In other words, if you’re looking to secure funding, competition is going to be stiff.

That said, having tracked this program closely, I can say that taking the time to write a thoughtful application will help a great deal by positioning your project(s) as strategic priorities for the evaluators.

You can read more information about the ChargeOn program here, but for practical guidance, read through this list of priority elements to emphasize or consider when building your application.

Key Takeaways For A Winning Application

• The applications that succeed will demonstrate strategic site selection backed by NRCAN mapping data, realistic long-term operational planning, and future-proofed technology choices. 
  • Don’t be afraid to reference amenities nearby! Applications receive additional points when access to bathrooms is highlighted. 
• Use the program’s referenced mapping tools to show evaluators their scoring criteria reflected in your project. 
• Plan for 98% uptime with specific monitoring and maintenance protocols—not just promises. 
• Structure your charger technology for both CCS and NACS connectors, and verify local grid capacity before finalizing site selection. 
• Develop a reasonable and reliable work plan. This is important – projects with these plan receive additional points in merit criteria scoring. 
• The difference between funded and unfunded projects won’t be who applies first, but who shows evaluators exactly why their approach positions Ontario for long-term EV charging success.
• Connect with OVIN early – submit your client intake form (here), connect with an OCI Business Development Manager, and develop your proposal. Your project must meet eligibility criteria and have appropriate documentation to prepare a full application. 

Use the Data That Evaluators Will Use

ChargeON has made its priorities explicit through publicly available mapping tools. Use them to your advantage.

For Public Corridor projects, access the EV Charging Planning maps and confirm your proposed site falls within 1.6km of identified priority areas along major roads. Screenshot the map showing your location relative to existing chargers, and reference the specific highway or corridor your project serves in your application narrative. This visual documentation does more than prove eligibility—it shows evaluators you’ve done your homework. Public Corridor projects prefer DCFC-centred projects. 

Public Community projects require a different approach. Use Forward Sortation Area (FSA) data to demonstrate low home charging access in your target community. Show population density and traffic volume data supporting your location choice, and map the distance to nearest existing public charging. These aren’t arbitrary requests—evaluators score based on these specific criteria. Public Community projects are met by a combination of L2 and DCFC projects, depending on the needs of the area. 

Why this matters: You’re literally showing evaluators their own scoring criteria reflected in your site selection. This demonstrates strategic planning and makes their job easier.

Select Hardware and Software Thoughtfully

Ontario expects charging infrastructure deployed through ChargeON to serve communities for years. Applications that demonstrate long-term thinking score better.

An easy win is to specify that your project will support both CCS and NACS connectors—the North American Charging Standard, aka “Tesla charger,” is rapidly becoming universal, and dual-standard capability future-proofs your investment. 

For sites with multiple chargers, include energy management systems that optimize power distribution and enable future expansion without costly electrical upgrades. Where possible, highlight Made in Canada technology, whether hardware or software platforms. SWTCH’s software platform, for example, is developed in Canada, supporting domestic technology leadership.

Design Your Site With Accessibility For All

Site design matters just as much as equipment specs. Three elements deserve particular attention:

• Pull-through access: Where appropriate for your location, design for vehicles towing trailers or those with accessibility modifications
• Washroom facilities: Identify nearby facilities in your application—this addresses a major gap in existing charging infrastructure and significantly improves user experience
• Enhanced accessibility: Design with standards that exceed minimums, including wider parking spaces, clear pathways, and accessible payment interfaces

Why this matters: Future-proofed technology and thoughtful site design signal to evaluators that you’re building infrastructure for long-term community benefit, not just meeting minimum requirements.

Demonstrate A Plan For Operational Excellence

The ChargeON program requires 98% uptime commitment. Many applicants will promise this; fewer will adequately demonstrate how they’ll achieve it.

Your application needs a comprehensive Operations & Maintenance (O&M) plan with four key components:

• Monitoring approach: 24/7 network connectivity, automated fault detection, and real-time diagnostics
• Response protocol: Who gets called, response time commitments, and escalation procedures
• Maintenance schedule: Specific intervals and procedures for preventive servicing
• Professional management: Consider managed service agreements like SWTCH Care+ rather than relying on internal staff with competing priorities

Extended warranties deserve specific attention. Specify equipment with extended warranty coverage beyond standard terms. This demonstrates long-term operational planning and reduces program risk. Projects are scored more favourably when O&M plans optimize uptime. Factor warranty costs into your budget—evaluators recognize this as sophisticated planning, not unnecessary expense.

