The hum of EVs is no longer a distant whisper – it’s a growing chorus reshaping transportation and, consequently, the real estate landscape. For property owners, investors, and managers, understanding and adapting to this (literally!) electrifying shift presents both challenges and opportunities. Here we offer a research-backed roadmap to navigate the EV charging infrastructure landscape and position your commercial properties and logistics sites for future success.
The Rise of Electric Mobility and Charging Demand in Real Estate
The transformation of parking facilities, as highlighted by the forward-thinking approach at Petco Park (a prime example of modern commercial parking), is well underway. What were once simple storage spaces are evolving into mobility hubs catering to the increasing number of EV drivers.
As of February 2025, electric vehicles accounted for 7.9% of new car sales in the United States, marking a 6.3 percentage point increase from 2020, according to Edmunds data. This figure excludes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which held a separate market share of 1.8% during the same period . Combined, EVs and PHEVs comprised 9.7% of new vehicle sales in February 2025, while traditional gas-powered vehicles, including hybrids, still dominated the market with a 90.3% share. Some states like California (26.8%), Colorado (25.5%), Washington (24.6%), and District of Columbia: 20.4%, well exceed the national average.
While the current share of electric commercial vehicles is relatively small, an acceleration of electric transport growth is currently being driven by technological innovation (like the increasing battery capacity and range of electric vehicles), and the pressing need to meet sustainability targets.
According to Cox Automotive, nearly 300,0001 new electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the first quarter of 2025 in the U.S., based on the latest report from Kelley Blue Book, an increase of 11.4% year over year.
This shift creates a significant opportunity for proactive property owners and management professionals to improve service and generate revenue. Increasing adoption of EVs translates directly into growing demand for accessible and reliable EV charging infrastructure at commercial real estate locations.
Unlocking Opportunities: Why EV Charging is a Smart Real Estate Investment
The growing demand for commercial EV chargingcreates several key opportunities for real estate:
Attract and Retain Tenants and Customers with EV Charging Amenities
Just as reliable Internet access became a necessity, EV charging is rapidly becoming a sought-after tenant amenity and customer convenience. For commercial properties like retail centers, entertainment venues, and office buildings, offering EV charging stations can be a critical factor in attracting and retaining customers and employees. For properties servingtenants with electric fleets, an increasing number will be willing to pay higher rents for sites equipped with charging options, recognizing the potential for cost savings and reduced operational risks.
Enhance Property Value and Attract Investment
By adding EV charging infrastructure to your property, you can increase its value. Moreover, investors are likely to pay more for properties that align with sustainability standards and offer future-proof amenities like EV charging. These factors makes EV charging investment a key consideration for portfolio growth.
Potential for New Revenue Streams
Beyond attracting tenants and customers, property owners can directly profit from offering EV charging services through usage fees, enhancing overall return on charging investment.
Navigating the Challenges: Costs, Complexity, and CaaS Solutions
While EV charging investment opportunities are clear, the prospect of adding EV chargers to commercial property or logistics sites can seem daunting. XLR8 recognizes property managers and owners’ concerns about upfront capital expenditure, installation complexities, maintenance, and the rapidly evolving technology landscape. The initial costs of installation, coupled with ongoing maintenance and management, can create hesitation, especially amidst economic uncertainties.
Introducing Charging as a Service (CaaS)
This is where innovative solutions like Charging as a Service (CaaS) come into play. CaaS allows real estate owners to provide valuable EV charging amenities without the burden of significant upfront investment. Typically structured around revenue-sharing or lease models, CaaS providers like XLR8 America handle all aspects of the process – from initial assessment and design to installation, maintenance, and ongoing operation. This allows property owners and managers to focus on their core business while providing a crucial amenity to their users, mitigating the complexities of managing EV charging commercial properties.
Specific Considerations for Commercial Fleets
Overnight Charging Dominance
Charging demand will be highest at sites with parking spaces for commercial vehicles after working hours, facilitating essential overnight charging for electric trucks and vans.
