Recharging as a barrier to electric vehicles in residential areas

This is not new news and it won’t surprise many: in 2026, charging remains the main obstacle to the adoption of electric vehicles for those living in apartment buildings. This is confirmed by a survey conducted by Ifop on behalf of Logivolt: “Apartment living accounts for a significant portion of the potential for electric vehicle development, yet it still lacks infrastructure that meets current needs.”

The final hurdle to transitioning to electric vehicles

As a subsidiary of Banque des Territoires (part of the Caisse des Dépôts group), Logivolt acts as a “reference third-party investor focused on deploying electric vehicle charging in residential areas.” To achieve this, the company founded in 2021 raised 300 million euros this year, clearly demonstrating its commitment to overcoming the barriers to home charging. These barriers remain significant today, as shown once again by a recent study conducted for Logivolt by Ifop.

"For electricity to become a mobility solution accessible to everyone, charging must adapt to all types of living arrangements. In apartment buildings, it needs to be planned for in advance before purchase and integrated naturally into daily life. That is precisely the role of a collective, scalable infrastructure that can be accessed individually: to eliminate uncertainties and make using electricity simple, reliable, and predictable," explains Pierre Eymard.

For Logivolt’s CEO, "the transition doesn’t happen only in the automotive sector but also in apartment building parking lots, where the practical conditions for making the switch exist." The need is particularly high, as studies show that "in collective housing, charging becomes the final hurdle for 8 out of 10 people intending to switch to electric vehicles."

Where, when, and how they can charge

Generally speaking, by 2026, drivers have fewer reservations about electric vehicles. This is simply because EVs are increasingly common on the roads, including on holiday highways. However, near large buildings, electric cars are rare.

Yet according to an Ifop survey, “58% of French people living in collective housing say they have a positive view of 100% electric vehicles, compared to 74% for plug-in hybrids.” But only 18% currently have a personal and/or on-site charging solution. This is why “80% of respondents believe it’s easier to use an electric vehicle when living in a single-family home rather than collective housing.”

For the study’s authors, the message is clear: “In collective housing, the focus is no longer just on convincing French people of the advantages of electric vehicles. It’s about enabling them to know where, when, and how they can charge their cars on a daily basis.”

Fears related to a lack of information

Many other obstacles were cited by the respondents, most of which reflect an obvious lack of information and references regarding electric cars. For example, the cost of the vehicle, limited range, and battery lifespan were highlighted by 58%, 42%, and 36% of the respondents respectively.

Concerns related to charging were then raised. Similarly, 34% of the panel mentioned the time required to recharge batteries, 33% cited the lack of a way to connect the vehicle at home, and 30% pointed out the inconvenience of public charging stations: “In total, 67% of respondents listed at least one obstacle directly related to charging stations or charging time. This figure rises to 73% when the cost of charging is also taken into account.”

The study’s authors emphasize that “the issue of charging comes up very early in the purchasing process: 53% of potential buyers consider it even before thinking about buying a vehicle, while 40% take it into account when choosing a model.”

Conversion Factor

For 88% of intentionals, “an easily accessible charging solution near their home, available at an attractive cost would encourage them to purchase an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.” This option could also persuade 41% of those who have not yet considered switching to electric mobility.

The study’s authors explain, “Charging is not necessarily the primary factor that sparks interest in electric vehicles. Instead, it becomes a catalyst for conversion when a favorable opinion needs to be translated into a purchase decision and then into actual use.”

To recharge their energy, users or those looking to do so typically consider solutions outside of community areas, such as charging stations: located near home (46%); encountered during commutes or on public parking lots (33%); available at work (30%).

This is not without certain constraints, including “the number of available charging stations, malfunctions, spaces occupied by conventional vehicles, and the clarity of pricing, apps, and payment methods.” This means they have to more or less “search for a charging station, check its availability, estimate the time needed, and adjust their route accordingly.”

A model that meets dual expectations

Only 28% of users or those considering such options envision individual charging stations, while 26% prefer shared equipment in the parking lot at the base of their building. Yet these represent the best solutions for daily routines, reducing factors such as “dependence on public networks, fear of not finding a charging station, and the mental burden associated with planning trips.”

If these options seem unattainable, it is due to three main concerns: installation costs (49% of respondents), the need for approval from the property management (36%), and technical limitations (34%). Nevertheless, “among those with parking lots that lack charging facilities, 46% say they are interested in installing a charging solution, and this figure rises to 73% among those considering such options.”

In the end, this study fully justifies the actions taken by Logivolt, as “the idea of offering a collective charging service in buildings, with each interested resident able to sign up individually, receives 72% favorable responses. This figure rises to 89% among those planning to adopt such a system and 79% among those already equipped.”

Furthermore, this approach allows the building manager to “anticipate changes in usage patterns and have an adaptable infrastructure, while still giving everyone the freedom to connect according to their needs and at their own pace.”