Why this matters: A detailed O&M plan shows you understand that deploying chargers is the easy part. Operating them reliably is where many projects fail.

Strategic Project Structuring for Larger Applicants

If you’re planning multiple sites with total costs exceeding $1 million, how you structure your applications directly impacts funding success.

Note that up to 75% of eligible expenditures will be reimbursed – not total project costs. 

ChargeON caps funding at $1 million per project, but you can submit multiple projects. Structure them strategically around three key principles. 

First, separate Public Corridor projects from Public Community projects. Each stream has distinct evaluation criteria, and mixing them weakens both applications. 

Second, group sites within the same priority zones identified in program mapping. This creates stronger need-demonstration than scattering locations across different areas. 

Third, maintain use case coherence: public and retail projects should be distinct from curbside projects near multifamily developments; workplace charging should be distinct from highway charging hubs. Each application should tell a focused story about the specific problem it solves.

One critical rule: You must deploy new chargers, not replace existing equipment. While you can share site infrastructure (electrical service, parking areas), the cost-coverage levels are high enough to warrant all-new equipment. Applications proposing replacements will be rejected.

Include Grid Capacity Information

This is unglamorous but critical: Review your Local Distribution Company’s (LDC) load capacity map before finalizing site selection. Despite proof of utility engagement no longer being a requirement, understanding where capacity exists and proposing uncomplicated sites will increase your potential to be funded. 

Promising projects can fail because the local electrical grid can’t support them—especially for DC fast charging. While capacity maps aren’t perfect, they identify areas with constrained capacity that would require expensive utility upgrades, locations where utility timelines would delay project completion beyond program deadlines, and sites where multiple charging projects might be competing for limited grid capacity. 

Why this matters: Mentioning grid capacity review in your application signals detailed, professional preparation. Discovering capacity issues after receiving funding wastes everyone’s time.

Be Over-prepared and Get The Critical Details Right

Split-stream applicants: If you’re submitting to both Public Corridor and Public Community streams, ensure your Public Community sites are genuinely more than 1.6km from highways. Program definitions are specific, so review them carefully.

Documentation readiness matters even though the online portal reduces upfront paperwork. Have supporting documentation ready if requested during evaluation: site control agreements, vendor quotes, financial commitments. Evaluators appreciate applicants who are prepared for deeper review.

Understand and work with a partner that can support your project’s 5-year reporting requirements. Successful applicants are required to provide the following spreadsheet, on an annual basis:

• The date, time and duration of each charging session, including which charger type (L2/DCFC) and connector type (CCS/NACS/CHAdeMO) was used;
• The kWh drawn for each charging session; 
• The date, time, duration and reason of any service outages or degradation (slower charging speed of ports;
• Charger uptime

Lastly, accessibility requirements directly impact funding levels. If your project won’t be accessible 24/7/365, your cost coverage drops to 25%. Unless you have compelling reasons for restricted hours, design for continuous access.

The Bottom Line

ChargeON’s enhanced funding and streamlined process will generate more applications than ever. The difference between funded and unfunded projects will be who demonstrates:

• Strategic site selection backed by program data
• Realistic operational planning for long-term reliability
• Future-proofed technology choices
• Professional preparation on grid capacity and site design

The most successful applicants will show evaluators exactly why their specific approach aligns with program priorities and positions Ontario for long-term EV charging success.

It may take a little extra work, but given the amount of funding on offer, I think it’s highly worthwhile. And, with program applications currently open, there’s no better time to start preparing than now! 

If you want expert assistance in crafting the best possible application for ChargeOn, reach out to our team! We’ve secured millions in government funding for customers across North America and will be happy to assist you with yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the ChargeON program open for applications? The ChargeON program opens November 3rd, 2025. Applications will be competitive, so preparation before the opening date is essential for success.

How much funding can I receive through ChargeON? ChargeON provides up to $1 million per project. You can submit multiple projects if you’re planning several sites, but each project should be strategically structured around funding stream alignment and use case coherence.

What’s the most important factor in a successful ChargeON application? Strategic site selection backed by the program’s own mapping data is critical. Use the EV Charging Planning maps to confirm your site falls within priority areas and document your location relative to existing infrastructure.

What uptime commitment does ChargeON require? ChargeON requires a 98% uptime commitment. Your application should include a detailed Operations & Maintenance plan specifying monitoring approach, response protocols, maintenance schedules, and professional management arrangements.

Should I include both CCS and NACS connectors in my project? Yes. Dual-standard capability future-proofs your investment as Tesla’s NACS becomes universal. Include both CCS and NACS connectors in your charger specifications.

