Why the Future of EV Charging Lies in Residential and Commercial Properties.
The conversation has shifted from whether to switch to EVs, to how we can support their widespread use. For many people living in the UK’s apartment blocks, however, the big issue isn’t buying the car—it’s where to charge it. Right now, charging infrastructure in residential blocks is almost non-existent. EV owners are stuck relying on public charging points at supermarkets or shopping centres, and it’s far from ideal.
Why It’s a Problem
There’s a chicken-and-egg problem at play here. People are hesitant to buy EVs because they’re unsure if they’ll have anywhere convenient to charge them. And with the infrastructure lagging behind, that uncertainty isn’t going away any time soon. For EV ownership to really take off, charging needs to be even more convenient than filling up at a petrol station—because, after all, you can charge right at home!
Common Misconceptions Around EV Charging
When I talk to property managers and landlords, safety concerns often come up first—fuelled by media stories about battery fires. But the facts don’t back this up. Petrol and diesel cars are at least twenty times more likely to catch fire than EVs [Article #1, Article #2] . Sure, battery fires do happen, but the rate of incidents is significantly lower for EVs. Combustion engine vehicles, by their nature, carry a far greater fire risk.
We all know the media loves a good negative headline. EV battery fires? Sure to make front-page news. Meanwhile, the daily fires in petrol cars? Not so much. The stats tell a different story.
486 petrol-powered cars caught fire in London in 2022, while 60 petrol/electric hybrids caught fire over the same period. Just 4 EV car fires were registered in London in 2022.
The second misconception is that many landlords don’t realise this kind of infrastructure can be installed in the first place. We’re still at the stage where education is key.
Real-World Example
Let’s look at a typical scenario: a block of apartments where there are a few EV owners—let’s say four. They can’t charge at home, so they’re forced to drive to public charging stations at supermarkets, which is inconvenient and time-consuming. This isn’t the kind of seamless experience EV drivers want or need.
With our solution, we install infrastructure that allows them to “charge and forget”—plug in at their own parking spot, head upstairs, and get on with their day. No more waiting around or planning trips just to charge up. This kind of convenience is what will drive wider EV adoption.
Modular, Scalable, and Future-Proof
What I love about our product is its scalability from day 1. We can install the passive infrastructure in any car park, and every single space can be ready for an EV charger as soon as it’s needed. This future-proof approach is what makes it so powerful for landlords and property owners—they’re investing in something that can grow with demand.
A Growth Market Ready to Take Off
The opportunity here is massive. More landlords are realising that offering EV charging isn’t just a perk—it’s becoming a necessity. It’s a way to future-proof their properties, meet sustainability goals, and provide something tenants will increasingly demand.
The Power of Mother Nature
What makes EVs so appealing is their potential to be powered entirely by renewable energy. Imagine your car being charged by the sun and wind—quite literally powered by Mother Nature. It’s a vision of a cleaner future (in some cases now, a true reality), one where vehicles run on 100% renewable energy, and we’re helping to make that a reality.
A Balancing Act
Octopus Energy, alongside National Grid, has been working on an innovative trial that allows electric vehicles to help balance the grid. This initiative leverages vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, where EVs aren’t just consumers of energy—they can also feed energy back into the grid during times of high demand. Essentially, electric cars act like mini power plants. By doing this, Octopus can help reduce system balancing costs and ensure a smoother, more efficient energy supply.
If scaled across the expected 10 million EVs in the UK by 2030, this approach could save nearly £100 million annually. Not only does this help stabilise the grid, but it also benefits EV owners by offering lower charging rates and possibly even cash incentives for participating. This trial is a great example of how technology and renewable energy can work together to make the energy system smarter and more sustainable. [Article #1, Article #2]
The Road Ahead
The future is all about making things easier for the end user. By removing the barriers to EV adoption, whether they’re cost, convenience, or knowledge, we’re not just supporting the transition to electric vehicles—we’re actively driving it forward.