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Is it actually realistic to own an EV long-term with zero home charging in a condo?

tbeck_14
My condo association has flatly said no to adding any EV charging infrastructure for the foreseeable future -- not even a shared outlet in the garage. I'm still considering an EV anyway and would be relying entirely on public/workplace charging. For anyone doing this long-term without any home charging at all, is it actually manageable day to day or does it end up being way more of a hassle than it sounds like upfront? Trying to figure out if I'm setting myself up for regret.
04 answers
4 ANSWERS
jwozniak
@jwozniakOctober 03, 2026
Before you take "flatly said no" as final... check whether your state has a right-to-charge law. A lot of them do, and the HOA can't just blanket refuse if you pay for it.
craig_denton
@craig_dentonOctober 05, 2026
It mostly comes down to how good the workplace charging is. If you can plug in at work most days and it isn't a fight for the spots, you basically have home charging, just at a different building. If you're relying on DC fast charging, plan on a 30-45 minute stop once or twice a week, and more often in winter. I lose about a third of my range when it's cold, and it would get old fast if every bit of that had to come from a fast charger.
bhollister
@bhollisterOctober 23, 2026
Is there any regular 120v outlet in the garage at all? Even level 1 overnight adds 30-40 miles. Might be easier to get approved than a charger.
cwhelan88
@cwhelan88October 23, 2026
@tim_okonkwo $12 a week is still cheaper than gas for me. Not by a ton, but it is.