What happens if my site doesn’t have 24/7 accessibility? Projects without 24/7/365 accessibility receive only 25% cost coverage compared to higher coverage for continuously accessible sites. Design for continuous access unless you have compelling reasons for restricted hours.

Source

This means the amenity package that defines a Class A property isn’t static—it evolves with tenant expectations and lifestyle changes. What separates truly resilient properties from those that gradually lose their competitive edge, then, is the ability to anticipate these shifts rather than react to them.

We’re at one of those inflection points now, and EV charging infrastructure sits at the center of it. Though few multifamily properties overall have adopted EV charging at this point, market trends and tenant demand make it clear that charging availability is becoming a new cornerstone of the Class-A living experience.

Key Takeaways

• EV charging has transitioned from emerging amenity to essential Class A feature, now as fundamental as package management systems or fitness centers
• High-income tenants—like tech professionals, executives, and consultants—are adopting electric vehicles at high rates, making home charging a baseline expectation
• Properties without adequate charging infrastructure face measurable competitive disadvantages: slower lease-ups, weaker renewal rates, and direct tenant migration to competitors
• Implementation quality matters significantly: load management, intuitive access controls, integrated billing, and capacity planning separate strategic installations from basic solutions that require costly retrofits
• The strategic window for proactive implementation is narrowing: properties that act now gain a competitive advantage, while those that delay face reactive installations at higher costs in defensive market positions

Understanding the Class A Tenant Profile Today

High-income tenants who drive Class A property performance—very often tech professionals, executives, and consultants—are choosing electric vehicles at higher rates than the average (Numerator). This behavior has moved from niche to mainstream among the exact demographic that Class A properties depend on for stable, premium-rate occupancy.

For these residents, vehicle choice reflects both environmental values and the adoption of premium consumer technology. They’re accustomed to integrated, seamless experiences across all aspects of their lives. And, when they evaluate where to live, they assess whether a property understands and anticipates their lifestyle needs.

The absence of home charging creates genuine friction for a growing number of these individuals. To get by with public charging networks requires planning around availability, waiting for chargers, and building errands around charging stops. It is inherently less convenient and less premium than charging at home, and for professionals who value their time highly and expect convenience, this presents a significant challenge.

The Competitive Positioning Question

Class A properties command premium rents by offering a superior living experience. Every amenity serves as both a practical feature and a signal about the property’s understanding of its residents’ lives:

• Sophisticated fitness centers signal understanding of wellness priorities
• Package management systems signal recognition of modern lifestyle needs
• Smart climate systems signal appreciation for convenience and control

EV charging infrastructure now carries similar signaling weight. Its presence—or absence—communicates whether a property operates with foresight or falls behind market expectations. More importantly, it directly impacts tenant satisfaction for a rapidly growing portion of the resident base.

The Competitive Reality

Properties without adequate charging infrastructure face straightforward disadvantages:

In tight markets: A property that solves charging needs achieves faster lease-ups and stronger renewal rates.

In softer markets: Charging infrastructure becomes the deciding factor between maintaining occupancy and losing high-value tenants to competitors.

When prospective tenants compare similar properties, the one that addresses their charging needs holds a clear edge.

I’ve seen firsthand the kind of benefit delivered by installing EV charging ahead of the crowd. One property I worked with, Quadrum Global’s 171-unit luxury condominium The Huron, integrated charging infrastructure during initial construction, implementing it seamlessly alongside their existing valet service. 

Lorenzo Bello, Senior Vice President at Quadrum, said the infrastructure has become a competitive differentiator: “There are buyers who look at it as a requirement [because] they already own EV cars.” 

Strategic implementation during development allows charging to integrate with a property’s service model; reactive retrofits require working around established systems at higher cost and with compromised user experience.

Beyond Basic Installation

The quality of EV charging infrastructure matters as much as its presence. Class A tenants expect reliability and sophistication across all building systems, and charging infrastructure is no exception.

Basic, unreliable charging solutions create friction that erodes tenant satisfaction. Systems that force residents to navigate access issues, wait for available chargers, or troubleshoot failures reflect poorly on overall property management standards.

Properties that approach charging infrastructure strategically recognize that implementation quality reflects on their overall management reputation. Critical elements include:

1. Load management systems that ensure consistent performance during peak usage
2. Intuitive access controls that integrate with existing building access and security systems
3. Clear billing integration with standard payment processes
4. Adequate capacity planning for future demand growth

Understanding Load Management

The load management consideration deserves particular attention because it separates functional infrastructure from systems that create new problems. When multiple residents charge simultaneously without load management, the total power demand can exceed the building’s electrical capacity. This forces a choice between expensive electrical panel upgrades—often costing $100,000 or more—or accepting that the charging system will trip breakers during peak usage, frustrating residents and creating service calls.

