For most of the last decade, EV adoption in Colorado was concentrated in the Denver metro and Boulder. Colorado Springs was considered a secondary market — meaningful in size, but lagging in EV penetration relative to the northern Front Range. That's changed. Colorado Springs is now one of the fastest-growing EV markets in the state, driven by military community adoption, a growing tech sector presence, and the same statewide EV incentive programs that have accelerated adoption everywhere in Colorado.
For apartment managers and property owners in Colorado Springs, this creates a real and immediate question: residents are driving EVs and asking about charging. If your property doesn't offer charging, competing properties increasingly do. This article covers the Colorado Springs multifamily EV landscape, what incentives apply locally, and how a zero-cost partnership model works for properties in the city.
Why Colorado Springs is a different market than Denver
Colorado Springs has some distinct characteristics that shape how EV charging plays out at multifamily properties. Understanding them helps set realistic expectations.
A strong base of early adopters
The military community in Colorado Springs — particularly around Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy — includes a disproportionate number of early EV adopters. Military households tend to be educated, tech-comfortable, and financially positioned to pursue EV incentives. Properties near these installations often see higher resident EV penetration than the metro average would suggest.
Xcel Energy serves most of the city
The majority of Colorado Springs falls within Xcel Energy's service territory, which means the same Xcel make-ready and equipment rebates available to Denver and Boulder properties are also available here. This is a material point for cost planning — many Colorado Springs property managers don't realize their property qualifies for the same Xcel programs as a Denver property.
Less multifamily EV charging competition than Denver
In Denver and Boulder, EV charging has become a standard amenity at higher-end multifamily properties. In Colorado Springs, multifamily EV charging is still emerging as a differentiator — which means properties that move now are ahead of the market, rather than catching up to it. Being the first property in a submarket to offer reliable EV charging is a leasing advantage that doesn't last once other properties catch up.
What Colorado Springs multifamily properties need for an EV charging installation
The technical requirements for EV charging in Colorado Springs are the same as anywhere on the Front Range. A typical Level 2 charging installation at a multifamily property involves:
- Electrical infrastructure assessment. Most properties need some level of electrical make-ready work — at minimum, a dedicated circuit run to the parking area. Older properties with limited panel capacity may need a more significant upgrade. A licensed electrician or charging partner should assess this before any project scoping.
- Hardware selection. Networked Level 2 chargers (typically 7.2kW or higher) are the standard for resident charging at multifamily properties. These require network connectivity — WiFi or cellular — for session management and payment processing.
- Parking assignment and access policy. Who gets to use which charging spots? How is session pricing set? What's the process for non-EV vehicles blocking charging spaces? These operational questions need answers before installation.
- Network and billing setup. Residents need a way to start and pay for charging sessions. This is typically handled through the charger network's app or RFID card system.
For properties working with a managed partner like Enertech, all of these elements are handled as part of the project. We assess the electrical situation, handle the make-ready work, select and install the hardware, and manage the network and billing — the property doesn't need to manage any of it.
Incentives that apply to Colorado Springs properties
Colorado Springs multifamily properties have access to several meaningful incentive programs:
Xcel Energy rebates
For properties in Xcel's service territory (most of Colorado Springs), make-ready infrastructure rebates and per-port equipment rebates are available. As with all Xcel rebate programs, pre-approval must be submitted before installation begins. See our full guide to Xcel Energy EV rebates for multifamily properties for details.
Charge Ahead Colorado grants
Properties serving income-qualified residents in Colorado Springs may qualify for Charge Ahead Colorado grants. El Paso County income limits apply, and competitive grant availability varies by funding round. Properties with a documented affordable housing designation or strong income-qualifying resident documentation have the best approval rates.
Federal tax incentives
Property owners who own EV charging equipment (as opposed to partnering with a managed service provider who owns the equipment) may be eligible for federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit. Tax position and eligibility vary — consult your tax advisor for specifics.
What the timeline looks like
A Colorado Springs multifamily EV charging project through Enertech typically follows this sequence:
- Free property assessment. We visit the property, assess the electrical infrastructure, determine optimal charger placement, and give you a clear picture of what an installation would look like — and what Xcel rebates apply.
- Xcel pre-approval submission. Before any work begins, we submit the Xcel make-ready pre-approval. This step is critical — starting work before pre-approval forfeits rebate eligibility.
- Installation. Electrical make-ready work and charger installation, typically completed within a few weeks depending on scope. We coordinate with a licensed electrical contractor and handle all permits.
- Network activation and resident onboarding. Chargers go live on the network, residents receive instructions for starting sessions, and we set up the property's revenue share reporting.
- Ongoing operations. Continuous monitoring, maintenance, and resident support handled by Enertech. The property receives monthly revenue share reporting.
We're active in Colorado Springs and have completed installations across the city. We know the local electrical contractors, understand the permitting process with the city and Xcel, and have worked through the specific site challenges common to Colorado Springs multifamily properties — older electrical infrastructure, surface parking lots with long conduit runs, parking garages with connectivity limitations.
If you're managing a property in Colorado Springs and fielding resident requests for EV charging, a free assessment is the right starting point. We'll tell you exactly what's involved, what it costs you (nothing), and what you can expect to earn.
Get a free Colorado Springs property assessmentNo obligation. We serve the full Colorado Springs metro.
The competitive window in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is at a different point in the EV adoption curve than Denver. In Denver's core neighborhoods, not having EV charging is already a leasing disadvantage. In Colorado Springs, the market is still developing — which means there's a real window to be ahead of the curve rather than behind it.
Properties that install reliable EV charging now, before the market saturates, have a genuine differentiation story to tell to prospective residents. That advantage is time-limited. As more Colorado Springs multifamily properties add EV charging over the next two to three years, it will shift from a differentiator to a baseline expectation.
The zero-cost model makes the timing question easy: there's no capital reason to wait. If EV charging is going to be a standard amenity, getting ahead of the curve costs nothing with the right partner.