Hen-and-egg problem with the expansion of charging infrastructure

31.03.2026

Source: E & M powernews

Do tenants not drive electric cars because there are no charging options? Or is there a lack of infrastructure because tenants don't demand it? A study examines obstacles to the expansion of charging infrastructure.

Investment costs, unclear demand and a lack of technical data are slowing down the expansion of charging infrastructure in German residential buildings, according to a survey of 200 decision-makers in the housing industry conducted by energy service provider Ista. The biggest hurdles cited by 63% of those surveyed in August 2025 were technical feasibility, 56% were high investment costs and 55% felt that tenant demand had been too low to date. Within the next three years, however, the companies expect an average charging demand of eleven percent of their tenants.

"In Germany as a tenant country, the expansion of charging infrastructure in multi-party buildings is crucial for the success of the mobility transition," says Christoph Klinck, Tribe Lead Commercial and Industrial at Ista and Managing Director of Ista's charging infrastructure subsidiary Chargemaker. "Supposedly high investment costs and long amortization periods are challenging the housing industry when it comes to setting up charging infrastructure."

According to the study, private housing companies are currently leading the way in terms of expansion: 62% already have charging infrastructure in at least one property. The proportion is 52% for housing cooperatives and 48% for municipal companies. So far, individually assigned wallboxes have dominated. However, shared charging points are gaining in importance, especially among project developers, writes Ista. Publicly accessible charging points have so far played a subordinate role.

Potential increase in value as an incentive

Expansion is being slowed down by a structural interaction. "The expansion of charging infrastructure is also stuttering due to a chicken-and-egg situation: people are hesitant because the charging infrastructure is supposedly inadequate - the housing industry is hesitant because tenants are supposedly not asking for charging options," Klinck is quoted as saying.

At the same time, there are also considerable deficits in the database for investment decisions. Only 42 percent of those surveyed know the available grid connection capacity, and only 22 percent have information on the load, for example from load profile measurements. In contrast, basic building data such as site plans and floor plans are available to 92 percent.

Economic motives play a major role in the decision to build charging infrastructure: for 46% of private housing companies and 52% of project developers, the potential increase in property value is a driver. Municipal companies and cooperatives are more focused on regulatory requirements such as the German Electric Mobility Infrastructure Act (GEIG) and the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Ista itself wants to tap into the market for charging infrastructure via its subsidiary Chargemaker. By 2030, the company plans to invest up to 30 million euros and install around 25,000 charging points in the building sector in Germany.

The underlying study is based on a survey of 200 decision-makers from five segments of the housing industry: "municipal housing companies", "housing cooperatives", "private housing companies", "project developers" and "asset management or investment companies". The respondents had housing portfolios with a total of at least more than 70 parking spaces where the installation of charging points has already been implemented or is planned.

Author: Katia Meyer-Tien