Smart load management systems solve this by dynamically distributing available power across active charging sessions. If ten chargers are installed but the electrical capacity supports seven simultaneous charging sessions, the system automatically balances load to ensure all vehicles charge reliably, just at modulated rates. Residents get functional charging without electrical infrastructure failures, and properties avoid both the capital cost of oversized electrical upgrades and the operational headache of system outages.

The infrastructure decisions you make today determine how easily your property can scale as EV adoption continues to grow. Properties that install minimum viable charging solutions often find themselves retrofitting within just a few years, disrupting residents and incurring costs that proper initial planning could have avoided.

The Strategic Window: Market-Specific Considerations

Property owners face a timing decision. Acting proactively enables strategic planning, cost-effective implementation, and the ability to position charging infrastructure as a competitive leasing advantage. Waiting forces reactive implementation under pressure—often at higher costs and with less optimal outcomes.

The urgency of this decision varies by market—you can see state-by-state EV registration totals from the US Department of Energy here and a per-capita breakdown here—but the direction is universal:

Urban tech hubs (San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Boston): EV charging has already transitioned to baseline expectation. Properties without adequate infrastructure are operating at a measurable disadvantage now. Implementation here is defensive repositioning rather than proactive advantage-building.

Major metros with high-income demographics (Denver, Portland, Washington DC, Chicago, New York): EV adoption is accelerating rapidly among Class A tenant profiles. Properties that implement robust charging infrastructure in the next 12-18 months gain a 2-3 year competitive advantage before the amenity becomes universally expected.

Secondary markets and emerging tech centers (Nashville, Raleigh, Salt Lake City): Current EV adoption among Class A tenants is moderate but growing. Strategic implementation now positions properties as forward-thinking and establishes infrastructure before competitive pressure forces reactive responses.

Regardless of market, the window for proactive implementation is narrowing. As EV adoption accelerates among high-income demographics, home charging will shift from preference to baseline requirement. Properties that establish robust charging infrastructure now will maintain their Class A positioning. Those that delay will find themselves explaining to prospective tenants why a fundamental amenity is missing—a defensive position no Class A property wants to occupy.

Maintaining Class A Status Through the Next Decade

Class A properties succeed because they consistently meet the evolving expectations of the tenants who drive premium rental markets. EV charging infrastructure has moved from emerging amenity to essential feature for this demographic.

The question facing property owners isn’t whether to implement charging infrastructure, but whether to do so strategically as a competitive advantage or reactively as a catch-up necessity.

The properties that maintain their Class A status through the next decade will be those that recognize this shift and act accordingly. The resilience that has always defined Class A performance demands nothing less.

Ready to give your property the advantages of great EV charging?

Contact SWTCH today for a free consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is EV charging now considered essential for Class A properties?
High-income tenants increasingly drive electric vehicles and expect seamless home charging as a standard amenity. Properties without charging infrastructure face competitive disadvantages in lease-ups and renewals, similar to lacking package management systems or fitness facilities.

What separates quality EV charging infrastructure from basic installations?
Quality implementations include load management systems for consistent performance, intuitive access controls, integrated billing, and capacity planning for future growth. Basic solutions often require costly retrofits and create resident friction.

When should property owners implement EV charging infrastructure?
Proactive implementation allows for strategic planning and cost optimization while positioning charging as a leasing advantage. Waiting typically results in reactive installations under pressure at higher costs with suboptimal outcomes.

How does EV charging infrastructure impact property competitiveness?
In tight markets, charging infrastructure drives faster lease-ups and stronger renewals. In softer markets, it becomes the deciding factor when high-value tenants compare similar properties.

What happens to properties that delay EV charging implementation?
As EV adoption accelerates among Class A demographics, these properties risk losing their Class A positioning. They’ll face the challenge of explaining missing fundamental amenities to prospects—a defensive position that undermines premium rent justification.

Does the urgency vary by market?
Yes. In urban tech hubs, adequate charging is already a baseline expectation. In major metros with high-income demographics, properties have a 12-18 month window for proactive advantage. In secondary markets, strategic implementation now establishes forward-thinking positioning before competitive pressure intensifies.

Source

If you’re not sure what you need, we’ve got you covered. This guide breaks down the three critical questions every first-time buyer needs to answer, in plain English.

