RENO, Nev. — As electric vehicle ownership continues to climb in Nevada, experts say one question is becoming increasingly important: Can the state’s charging infrastructure keep pace?

New consumer research from, Yardi Matrix, found Nevada ranks sixth in the nation for electric vehicle growth, with registrations increasing nearly 420% over the past five years.

At the same time, Nevada is outperforming much of the country when it comes to charging access for renters. About 14% of multifamily housing units in the state offer EV charging, placing Nevada ahead of more than half of the nation.

Still, researchers say one key difference separates Nevada from some neighboring states.

Unlike California and several other states, Nevada does not require new multifamily housing developments to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure or EV-ready parking spaces.

Instead, developers decide whether to install chargers, often viewing them as an amenity that can help attract and retain tenants.

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“What you see in those other states is a state mandate that says if I’m going to build, I have to be ready or capable,” said a market analyst with Yardi Matrix, Douglas Ressler. “Nevada follows California vehicle sales very closely, but it lacks a multifamily EV building code mandate.”

Nevada has relied on incentives and rebates rather than statewide requirements to encourage EV infrastructure.

As more Nevadans switch to electric vehicles, charging access at apartment communities will become increasingly important, particularly for renters who cannot install chargers at home.

If Nevada were to require EV-ready infrastructure in future apartment developments, lawmakers would likely need to pass legislation establishing statewide requirements for new multifamily construction.

For now, researchers say Nevada’s growing EV market will continue to test whether voluntary investment by developers can keep pace with rising demand.