Uneven Demand & the Need for Site Assessment
Factors like the presence of dedicated parking, the nature of the logistics operation (e.g., outsourced transport), and strategic location will significantly influence site charging demand. Landlords will need to establish a good estimate of future charging needs at logistics facilities to align EV charging investment accordingly.
The Preconditions for Success: Grid, Space, and Demand
To financially benefit from onsite logistics charging, property owners must meet three critical conditions:
Available Grid Capacity: Sufficient grid capacity is crucial for charging commercial EVs, which often require heavier connections. Due to grid congestion in some regions, obtaining necessary grid upgrades can take significant time, creating an advantage for owners who applied early or have existing capacity.
Available Space: Adequate space is needed for charging stations, parking, and onsite energy generation and storage. Maximizing facility square footage alone may not be optimal for future logistics site charging needs.
Sufficient Charging Demand: A high occupancy rate for logistics site charging stations is necessary to cover EV charging investment costs and potentially offer competitive pricing per kWh.
Investment Responsibility: Landlord vs. Tenant
While initial commercial tenant adopters might invest in EV charging infrastructure themselves, long-term trends suggest that property owners will bear the primary responsibility for these investments. This is because substantial investments in grid upgrades and charging solutions generally increase the property value, and tenants, especially those with shorter lease terms, will be reluctant to invest heavily in assets that legally become part of the real estate.
Planning Ahead: Gaining a Competitive Edge in Real Estate EV Charging
The research underscores the importance of timely preparation for real estate providers looking to incorporate EV charging. While the immediate urgency might seem low due to the current small EV fleet share, proactive planning is critical. Factors like the lengthy process for securing grid capacity mean that property owners who plan and act early will have a significant competitive advantage as EV adoption accelerates, especially in the logistics sector.
Electrify Your Real Estate Strategy
The shift to electric vehicles is not a trend but a fundamental transformation impacting all types of real estate, particularly commercial and logistics properties. The opportunity for property owners, investors, and managers is significant, offering pathways to attract and retain occupants, increase property value, and generate revenue. While challenges related to EV charging investment and management remain, solutions like XLR8 America’s Charging as a Service (CaaS) model can lower these risks. Understanding site specific needs and preconditions for success (grid, space, demand) and engaging in timely preparation are crucial. By strategically addressing these factors, you can position your properties for enhanced value and long-term success in an increasingly electrified future.
The hum of EVs is no longer a distant whisper – it’s a growing chorus reshaping transportation and, consequently, the real estate landscape. For property owners, investors, and managers, understanding and adapting to this (literally!) electrifying shift presents both challenges and opportunities. Here we offer a research-backed roadmap to navigate the EV charging infrastructure landscape and position your commercial properties and logistics sites for future success.
The Rise of Electric Mobility and Charging Demand in Real Estate
The transformation of parking facilities, as highlighted by the forward-thinking approach at Petco Park (a prime example of modern commercial parking), is well underway. What were once simple storage spaces are evolving into mobility hubs catering to the increasing number of EV drivers.
As of February 2025, electric vehicles accounted for 7.9% of new car sales in the United States, marking a 6.3 percentage point increase from 2020, according to Edmunds data. This figure excludes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which held a separate market share of 1.8% during the same period . Combined, EVs and PHEVs comprised 9.7% of new vehicle sales in February 2025, while traditional gas-powered vehicles, including hybrids, still dominated the market with a 90.3% share. Some states like California (26.8%), Colorado (25.5%), Washington (24.6%), and District of Columbia: 20.4%, well exceed the national average.
While the current share of electric commercial vehicles is relatively small, an acceleration of electric transport growth is currently being driven by technological innovation (like the increasing battery capacity and range of electric vehicles), and the pressing need to meet sustainability targets.
According to Cox Automotive, nearly 300,0001 new electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the first quarter of 2025 in the U.S., based on the latest report from Kelley Blue Book, an increase of 11.4% year over year.
This shift creates a significant opportunity for proactive property owners and management professionals to improve service and generate revenue. Increasing adoption of EVs translates directly into growing demand for accessible and reliable EV charging infrastructure at commercial real estate locations.