Let’s find the perfect charger for your home setup.

Quick Buying Guide

Wiring

• Pick a NEMA 14-50 plug-in charger if: You’re renting, planning to move within a few years, or want the flexibility to take your charger with you.
• Pick a hardwired charger if: You own your home and plan to stay. You’ll get slightly faster charging, better long-term durability, and reduced odds of technical headaches with circuit interrupter conflicts.

Connector type

• Pick a J1772 connector if: You drive (almost) any non-Tesla EV made before 2025. This is the standard round plug with five pins.
• Pick a NACS connector if: You drive a Tesla or a 2025+ model from Ford, GM, or other brands that have switched to Tesla’s connector. Check your specific vehicle to confirm.

Installation

• Before buying, have a licensed electrician verify that your panel can handle the charger (typically 32-48 amps). For most homes with 200A panels, this is a quick inspection. Total installation typically runs $500-$2,000 depending on your setup.
  • If you have a 100A panel, you may need either a panel upgrade OR to install an energy management system.

Before you buy: If you live in a single-family home in Canada, you can receive a FREE EV charger from SWTCH + get paid to charge their vehicles at home. Read more and sign up here.

First, Understanding EV Charger Levels

There are three levels of EV charging:

Level 1 uses regular 120V household outlets but takes 3-5 days for a full charge. You can get by, but it’s not an ideal solution for daily use.

Level 2 uses 240V (like a clothes dryer) and charges overnight in 6-8 hours.

Level 3 (DC fast charging) are commercial units costing $50,000+, commonly found at highway rest stops and shopping centers. You cannot install these at home.

For nearly every homeowner, a Level 2 charging station offers the right balance of speed, cost, and convenience, though those who drive infrequently can make a Level 1 charger work.

This guide focuses on how to find the right level 2 charger for your home.

Question #1: NEMA 14-50 or Hardwired?

Your first choice is how your charger connects to your home’s electrical system. A NEMA 14-50 plug-in charger uses a special high-powered outlet (the same kind clothes dryers use). A hardwired charger skips the outlet and connects the charger directly to your electrical panel.

Choose a NEMA 14-50 Model If:

You’re renting or you plan to move within a few years. Plug-in chargers are easily removable, so you can unplug it and take it with you without calling an electrician. If you rent, you also haven’t made a permanent modification to a property you don’t own.

Another benefit: a NEMA 14-50 outlet can power other equipment like RVs or power tools when you’re not charging your car.

The tradeoff? Plug-in chargers max out at 40 amps, which still fully charges most EVs overnight but isn’t the absolute fastest option.

Choose Hardwired If:

You own your home and plan to stay. Some of the advantages:

Faster charging speeds. Hardwired installations aren’t limited by outlet specs. A 48-amp charger on a 60-amp circuit delivers 11.5 kilowatts—up to 20% faster than plug-in alternatives.

Greater durability. Both options are safe when properly installed, but outlets can wear over time with repeated plugging/unplugging. Hardwiring eliminates this component entirely, removing a potential maintenance point.

Better for outdoor installations. Hardwired connections have fewer exposed components where moisture could enter over time, offering superior long-term weather protection.

Fewer technical headaches. Garage outlets often require GFCI breakers to prevent shocks, but EV chargers have built-in GFCI protection. Two GFCIs in one circuit can conflict, causing nuisance tripping. Hardwiring sidesteps this frustration.

Question #2: J1772 or NACS Connector?

This is the trickiest part of buying a charger in 2025, as the auto industry is mid-transition between connector types.

For years, nearly every EV except Tesla used J1772—the round plug with five pins you see at public chargers. Tesla used its own connector, now called NACS (North American Charging Standard).

In 2023-2024, Ford, GM, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, VW, Mercedes, and most major automakers announced they’re switching to NACS starting with 2025-2026 models, largely because Tesla’s public Supercharger network is so extensive.

Which Connector Do You Need?

As a rule of thumb:

Driving a Tesla? You have NACS—a compact oval-shaped port.

Any other brand made before 2025? You almost certainly have J1772—a larger round port with five pins (Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, 2024 Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 5, etc.).

Buying a 2025-2026 model? Some have switched to NACS, others haven’t.

But to be absolutely sure, follow these steps to identify your connector:

1. Locate your car’s charging port
2. Open the port door
3. Take a photo of the port for reference
4. Identify which type you have by comparing the photo of the charging port on your vehicle to the connector types here.

Question #3: Can Your Electrical Panel Handle It?

This is the most critical question, as you need to be sure your home’s electrical panel is able to service your charger in addition to the rest of your property’s electrical load.

