Apartments.com, one of the largest rental marketplaces in the U.S., now lets renters filter listings by EV charging availability. Out of 1.9 million listings, only 300,000 offer the amenity. With a single checked box, renters can eliminate more than 1.6 million apartments from their search.

For properties that have charging, that’s an instant competitive edge. For those who don’t, it’s a missed opportunity to even be considered by a potential tenant.

Rents grew just 0.2% year-over-year according to RealPage, and Yardi reported the sharpest September rent decline since 2009. In a tightening rental market, differentiation matters more than ever, and offering amenities that align with resident expectations, like EV charging, is one of the simplest ways to stand out.

EV Adoption is Rising

The Apartments.com filter demonstrates that EV charging is becoming a deciding factor for where residents choose to live. Global EV sales surpassed 2.1 million in September and more than 400,000 EVs were sold in the U.S. in Q3 alone. Adoption will continue to gain momentum with lower cost models and an expanding secondary market in 2026. As there are more EVs on the road, those EV owners who rent will expect at-home charging.

Properties that offer EV charging as an amenity will have a competitive edge attracting new residents, improving retention, and thus boosting NOI. Those that don’t risk being literally filtered out.

Charging Doesn’t Have to Strain Your Budget or Team 

While EV charging offers significant benefits, implementing and managing it can be complex. From researching the right technology and EPC partners to coordinating construction and maintenance, it often requires a dedicated team to ensure the amenity meets or exceeds resident expectations. EV charging is not a “set it and forget it”, one-time installation, but an ongoing operational commitment.

3V Infrastructure removes the financial and operational burden for property owners. We put up our own capital, investing in your properties to install and maintain EV charging across your multifamily portfolio. That means no CapEx or OpEx, no management, and no added workload for you – just an amenity that residents want.

EV adoption is growing, and so are renter expectations. Make sure your properties are the ones that show up when renters check that “EV charging” box.