public charging stations. This convenience is amplified for residents of multifamily housing, who often face additional barriers such as limited access to dedicated parking spots and the need to share public charging resources. Oftentimes, much is made about how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle. Well, with a Pando Smart Outlet, it takes about 30 seconds. Residents come home, grab their charge cable, plug in, and walk away. It's truly that simple and beats hanging around at a gas station for any amount of time, no matter how short.

Home charging provides:

• Round-the-clock availability: Residents can charge their vehicles at any time without waiting for a public charger to be available.
  

• Reduced range anxiety: Knowing that a fully charged vehicle is always waiting in the parking spot significantly reduces worries about running out of power.

2. Cost Efficiency

From an economic perspective, home chargers are more cost-efficient in the long and short run. Public charging stations require substantial investment in installation, ongoing maintenance, and energy costs. While public charging is needed, most drivers will use a public station less than 10 times per year when charging is available at home or work.

By contrast, Pando Smart Outlets offer a one-time installation cost that is considerably lower per unit and does not require any ongoing maintenance. Add in the Adaptive Load Management software that scales up to 10x the number of stations at any given location and it's easy to understand how much more affordable at-home charging is. 

• Lower infrastructure costs: Installing chargers in new or existing multifamily buildings can be more streamlined and less expensive compared to the complex logistics of setting up public charging networks.
  

• Shared installation benefits: In multifamily housing, the cost of installation can be distributed among multiple residents, reducing the financial burden on any single individual or family.

3. Enhanced Property Value and Marketability

For property developers and owners, installing EV chargers in multifamily residences enhances the property's value and appeal. As EVs become more common, prospective tenants and buyers are increasingly considering the availability of charging infrastructure when making housing decisions. 

Properties equipped with EV chargers can:

• Attract and retain tenants: Residents who own or plan to own EVs will prioritize living in places with easy access to charging.
  

• Increase property value: Real estate with built-in EV charging solutions can command higher prices and rental rates.

4. Supporting Equitable Access to EVs

A focus on home charging infrastructure, particularly in multifamily housing, promotes equitable access to the benefits of electric vehicles. Lower-income households and those living in urban areas are more likely to reside in apartments or condos without easy access to private garages or driveways for charging.

This is why Pando Electric has worked so hard to keep our costs affordable. We want to ensure that tenants and property owners alike are not denied access to affordable charging simply because they reside in a multifamily building. 

• Bridge the gap: Installing chargers in multifamily buildings ensures that all residents, regardless of income level or housing type, have access to EV technology.
  

• Encourage broader adoption: By removing the barriers to charging for people living in multifamily housing, we make EV ownership feasible for a more diverse population.

5. Future-Proofing Infrastructure

Public charging networks are essential for long-distance travel and as a backup for those who cannot charge at home. However, the future of EV infrastructure is leaning towards decentralization and self-sufficiency. By investing in home charging, particularly in multifamily dwellings, we create a robust and resilient network that complements public infrastructure rather than competing with it.

At Pando Electric, we believe that there is a massive ecosystem around EVs and EV charging and that public and at-home charging are both essential parts of it. However, we also feel that too much attention has been paid to the general state of public charging while the real key to national adoption is charging at home.

• Resilience against grid overload: Distributed charging points across homes reduce the likelihood of localized grid overloads, a risk inherent in the concentration of public charging stations.
  

• Scalability: As EV adoption rates increase, scaling up home charging infrastructure is more manageable than continuously expanding public networks.

Redirecting incentive funds towards installing EV chargers in homes, especially in multifamily housing, is a strategic move that addresses convenience, cost, and environmental benefits. By empowering residents with the ability to charge their EVs at home, we lay the foundation for a more efficient and sustainable transportation future. Public charging infrastructure remains a crucial component, but the primary focus should be on creating a seamless, user-friendly home charging experience that drives widespread EV adoption.

Investing in home-based EV charging is not just a win for individual EV owners but a crucial step towards a greener, more sustainable future for all.