Note: The safest and best way to know if your system can handle a charger is to consult a licensed electrician. Our advice for how you can do a quick check yourself is intended only as a starting point.

Start with a Visual Check

Open your electrical panel (breaker box, usually in garage/basement). Find the main breaker—typically the largest switch at the top or bottom.

The number on that breaker shows your home’s total capacity in amps: usually 100, 150, or 200. Modern homes (post-2000) typically have 150-200 amps, which is generally sufficient. Older homes often have 100-amp service and may need an upgrade.

Next, check for two empty, adjacent slots where a new double-pole breaker could go.

There’s also a safety rule: circuits must be sized at 125% of the charger’s amperage. A 40-amp charger needs a 50-amp circuit. A 48-amp charger needs 60 amps. This prevents overheating and fire hazards.

Important: This visual check only tells you the basics. It reveals nothing about whether your existing loads leave room for a charger.

Next, Consult a Licensed Electrician

Odds are, you’ll want a licensed electrician to install your EV charger. As part of that process, they’ll likely do a quick inspection of your panel, and may even proceed with a full load calculation to be sure your home can handle a charger.

With a load calculation, the electrician adds up all your home’s power consumption—HVAC, water heater, oven, dryer, lighting, everything—then adds the proposed charger. The calculation shows whether your panel can safely handle it all.

However they approach the verification, if a trustworthy electrician tells you you’re all set, you should have no issues adding a new charger to your property.

If Your Panel Is Maxed Out

Three solutions:

Panel Upgrade: Replace your panel with higher capacity (ex: go from 100-amp to 200-amp). This costs $1,500-$3,000, but it increases your home’s value and provides capacity for future needs.

Subpanel: If your main panel has capacity but is physically full (no breaker slots), you can add a subpanel nearby. This is less expensive than a full replacement.

EV Energy Management System (EVEMS): This device monitors your home’s real-time electricity use and automatically adjusts EV charging. Your car charges at full speed overnight when demand is low. When big appliances turn on (AC, oven, dryer), it reduces charging to prevent overload. This can often eliminate expensive panel upgrades, and costs generally range from $1,200 to $1,500 for the component and installation.

Making Your Decision

Home charging is the most cost-effective, convenient way to own an EV, saving hundreds to thousands annually versus public stations.

To recap:

• Plug-in chargers offer flexibility for renters and those who may move.
• Hardwired chargers provide better performance for homeowners staying put.
• Match your connector to your vehicle’s port (J1772 for most current non-Tesla EVs, NACS for Teslas and some 2025+ models).
• Consult a licensed electrician before installation.

The upfront investment pays dividends daily. No more planning charging station trips or waiting in lines. Just plug in at home and wake up to a fully charged vehicle—as simple as charging your phone overnight.

Live in Canada?

Get a FREE EV charger—and get paid to charge—by joining the SWTCH Home Charging Program!

Source

How does better performance lead to unhappier customers? The answer is that it takes more than gradually improving charger reliability to produce a charging experience drivers love. And problems do persist, particularly in the public charging arena.

What’s exciting, though, is that the specific challenges faced by public charging networks can easily be addressed by property owners at multifamily, workplace, and commercial properties.

While public charging companies struggle with structural limitations across thousands of remote locations, property owners can deliver the consistent, premium charging experiences that EV drivers are increasingly demanding—and willing to pay for.

Key Takeaways

• Market Gap: Few multifamily properties offer EV charging, but prospective EV buyers say they would pay premium rents for reliable on-site charging access.
• Structural Advantage: Property owners can solve core problems that public charging networks have difficulty with—ensuring reliability, eliminating app chaos, maintaining safety, and creating seamless user experiences.
• Revenue Opportunity: EV ownership is projected to reach 30+ million vehicles by 2030, creating sustained demand across multifamily, office, retail, and hospitality properties.
• Implementation Support: Charging-as-a-Service models eliminate upfront costs through revenue sharing, while incentive and rebate programs cover thousands in installation and upgrade costs.
• First-Mover Timing: With 95% of properties lacking charging infrastructure, early adopters can establish competitive advantages before the market becomes saturated.

Contact SWTCH to set your property up for EV charging success

The “Dissatisfaction Paradox” of EV Charging

The reason EV charging satisfaction is decreasing even when EV charging is generally more reliable is, in part, because both prices and expectations are increasing. When 1 in 7 public charging attempts still fail, EV drivers are essentially saying: “We thought this was getting fixed, but service is still too unreliable, and prices are going up.”

