EV Charging Installation in NY for Commercial Properties: Incentives & Benefits

Electric vehicles aren’t a fad anymore. They’re everywhere—commuter lots, apartment garages, even the street outside. For building owners, that shift has real consequences. Tenants and employees increasingly expect charging options on site. Without them, a property feels behind the times. With them, it feels modern and competitive. That’s why EV charging installation in NY has moved from “nice extra” to “must have.”

Why Charging Stations Matter

Adding chargers isn’t only about being green, though sustainability looks good on paper. It’s also about people choosing where they want to live, work, and shop. Put two buildings side by side with the same rent—if one has chargers and the other doesn’t, most tenants won’t think twice. Workers like pulling in, plugging in, and not worrying about where they’ll top off later. Shoppers notice too; a charger nearby means they’ll stick around instead of rushing out.

I’ve seen managers surprised at how quickly chargers became an amenity people ask about. Five years ago, barely anyone mentioned it. Now it’s one of the first questions from prospective tenants.

The Incentives Most People Don’t Use

The good news for property owners: you don’t have to carry the full cost yourself. Between federal tax credits, NYSERDA rebates, and utility programs through Con Edison, National Grid, and others, incentives can cover anywhere from 30 to 70 percent of project costs.

The problem is many businesses don’t even realize these programs exist. Some are put off by the paperwork. Others assume it’s only for giant projects, not a handful of chargers in a garage. In reality, plenty of small and mid-sized installations qualify. Skipping the incentives is basically leaving free money on the table.

How the Numbers Work Out

Sure, it costs something up front. You’ve got trenching, wiring, and the gear itself. It isn’t cheap. But when rebates cover a big chunk, the numbers shift. Add in the long-term payback—better property value, easier leases, happier tenants—and the case pretty much makes itself.

Think of it the same way buildings approached high-speed internet years back. At first, it looked like an extra expense. Then it quickly became the baseline. EV charging is following the same path.

Future-Proofing a Property

Regulations are already starting to push in this direction. New York City has rules in place that encourage or even require charging capacity in new developments. Other municipalities in the Tri-State area are following. Installing chargers now, while incentives are still generous, puts a property ahead of that curve instead of scrambling later.

There’s also the reputational side. A building with chargers signals it’s ready for the next decade. One without? Prospects see it as outdated, even if everything else is brand new.

Efficiency Plus and Smarter Installs

Installing chargers isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. A Midtown office tower doesn’t have the same needs as a suburban warehouse or a mixed-use development in Brooklyn. Efficiency Plus helps figure out what fits: how many stations to start with, what load the electrical system can handle, and which incentive programs apply.

Some properties start small, adding just a few chargers for employees. Others go bigger, wiring the garage for dozens of vehicles to prepare for the next wave. The key is planning it right the first time, so expansion later is cheaper and easier.

Wrapping It Up

EVs are on the road in huge numbers, and that’s only going to grow. Tenants, staff, and customers are looking for buildings that make charging simple. Incentives right now make installation far more affordable than most owners think. And the long-term payoff—higher property value, stronger leases, a modern reputation—more than covers the rest.

Efficiency Plus handles the design and installation of EV charging solutions across New York and the Tri-State, making sure buildings capture every available rebate. These big rebates won’t be around forever. The deals won’t stick around forever. Keep waiting and you’ll end up paying full price.