Electric cars play a central role in reducing transport emissions and achieving climate targets. Their widespread adoption, however, requires sufficient charging facilities, including and especially at buildings containing several homes, known as multi-occupancy buildings. A study led by Fraunhofer ISI as part of the “ICT for Electromobility” technology programme examined attitudes in the housing industry and among residents towards expanding charging infrastructure.
70 per cent of homes are in multi-occupancy buildings
About 80 per cent of the electric cars registered in Germany are charged at home. If the vehicle is parked outside a private house, setting up a charging point is usually straightforward. However, around 70 per cent of Germany’s homes are in multi-occupancy buildings and are mostly rented. This makes it more difficult to provide residents with charging infrastructure, even though many people consider this a prerequisite for buying their own electric car.
To include these potential users of electric cars in multi-occupancy buildings as electromobility expands, it is important to address the challenges involved in installing charging infrastructure.
In addition to the legal framework, the study “Charging in Multi-Occupancy Buildings” presents the perspectives of the housing industry and residents and derives recommendations for action from them. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI led the study, which was produced as part of accompanying research for the BMFTR technology programme “ICT for Electromobility”.
The legal framework has become easier – but not easy enough
The project team first identified an encouraging development: the legal framework has improved. Among other changes, planning permission will no longer be required in any federal state from 2026 to install charging points. Private charging points at multi-occupancy buildings are also likely to benefit greatly from the recent reductions in network charges and electricity tax for bidirectional charging. At the same time, binding requirements for new buildings and renovations govern the installation of and preparations for charging facilities. Implementing charging infrastructure at multi-occupancy buildings nevertheless remains complex and should be simplified, according to the study’s authors.
Housing industry needs stable conditions
The housing industry is a central actor in expanding charging infrastructure. To understand its perspective, the authors interviewed four municipal housing companies and three housing cooperatives from across Germany, each managing between 3,000 and 80,000 homes.
One of the housing industry’s central concerns is uncertainty about future demand for electric cars and charging points, and the possibility of upfront expenditure on infrastructure that is not subsequently used. Grid-connection capacity also generally permits only a limited number of simultaneous charging sessions. Load management can help here, but it creates additional costs, as does the possible integration of a photovoltaic system. Charging infrastructure is often not yet financially viable for the housing industry.
Particularly in cities, there are often not enough parking spaces for all cars, and converting spaces for combustion-engine vehicles into charging spaces reserved for electric cars has the potential to create conflict because of parking pressure. It is also not always clear whether and how the cost of charging spaces can be apportioned among all parties.
At the same time, the authors emphasise that offering charging infrastructure can make a location more attractive to tenants, particularly in areas where the supply of housing exceeds demand.
Charging solutions vary in their appeal to residents
Ease of use and acceptance among residents are central to the infrastructure’s successful use. To gather their perspectives, the researchers conducted a representative survey of 1,472 residents of multi-occupancy buildings in Germany.
Of the different charging options, a private wallbox is the most attractive solution on average. Residents are also open to other options, such as shared charging in the same residential building and charging at work. Only a neighbourhood solution with no cost advantage and public charging are regarded as unattractive.
Half of the participants want to travel 100 metres or less between their home and the charging station, although about 20 per cent of respondents are also prepared to travel 500 metres or more. This opens up different possibilities for designing charging solutions.
Price is another important consideration. On average, respondents are prepared to pay just under seven euros to charge for a journey of 100 kilometres, roughly equivalent to the average household electricity tariff. Respondents pay an average of just over 11.50 euros for fuel.
Reliable funding and combinations of different charging solutions are essential
The housing industry can act as a multiplier for the expansion of charging infrastructure. Housing companies with many homes at different locations, in particular, can apply established solutions at further sites with similar characteristics, thereby using synergies and providing infrastructure cost-efficiently.
For a rapid expansion of electromobility, the study’s authors recommend that policymakers reliably support the installation of charging infrastructure for residents of multi-occupancy buildings and provide financial assistance as well. Among other benefits, this can reduce uncertainty and improve the frequently still limited financial viability of charging infrastructure. Policymakers should also take account of different charging options, such as charging points shared within a building, and quickly reduce the legal complexity further.
Dr Annegret Stephan, who led the project at Fraunhofer ISI, emphasises: “There is no one-size-fits-all solution for charging for residents of multi-occupancy buildings. Different solutions can be selected and, where appropriate, combined to expand infrastructure efficiently. Alongside local conditions, residents’ preferences are also decisive. And it should not be forgotten that a charging facility can make a rented flat in particular more attractive.”
Information about the study
The study “Charging in Multi-Occupancy Buildings” was produced by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in collaboration with Noerr Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB. It formed part of the accompanying research for the “ICT for Electromobility” technology programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).