California’s EV Charging Buildout: What Los Angeles Building Owners, Renters and Fleets Should Know

California is pushing ahead with an ambitious plan to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across cities, multifamily housing and fleets. For property owners, property managers and renters in Los Angeles, that means new funding programs, new technology options and new responsibilities for making charging accessible and reliable. This guide explains where the state and local programs are headed, what new solutions are emerging for renters and fleets, and how building owners can plan successful EV infrastructure upgrades with a licensed electrical and general contractor.

Why California’s EV charger expansion matters locally

California continues to lead the nation on EV adoption and infrastructure investment, even as federal policy and funding can shift. The state’s commitment affects Los Angeles directly: more EVs on the road mean more demand for reliable charging at homes, workplaces and public sites. California’s targeted grants and programs are increasingly focused on equitable access — prioritizing multifamily housing and disadvantaged communities — which is good news for renters and property owners who want to future-proof their buildings.

For context on the state-level push and how it persists even amid changing federal priorities, see coverage of California’s ongoing plans here: InsideEVs – California Pushes On With EV Chargers.

Renter-focused charging: new models and funding

One of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in cities is the lack of easy home charging for renters and multifamily residents. California has recognized this and is directing funds toward renter-first and multifamily charging pilots. For example, Moon Five Technologies recently announced a $3.4 million grant from the California Energy Commission to deploy hundreds of plug-and-play charging units at multifamily properties in Los Angeles and San Francisco, prioritizing disadvantaged communities. That kind of program is designed to make charging accessible without major building rewiring for each site: installers can deploy hardware that works in typical multifamily parking configurations and integrates billing for residents.

Read the Moon Five announcement here: Moon Five Technologies Secures $3.4M Grant (PRWeb).

What this means for Los Angeles property owners and managers

There are new funding opportunities and pilot models to reduce upfront costs for tenants and landlords.

Plug-and-play and renter-first solutions lower the technical and administrative barriers for multifamily charging.

Municipal and state programs increasingly require equity-focused deployments, so buildings in high-need areas may be prioritized for grants.

Fleet and shared-vehicle charging is getting smarter

Many businesses, rental companies and government fleets in Southern California are converting vehicles to electric. Fleet charging needs differ from residential charging: higher utilization, scheduled charging windows, depot management and cost tracking. New platforms are emerging that integrate vehicle data with charging infrastructure to manage routing, scheduling, authentication and energy analytics.

For instance, Bluedot Technologies is working with companies to provide remote charging management, automated reimbursement and vehicle-level energy analytics. These integrated platforms help fleet operators reduce charging costs and avoid infrastructure bottlenecks.

Source: Bluedot powers Vay’s remote fleet EV charging experience (Charged EVs).

How fleet managers in LA should approach charging upgrades

Assess duty cycles and energy demand: depot charging for a busy fleet will need higher power and potentially on-site load management.

Use smart charging platforms to schedule charging during off-peak hours, reduce demand charges and automate billing.

Plan electrical upgrades with a licensed contractor experienced in commercial power upgrades and utility coordination.

On-street and home curbside charging innovations

Many renters and street-parking drivers need curbside charging options. In other countries, utilities and EV companies are partnering on curbside devices and subscription models that pair with time-of-use tariffs. In the U.K., Octopus Energy launched its own charger paired with a tariff to optimize nighttime charging costs; similar approaches are being adapted in other markets. While not a direct California program, the Octopus example demonstrates how tariff-linked hardware can make charging cheaper and easier to manage for drivers without private parking.

See an example of tariff-linked charging hardware: The Verge – The UK’s largest energy supplier created its own EV charger.

Options Los Angeles can adopt or adapt

Municipal curbside chargers in dense neighborhoods where private parking is limited.

Shared residential chargers for blocks of apartments, with resident-level billing and time-slot reservation systems.

Partnerships between utilities and device providers to combine hardware with favorable time-of-use rates.

Home charging: practical steps for single-family and multifamily buildings

Installing EV charging at a single-family home is often straightforward: a Level 2 charger on a 240V circuit paired with a dedicated breaker and weather-rated outlet or hardwired unit. Multifamily buildings are more complicated because of shared electrical capacity, tenant billing and parking logistics. Still, there are proven steps building owners can take to enable charging without unnecessary cost.

