In 2018, there are more electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles for sale in the US than ever before. Some examples include: the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Bolt, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model 3.
But there is one big problem holding these vehicles back from widespread adoption.
It's not the cost.
It's not the range.
It's not a lack of consumer information or confidence in the technology.
The problem is that electric cars are for homeowners, not renters.
Take a big step back and think about the concept of a car. People store cars at their homes, but the process of refueling takes place away from the home - at a gas station usually located a short distance away.
The move to electric cars also changes the way in which we use cars. With an electric car, the refueling is now shifted away from the corner store to your home. A high-voltage home charger is an essential part of owning this type of vehicle.
But therein lies a huge problem: not everyone is able to install an EV charger in their home, because millions of American households are renters.
Whether you are renting a single-family detached home or live in a multi-family unit like an apartment, condo, or townhouse, many rental properties have outdoor parking for their tenants with no possible way to install a high-voltage charger to support electric vehicle ownership.
The percentage of American households that are renters has been climbing steadily over the last decade, and is now at record high levels.
I bet there are plenty of people who would consider owning an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, but are forced to rule them out simply because they are not able to install a charger at their home. Either the landlord or rental company will not allow it, or they park in a covered/uncovered space or parking garage with no access to a 240-volt outlet.
If someone can solve this problem, I think it would greatly increase the potential of electric vehicle ownership for a significant number of households.
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