A recent survey conducted by the Community Associations Institute (CAI) sheds light on how various communities across California are addressing the growing demand for EV charging. The findings offer valuable insights into current practices, challenges, and future plans.

Section 1: Survey Participation and Demographics

The survey gathered insights from 852 respondents, including community association board members, managers, homeowners, and developers. 

It represented a diverse mix of communities: 

• 40% were from urban settings
• 52% from suburban areas
• 12% from rural locations

The types of housing varied as well:

• 17% in single-family homes
• 23% in low-rise condominiums
• 16% in high-rise condominiums 
• 30% in mixed housing styles

The age of these communities ranged widely, with 36% being over 40 years old, indicating a mature infrastructure that could pose specific challenges for modern upgrades like EV charging.

Section 2: Availability and Importance of EV Charging Stations

The survey revealed that 38% of communities have physical space available for EV charging stations, while 30% lack space and 23% have limited availability. 

This infrastructure capacity is critical as:

• 12% of respondents deemed it “extremely important” for residents to have the ability to install EV chargers
• 21% considered it “very important” 
• 30% found it “somewhat important” 

Despite this, only 12% of communities currently offer EV charging stations, highlighting a significant gap between interest and availability.

Section 3: Challenges and Concerns

Several challenges were identified by respondents, with 

• 61% citing costs as the primary concern
• 51% mentioned low demand
• 48% highlighted building electrical capacity issues
• 46% pointed to parking space allocation as a challenge

Other concerns included metering and billing (41%), insurance (37%), maintenance (36%), safety issues (36%), and the potential fire hazard (35%). 

These concerns reflect the complexity and multi-faceted nature of integrating EV charging infrastructure into existing community settings.

Section 4: Future Plans and Interest

Despite these challenges, there is notable interest in expanding EV charging capabilities. While only 12% of communities currently offer charging stations, another 10% have plans to install them in the near future. 

Moreover, 27% expressed interest in receiving assistance or guidance on implementing these systems, indicating a willingness to overcome existing hurdles.

Conclusion:

This CAI survey underscores the growing importance of EV charging infrastructure in community associations.

While challenges exist, such as costs and technical limitations, the benefits of providing EV charging stations are clear.

As EVs become more prevalent, community managers and board members need to consider these insights and plan accordingly. To support these efforts, ProConnect Electric offers comprehensive consultation and installation services to help communities navigate the complexities of EV charger implementation. Let’s work together to ensure that our communities are ready for the electric future.

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