Checklist for building owners and property managers

Conduct a site electrical assessment to identify available service capacity, panel space and conduit routing.

Explore meter-level submetering or networked chargers that handle resident authentication and payments.

Consider staged deployments: start with a subset of chargers plus infrastructure (e.g., raceways, panels) to scale later without major teardown.

Use load-management systems when service capacity is constrained; these let multiple chargers share available power safely.

Consult local building code and utility interconnection requirements early — permits and utility coordination add lead time.

Homegrown solutions vs. turnkey offerings: pros and cons

Commercial turnkey providers and software platforms offer one-stop solutions for billing, management and hardware. But local licensed contractors bring essential advantages for Los Angeles property owners:

Local code and permit knowledge — every municipality has variations; Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) rules and local utility (e.g., LADWP or SoCal Edison) requirements must be followed.

Custom electrical engineering for older buildings where service upgrades or creative routing are needed.

Experience integrating chargers with existing building systems, like parking access and fire-code clearances.

What to expect during a professional EV charging install

A professional install by a licensed electrical contractor typically includes:

Site survey: assess parking layout, electrical service, conduit paths and metering options.

Load calculation and design: determine whether the existing service can handle new loads or whether a service upgrade is required.

Permit application and utility notification: submit plans to LADBS and coordinate with the utility for any required interconnection or demand-management agreements.

Installation: run conduit, mount charging stations, install breakers and subpanels as needed, and implement network connections for smart chargers.

Inspection and commissioning: pass local inspections, verify charger software and billing integrations, and hand off documentation to the property owner.

Funding, rebates and incentives for LA installs

California’s programs often include grants and rebates that target multifamily and disadvantaged communities. Local utilities and state agencies periodically open solicitations for DE- and equity-focused charging deployments — similar to the funding Moon Five received for renter-focused units. Property owners should track public funding opportunities and prepare projects with proper technical and permitting documentation to be competitive.

Check program announcements from the California Energy Commission and local utility pages regularly, and consider working with a contractor that can prepare the technical package for grant applications.

Case study takeaways and technology trends

Across the items we looked at, several themes are clear:

Equity-first programs are increasing: California funding is prioritizing renter and disadvantaged-community access.

Software and integrated management platforms are essential for fleets and shared-parking scenarios to control costs and billing.

Modular, staged infrastructure allows properties to start small and expand as demand grows, which reduces upfront costs and avoids overbuilding.

Public-private collaboration — utilities, device makers and software platforms — is creating new tariff-linked and managed charging models that can lower operating costs for drivers.

How Shaffer Construction can help Los Angeles property owners and managers

Shaffer Construction, Inc. is a licensed electrical and general contractor in Los Angeles that specializes in EV charger installations and infrastructure. We work with single-family homeowners, multifamily property owners, commercial fleets and municipal clients to deliver turnkey charging solutions that meet code, utility and grant requirements.

Our services include:

Site surveys and electrical load analysis

Design and engineering for Level 2 and DC fast charging (where appropriate)

Permit and utility coordination

Installation of chargers, panels, conduit and metering systems

Integration with fleet and billing platforms

Grant proposal support and documentation for publicly funded projects

Contact us to schedule a site assessment or to discuss a project at 323-642-8509 or hello@shaffercon.com. Our office is located at 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202 Los Angeles, CA 90004. Learn more at shafercon.com.

Next steps for property owners and managers

If you manage a multifamily property, commercial lot or municipal site in Los Angeles and are ready to evaluate EV charging options, start with a scoped site survey and feasibility study. That assessment will identify service constraints, cost estimates and a phased rollout plan that aligns with your budget and tenants’ needs.

Shaffer Construction can perform that survey, build a permitting and installation timeline and advise on funding opportunities you may be eligible for. Call 323-642-8509 or email hello@shaffercon.com to get started.

Published by Shaffer Construction, Inc. — Licensed Electrical & General Contractors in Los Angeles. 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202 Los Angeles, CA 90004.