On tenant rights, Ontario has made some early progress, Marmer said.
In a rewrite of the Condominium Act in 2018, the province improved the process for unit owners to demand EV chargers by eliminating a condo board’s ability to dismiss a request if it cannot provide a reasonable alternative.
“Almost exclusively, ‘no’ could not be the answer,” Marmer said. “This changed the conversation overnight because now boards had to start listening.”
Between the legislation and the growth in EV sales, the retrofit market is beginning to pick up, Marmer said.
FEDS TAKE CHARGE
Government support is also available. For MURBs, the federal Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) covers half of charger installation projects valued at up to $5 million, or up to $5,000 per vehicle connector.
Adams acknowledged the funding but said a simpler process would make the program more accessible. Currently, the funding is available through a request for proposals. Program administrators accept proposals during four windows each year.
“It’s like everything else with going down this pathway,” Adams said. “It all kind of needs to be done yesterday.”
Li said the ZEVIP funding is working as an incentive for companies weighing charging projects. Knowing the government is footing half the bill today — and likely will not forever — gives property managers a reason to not delay their investments, he said.
Putting a charger in every parking space today looks like a tall order, Li said, but the upgrades look more achievable in stages.
“That timeline is probably 20, 30 years,” he said. “Incrementally, I think people will be more and more willing to justify the cost.”
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