This guest blog post from Communities in Charge highlights opportunities for installing electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in multifamily housing which aligns with our mission to advance energy solutions that benefit vulnerable communities.
While Multifamily Energy Savings does not directly incentivize EV technology installation, energy efficiency and EV infrastructure are closely connected. Energy efficiency programs like ours can complement EV infrastructure incentives by reducing overall energy demand and helping properties manage capacity.
Incentives for EV chargers where communities live and gather
What is Communities in Charge?
Communities in Charge is California’s light-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging incentive project funded by the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program. The program accelerates EV accessibility by catalyzing new markets and deploying EV charging stations to cut emissions, boost the economy, and benefit disadvantaged communities.
The program regularly updates its funding priorities to meet the growing demand for EV charging, including in the multifamily housing sector. Current and future funding waves emphasize accessibility and equity for communities, with a focus on properties that serve communities where they live and gather.
As of this publishing, Communities in Charge has awarded approximately $77.5 million to property owners across California, including $55.4 million dedicated to multi-family housing—powering the installation of an estimated 11,533 EV chargers in communities statewide.
To learn about the latest funding opportunities and eligibility details, visit the program site.
What support is available for interested applicants?
As the Equity and Outreach partner on the Communities in Charge program, GRID Alternatives offers no-cost technical and application assistance to eligible project sites located in priority population geographies. Priority populations include disadvantaged, low-income, and Tribal communities as identified by California census tracts.
The Communities in Charge team team is available to assist interested applicants throughout the application process, to ensure the installation of EV charging infrastructure is as inclusive and accessible as possible. To date, GRID has supported over 80 applicants including Tribes, congregations, and affordable housing sites successfully complete and submit applications to the Communities in Charge program.
GRID’s technical and application assistance includes:
The La Jolla Band of Mission Indians shares their experience participating in Funding Wave 3 and the impact the project has had on their community:
“La Jolla applied for Communities in Charge to install Level II EV chargers on La Jolla Indian Reservation in northern San Diego County, as the Tribe could not afford the chargers without financial support. EV chargers are an important business and community resource, especially given the lack of public charging infrastructure in rural areas of the County. The application process was easy to follow, and the guidance and support given was essential to a successful submission and ongoing implementation.”
Why should multifamily property owners invest in EV charging for residents?
According to research conducted by the California Energy Commission, California’s transportation sector is responsible for roughly half of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, and nearly 80% of nitrogen oxide pollution.1
Nitrogen oxide pollution contributes to significant adverse climate and health impacts, especially in populations where these pollutants are heavily concentrated. Transitioning to clean transportation solutions is a vital tool to combat the effects of climate change.
In addition to providing a healthier environment for residents and communities, the installation of EV charging stations can increase property value and attract and retain more residents. A recent study reported in SmartRent.com found that “60% of renters said they’d be willing to pay more to live in an environmentally friendly community.”2 As more and more renters drive EVs, access to convenient home charging will become an increasingly important amenity.
Transitioning to a better future is possible, and the Communities in Charge program is a great example of an opportunity to make the transition to renewable energy a possibility for everyone, everywhere!
For more information or to request support with a potential project, please fill out a Technical Assistance Request to get connected to the Communities in Charge team through our intake form.
[1] California Energy Commission. n.d. “Transforming Transportation.” https://www.energy.ca.gov/about/core-responsibility-fact-sheets/transforming-transportation.
[2] SmartRent. 2025. “Eco-Friendly Equals In-Demand: What Renters Want in 2025.” May 14, 2025. https://smartrent.com/news/what-renters-want-in-2025/.
