An increasing proportion of the population in major urban centres reside in multi-unit residential condominium and apartment buildings or dwellings without access to a driveway or garage (also known as garage orphans). In some large metropolitan centres, multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) are more common than single-detached homes. MURB residents and garage orphans are potential mainstream adopters of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies but they face a number of unique charging-related barriers that must be effectively addressed to facilitate uptake, particularly as consumer appeal of ZEVs has been tied to the ability to charge at home.

The study sought to contribute to the ongoing development of ZEV deployment strategies by supporting capacity building and stakeholder collaboration related to charging in MURBs and for garage orphans. The report identifies key barriers and opportunities, explores potential solutions and best practices, and presents a suite of options for potential future action.

Taken together, the report and its findings provide a comprehensive framework for stakeholders and the public to visualize practical actions and the potential roles necessary to better enable charging in MURBs and for garage orphans.