Unlocking Opportunities: Why EV Charging is a Smart Real Estate Investment
The growing demand for commercial EV charging creates several key opportunities for real estate:
Attract and Retain Tenants and Customers with EV Charging Amenities
Just as reliable Internet access became a necessity, EV charging is rapidly becoming a sought-after tenant amenity and customer convenience. For commercial properties like retail centers, entertainment venues, and office buildings, offering EV charging stations can be a critical factor in attracting and retaining customers and employees. For properties serving tenants with electric fleets, an increasing number will be willing to pay higher rents for sites equipped with charging options, recognizing the potential for cost savings and reduced operational risks.
Enhance Property Value and Attract Investment
By adding EV charging infrastructure to your property, you can increase its value. Moreover, investors are likely to pay more for properties that align with sustainability standards and offer future-proof amenities like EV charging. These factors makes EV charging investment a key consideration for portfolio growth.
Potential for New Revenue Streams
Beyond attracting tenants and customers, property owners can directly profit from offering EV charging services through usage fees, enhancing overall return on charging investment.
Navigating the Challenges: Costs, Complexity, and CaaS Solutions
While EV charging investment opportunities are clear, the prospect of adding EV chargers to commercial property or logistics sites can seem daunting. XLR8 recognizes property managers and owners’ concerns about upfront capital expenditure, installation complexities, maintenance, and the rapidly evolving technology landscape. The initial costs of installation, coupled with ongoing maintenance and management, can create hesitation, especially amidst economic uncertainties.
Introducing Charging as a Service (CaaS)
This is where innovative solutions like Charging as a Service (CaaS) come into play. CaaS allows real estate owners to provide valuable EV charging amenities without the burden of significant upfront investment. Typically structured around revenue-sharing or lease models, CaaS providers like XLR8 America handle all aspects of the process – from initial assessment and design to installation, maintenance, and ongoing operation. This allows property owners and managers to focus on their core business while providing a crucial amenity to their users, mitigating the complexities of managing EV charging commercial properties.
Specific Considerations for Commercial Fleets
Overnight Charging Dominance
Charging demand will be highest at sites with parking spaces for commercial vehicles after working hours, facilitating essential overnight charging for electric trucks and vans.
Uneven Demand & the Need for Site Assessment
Factors like the presence of dedicated parking, the nature of the logistics operation (e.g., outsourced transport), and strategic location will significantly influence site charging demand. Landlords will need to establish a good estimate of future charging needs at logistics facilities to align EV charging investment accordingly.
The Preconditions for Success: Grid, Space, and Demand
To financially benefit from onsite logistics charging, property owners must meet three critical conditions:
Investment Responsibility: Landlord vs. Tenant
While initial commercial tenant adopters might invest in EV charging infrastructure themselves, long-term trends suggest that property owners will bear the primary responsibility for these investments. This is because substantial investments in grid upgrades and charging solutions generally increase the property value, and tenants, especially those with shorter lease terms, will be reluctant to invest heavily in assets that legally become part of the real estate.
Planning Ahead: Gaining a Competitive Edge in Real Estate EV Charging
The research underscores the importance of timely preparation for real estate providers looking to incorporate EV charging. While the immediate urgency might seem low due to the current small EV fleet share, proactive planning is critical. Factors like the lengthy process for securing grid capacity mean that property owners who plan and act early will have a significant competitive advantage as EV adoption accelerates, especially in the logistics sector.
Electrify Your Real Estate Strategy
The shift to electric vehicles is not a trend but a fundamental transformation impacting all types of real estate, particularly commercial and logistics properties. The opportunity for property owners, investors, and managers is significant, offering pathways to attract and retain occupants, increase property value, and generate revenue. While challenges related to EV charging investment and management remain, solutions like XLR8 America’s Charging as a Service (CaaS) model can lower these risks. Understanding site specific needs and preconditions for success (grid, space, demand) and engaging in timely preparation are crucial. By strategically addressing these factors, you can position your properties for enhanced value and long-term success in an increasingly electrified future.
Powering the Future of Transportation: XLR8 America & Lincoln Electric Forge Groundbreaking Partnership at EV Charging Summit & Expo