Went from a house with charging to an apartment with none — what's the first month like?
Relocated from Florida to Ohio for a new job about a month ago and I'm still living out of half my boxes in a new apartment. The car I ordered back in Florida finally has a delivery date for next week, which means I have about seven days to figure out something I hadn't really thought through before the move, since I always charged at my old house without a second thought. I don't know anyone here yet to ask in person, and I don't know if I'm supposed to be scrambling to get something installed before the car even arrives, or if that's something people figure out after the fact. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who went straight from a house with charging to an apartment with none, what did the first month actually look like for you?
Filed under: Renters, Apartments & HOA Charging
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11 answers
11 ANSWERS
@northpickleJune 29, 2026
You can absolutely survive on public charging for the first month while you sort out a real plan. Don't rush an install decision in week one, you'll regret whatever you pick under pressure.
What actually made those three weeks work was mapping out the 2-3 closest reliable L2 or DCFC spots to my new place before the car even arrived, instead of hunting for one at 20% charge after the fact. Worth checking if your new workplace has even a slow L1 outlet too — that alone can cover a lot of ground over an 8-hour day.
@staticpollenJune 29, 2026
One thing nobody tells new owners: check which public network is actually near your daily route before you commit to an app or membership. I've had three chargers just not work on road trips because I assumed one network covered everywhere.
oh that's a good point, is there an easy way to check that or do i just have to find out the hard way
Most charging apps show a live map before you sign up, no account needed. Spend twenty minutes looking at your commute route before picking one.
@saltmarsh99June 29, 2026
Once you're settled, ask your leasing office directly rather than assuming they'll say no. A lot of buildings already have EV policies written down that residents never bother to ask about.
noted, will check before buying anything. does it matter which portable charger brand at that point or are they mostly the same
@duskbuttonJune 29, 2026
Beginner mistake I made: bought a portable charger before checking what outlet my spot even had. Wasted forty dollars on the wrong adapter. Check the outlet first, buy second.
They're not all the same, cable quality and cold-weather rating vary more than people expect, but that's a week-two problem, not a day-one problem. Get through your first week first.
@greystone_lpJune 30, 2026
Did a portable Level 2 end up being fast enough to fully rely on short-term, or did most people still need a nearby public DCFC for the first few weeks?
Portable L2 (the plug-in kind on a 240V outlet, not a hardwired unit) got me through my first six weeks in an apartment fine as a daily driver, as long as I wasn't doing much extra mileage — a normal overnight session put back what I used commuting, no problem. Where it fell short was any day I needed a full charge fast, like before a weekend trip. Those nights I still drove to a DCFC because L2 just can't put back 200+ miles in a few hours. So it worked as the everyday solution for me, but I kept one DCFC bookmarked nearby for the occasional day I needed a quick top-up, not as a total replacement.
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