Maximizing ROI: Strategies for Multifamily Investments Amid Rising Costs

Electric vehicle sales reached another all-time high in the third quarter, growing 11% year-over-year from 2023 and up 5% from the second quarter of this year. This increase in EVs is part of an overall trend in the popularity of renewable energy in all forms. In the next five years, the International Energy Agency anticipates that solar and wind power will account for 96% of all new renewable energy capacity additions.

However, many EV owners living in multifamily homes are facing a shortage of available charging stations. Unlike people living in single-family homes, those living in apartments, townhomes, or condos — almost 44 million U.S. residences — can't easily install their own chargers. This limitation represents a significant barrier to widespread EV adoption.
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The Challenges to Widespread EV Charger Adoption

The biggest pain point for property owners in offering residents more EV charging stations is cost. With an initial upfront cost of $7,000-$15,000 per charger, outfitting a multifamily property with enough chargers is an expense many building owners feel they can't afford. 

Additionally, standard single-family EV chargers aren't built to support multiple EVs without straining the system. Meeting the increased power demands can require an upgrade to the entire electrical system, another expensive investment. 

In many urban areas, the electrical grid is already straining to meet demand. This is largely due to the rapid growth of AI applications and the power-hungry data centers that fuel them. However, this makes it harder to meet the increased power demands for multifamily EV charging. 

How Building Owners Can Meet Demand

Although the obstacles to meeting charger demand in multifamily family properties are significant, multifamily property owners can take steps to offset the costs. The financial benefits of upgrading their charging capacity include: 

• Recoup Energy Costs: Installing EV charging stations allows property owners to implement usage fees, which can help offset the energy costs required to power the chargers. This approach not only recoups expenses more quickly but also creates a sustainable income stream, making it easier to maintain and expand the charging infrastructure over time.
• Government incentives: State and federal governments offer tax incentives that help cover the cost of installing EV charging in apartments. These incentives can significantly reduce the upfront costs and increase the ROI by allowing investors to realize profits sooner. 
• Increased property value: Consumers care about sustainability, and their buying choices reflect that. Buildings that offer more renewable energy options, such as EV charging stations, will be more attractive to eco-conscious tenets. 
• Competitive edge:I n today’s competitive rental market, offering convenient, cost-effective EV charging can help your property stand out. Residents will appreciate the added convenience, and you’ll enjoy higher retention rates and greater resident satisfaction. Simply put, installing EV chargers could be the feature that tips the scales in your favor when prospective residents are deciding where to live.

Moving Toward Sustainability

EV charging solutions for multifamily properties provide owners with the opportunity to offer a valuable service, support renewable energy objectives, and make a profit. However, owners aren't likely to install them if it takes decades to break even on their investment. 

That’s where Orange comes in. Orange is designed to meet the needs of both residents and property managers by delivering a seamless, scalable, and cost-effective EV charging solution. Residents enjoy the convenience of charging their EVs without long waits, while property managers get the peace of mind knowing the system is reliable, easy to manage, and requires no maintenance, so they can focus on other priorities. With Orange, property owners can recoup their investment up to five times faster than traditional options, all while future-proofing their property and standing out in a competitive market.

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