This creates a “dissatisfaction paradox,” where improvements to core metrics are unable to prevent reduced customer satisfaction. And even with ongoing improvements, according to J.D. Power, charger reliability has emerged as a primary source of driver frustration, while high costs remain the least satisfying aspect of the experience.

The Challenges of Public Charging

By their nature, public charging networks face certain challenges or constraints that make it more difficult for them to achieve the highest levels of consistency and quality in EV charging performance.

• They typically manage hundreds or thousands of scattered locations
• There may be inconsistent maintenance protocols across their network
• Networks often have limited or no control over surrounding safety and user experience
• Industry-wide payment and access fragmentation make for an overall inconvenience for drivers

To be clear: There are plenty of public charging networks that do an excellent job of providing a high-quality, convenient charging experience. They do it through high standards for reliability, a commitment to cross-network access through roaming programs, or innovative approaches to providing charging.

But the fact remains that public charging faces inherent challenges that are either reduced or absent in property-based charging.

Five Strategic Advantages Property Owners Control

By virtue of its smaller scale, property-based EV charging naturally avoids or solves several of the core problems that are hindering public charging satisfaction.

Reliability Is More Controllable

When you own the location, you control connectivity, maintenance protocols, and environmental factors. Typically, EV charging networks will report or guarantee 97%+ uptime rates, compared with the established uptime of approximately 86% for public networks.

The Price is Better (for Everyone)

Property-based charging is typically less expensive than public networks (Kelley Blue Book), especially compared to DC fast charging. Property owners keep prices lower to keep tenants happy (important for folks who live or work at your building) and encourage utilization, and drivers make use of the chargers because they’re a great deal compared with public options, driving more revenue to the property owners as a result.

Safety Becomes Easier

Charging takes place in familiar, secure environments that people trust, such as the parking lot for their apartment building or the garage at work, rather than in isolated parking lots where lighting and security may be lacking (both known to be important factors in improving EV charging safety).

Access is Seamless

When EV charging is integrated with building access and other amenities through a tenant experience app, property-based charging becomes frictionless and convenient. Public charging, on the other hand, still often involves drivers using multiple apps or carrying multiple RFID cards to access different charging networks

Charging Becomes Convenient

Charging happens while people sleep, work, or enjoy building amenities—transforming idle “dwell time” from a burden into productive, diverting, or revenue-generating time. Public charging, on the other hand, still often involves waiting around near a car until it’s finished charging.

The Numbers That Should Get Every Property Owner’s Attention

It’s difficult to determine the exact number of multifamily properties that have EV charging, but what is certain is that only a small percentage of apartment and condo buildings today either have or are even actively searching for charging solutions.

This is a strategic error. Not only because EVs are expected to take over the market over the next decade, but because 58% of renters planning EV purchases would pay premium rents for on-site charging access. This means early movers can establish market-leading positions in appealing to EV drivers and see immediate financial benefit for doing so.

And this opportunity extends beyond multifamily. Office buildings can attract tenants who need workplace charging. Retail properties can drive customers inside during longer charging sessions. Hotels can differentiate with reliable guest charging. The thread connecting all these opportunities is the same: providing better experiences than fragmented public networks.

The Strategic Implementation Framework

Smart property owners approach implementing EV charging systematically, not reactively. The most successful implementations I’ve observed follow three principles:

First, solve for scale from day one. Load management technology allows properties to significantly increase charging capacity on existing electrical infrastructure. This transforms apparent constraints into competitive advantages that competitors can’t easily replicate.

Second, transfer operational complexity to experts. Charging-as-a-Service payment models let properties offer advanced amenities without becoming technology companies. Revenue-sharing arrangements eliminate upfront costs while ensuring professional maintenance and support.

Third, leverage available incentives. Rebate and incentive programs currently provide installation support, though these opportunities are often time-limited and competitive. Property owners should evaluate current incentive landscapes as part of their implementation timeline.

Success story: How The Huron brought premium EV charging to life with EV charging-as-a-service

The Window Is Narrowing

This opportunity exists because, though there are inherent difficulties in public charging, property owners haven’t yet recognized that they can offer a charging experience that many EV drivers will vastly prefer.

But market recognition is accelerating. As more property owners understand the revenue potential and competitive differentiation possible through superior charging experiences, first-mover advantages will diminish.

The properties that act now—while incentives are maximized and competition is minimal—will establish positions that become increasingly difficult to replicate as the market matures.

Ready to install reliable EV charging your tenants will love?

