This initiative aimed to support the rapid adoption of EVs in Calgary by making residential charging more accessible and affordable. The Pembina Institute worked with a network of partners and piloted an EV charger installation project accompanied by programs and resources to build capacity among various stakeholders. The initiative used a physical installation in multiple buildings as a demonstration project, resulting in direct emissions reductions. The project also served as a hub for learning and drawing tangible best practices to help inform our larger effort to drive scaling by providing education and resources to other building owners and stakeholders.

This project successfully worked with two large multi-unit residential building developers and owners in some of Alberta’s first large-scale EV charging projects (i.e., more than 10 chargers). With them and several other stakeholders, they identified the most cost-effective pathways to
installing EV chargers in both new and existing buildings, finding that focusing on the enabling infrastructure (transformers, panels, wiring, and EV energy management systems) is the most important aspect. The additional costs of this infrastructure for buildings is minimal, or even considered by some developers to be negligible (e.g., much less than the wiring costs needed to support kitchens).

EV adoption is continuing to accelerate in Alberta. The guidebooks we have developed (one still in the late stages of development) are being used to inform apartment and condo owners, policymakers, and EV services companies (engineers, electrical installers).

Given municipal support, the most important stakeholder for this project in the future would be to engage with more real estate stakeholders – more building owners, asset managers, and also other professionals like real estate agents and agencies (e.g. including EV charging availability in MLS
listings).