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The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road will continue to grow in the coming years. To meet this demand, it’s imperative that residential homebuilders provide the appropriate charging infrastructure when building new homes. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), “Electric car sales in 2023 were 3.5 million higher than in 2022, a 35% year-on-year increase. This is more than six times higher than in 2018, just 5 years earlier.” This means that almost one in five cars sold in 2023 was electric.
Charging an electric vehicle at home creates an additional electric load on the home, meaning that load centers, electric panels, and distribution become more expensive if you’re building an all-electric home. A hybrid approach pairing propane and electrical service helps builders do this more affordably. Builders can offset some of the electric infrastructure costs by using propane to power large loads like space heating, water heating, clothes dryers, and backup heating. This is because propane-powered appliances such as high-efficiency furnaces, boilers, hybrid dual-fuel systems, tankless water heaters, and standby generators are more economical, more energy efficient, don’t require 240v service, and often last longer than electric appliances.
While builders and electricians must account for the extra load and the related costs to provide EV charging infrastructure, they should also consider that homeowners must still be able to operate their vehicle during power outages, which is particularly important if residents must flee in an emergency. During power outages, it’s vital to have a backup power system to ensure the vehicle can still be charged. Propane-powered generators are a handy solution, as they will not only provide backup power for the EV charger, but the entire property if sized correctly. And, propane-powered EV charging may play a significant role in remote locations that are off-grid.
Regulations Require EV Charging Capabilities
Local municipalities are expanding EV charging legislation, so builders and homeowners must be aware of new rules that could affect future housing construction. For example, legislation such as Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Charging Act mandates that new properties must be EV-capable starting in 2024. The law requires any house or multi-unit building completed after January 1, 2024 to have at least one EV-capable parking space for each residential unit that has dedicated parking. In addition, landlords and homeowners’ associations can’t unduly restrict residents from installing EV chargers.
Federally, President Biden has set an ambitious target of 50% electric vehicle sale shares in the U.S. by 2030 and has an EV Charging Action Plan that outlines steps federal agencies are taking to support developing and deploying chargers in American communities across the country. The initial focus of these efforts will be building a convenient, reliable public charging network that can build public confidence, with a focus on filling gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations. Propane-powered EV charging will likely have a role to play in these remote locations, and will definitely be used for rapid deployment of recharging infrastructure nationwide.
Jurisdictions are also adopting an International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2022 and 2024 appendix that covers EV charger readiness. When planning a new development, some jurisdictions mandate that new properties be EV-capable, meaning the electric load is built in to accommodate a charging station, should the homeowner purchase an EV. If you build in an area that is adopting the appendix, you should familiarize yourself with the IECC language, including the difference between an EV-capable space and an EV-ready space; requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE); and the difference between requirements for new single- and double-family dwelling units and new multifamily dwelling units.
Looking Ahead at EV Charging Capabilities
It’s going to be challenging and costly to upgrade the country’s electrical grid infrastructure, but propane appliances and standby generators can be useful partners to electrification. The purchase of EV’s will likely continue to grow, so builders should stay apprised of local, state, and national regulations on EV equipment in residential builds. To bring down the costs of electrifying the homes you build, as well as ensure lower utility costs for future homeowners, you should also incorporate propane-powered appliances.
Specify propane water heaters, furnaces, hybrid heat pumps, gas ranges, clothes dryers and fireplaces to reduce the overall electric load, while reducing emissions. In 2023, builders from 25 states participated in the Propane Construction Research Program (PCRP). Data from this program shows that there is typically a net benefit and reduction of CO2 in houses built with propane vs. electric. In 2023, builders helped to eliminate 19,352,000 of CO2 emissions in 1,668 homes by incorporating propane in their projects, an average of 30% per home Using propane appliances also frees up space in the electric panel for the additional 40 amp service EV charging requires and reduces the size of the standby generator required to support the home.
