More people are joining the wave of drivers adopting the new way of life by owning an electric vehicle.

And unfortunately, some renters are encountering an issue where they don't have a place to plug in their vehicle overnight, while most public stations are in use.

The transition to electric vehicles is underway for homeowners who can power up in their own garage, but for millions of renters, having access to charging remains a significant barrier. Because of this, cities across the U.S. are scrambling to come up with innovative public charging solutions as drivers string power cords across sidewalks.

A charging cord for an electric vehicle is seen strung across a public sidewalk in San Francisco on Sept. 23. | *Haven Daley/AP*

The Biden administration last month approved plans for all 50 states to roll out a network of high speed chargers alongside interstate highways using $5 billion in federal funding over the next 5 years. States must wait to apply for an additional $2.5 billion in local grants to fill in charging gaps, including those in dense urban areas.

“
Cities have to understand that promoting electric cars is also part of their sustainable transportation strategy. Once they make that mental shift, there’s a whole bunch of very tangible things they can — and should — be doing.
”

— Jeff Allen, executive director of Forth, a nonprofit that advocates for equity in electric vehicle ownership and charging access.

Fast chargers can fill up a car in 45 minutes, while lower level chargers can take several houses. And charging on a standard residential outlet isn't practical unless you drive very little or are able to leave the car plugged in overnight.

Now, cities must use a mix of solutions, from zoning changes to policies that encourage workplace fast-charging. Meaning that changes can't come fast enough for renters who already own electric vehicles.