Contact us today to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions About Property-Based EV Charging

Q: What’s the typical payback period for property owners investing in EV charging?
A: Most properties see payback within 3-5 years through premium rents, increased occupancy rates, and revenue sharing from charging fees. Properties in high-EV adoption markets often achieve payback in 2-3 years.

Q: How much electrical capacity do I need for EV charging infrastructure?
A: Advanced load management solutions, such as our own SWTCH Control, can help you install as many chargers as you need without any electrical upgrades required.

Q: What happens if a non-EV driver parks in a charging spot?
A: Modern charging systems include violation management features that can photograph violators and integrate with towing services. Many properties also implement clear signage and lease addendums that establish charging spots as restricted spaces with consequences for misuse.

Q: Who handles maintenance and support when chargers break down?
A: With Charging-as-a-Service models, the provider handles all maintenance, repairs, and 24/7 driver support. Property management teams aren’t responsible for troubleshooting charging issues – the service provider manages the entire operation remotely and dispatches technicians when needed.

Q: How do I handle billing for residents or tenants who use the chargers?
A: Networked charging systems provide automated billing directly to users based on actual electricity consumed. Property owners never have to manually calculate usage or send invoices – the system handles all transactions, reporting, and payment processing automatically.

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“You’ll need a $100,000 electrical service upgrade.”

Enthusiasm gone.

What began as a promising amenity project—one that could differentiate the property and attract environmentally conscious tenants—transforms into a financial non-starter. The payback period stretches beyond acceptable limits, and another EV charging initiative joins the graveyard of “financially unviable” projects.

This scenario represents a fundamental disconnect. Tenants increasingly expect EV charging as a basic amenity, yet property owners face prohibitive upfront costs that make installation seem impossible.

Here’s the good news: Today, this expensive upgrade is often completely unnecessary.

The question isn’t “How can we afford a six-figure upgrade?” but rather “Do we actually need one?” Increasingly, the answer is no.

Smart load management technology can eliminate these costs entirely, transforming EV charging from a capital-intensive construction project into a high-ROI amenity.

Key Takeaways:

• Cost Savings: Smart load management can eliminate tens or hundreds of thousands in electrical upgrade costs
• Four System Levels: From basic circuit sharing to whole-building integration, each suited for different needs and budgets
• Real-World Performance: Systems adapt to actual usage patterns, not theoretical peak demand
• Quick ROI: Dramatically reduced upfront investment accelerates payback periods
• Future-Proof: Easier expansion and ongoing operational savings through demand charge management

Why EV Charging Projects Hit Unexpected Cost Barriers

Because of the speed of development in EV charging, electrical contractors often aren’t fully aware of what’s possible with modern load management technology.

When assessing EV charging requirements, many contractors take conservative approaches to ensure adequate power capacity, which can lead to recommendations for expensive electrical upgrades.

The traditional thinking focuses on peak theoretical demand: if you’re installing 10 chargers, you might need substantial electrical capacity to handle all of them being in use at once. But this approach doesn’t account for real-world usage patterns.

Real-world EV charging behavior reveals significant variability. Residents arrive at different times, their vehicles have varying charge levels based on daily usage, and most charging occurs during extended overnight periods when power can be distributed efficiently across time rather than concentrated in peak demand moments.

Fundamentally, the problem isn’t insufficient power—it’s that many projects don’t explore intelligent power distribution options that could eliminate the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades.

The Four Levels of Smart Load Management: Choosing Your Strategy

Smart load management isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Modern systems offer four distinct approaches, each designed for different situations, budgets, and performance requirements.

Level 1: Circuit Load Sharing

Best for: Smaller, budget-conscious installations with predictable usage patterns

The most basic approach allows multiple chargers to share a single electrical circuit. Four chargers on a 40-amp circuit might each receive 8 amps when all are active (enough for 20-30 miles of range in 3 hours), or the full 32 available amps when charging alone.

Note: It’s best practice to only use about 80% of a circuit’s capacity, hence the “full” 32 amps on a 40-amp circuit.

Trade-offs: Unpredictable performance when neighbors plug in simultaneously, and system failures can impact multiple chargers.

Example: The Arncote Development in Langford, British Columbia used circuit load sharing to install eight charging stations on just two circuits, helping keep electrical infrastructure costs down.

Level 2: Dedicated Circuits with Centralized Management

Best for: New constructions prioritizing driver experience

Every charger gets its own dedicated circuit, but a centralized system manages power allocation across all of them. Vehicles typically receive 30-40 amps initially, with throttling only occurring when the electrical panel approaches total capacity.

Trade-offs: Higher upfront installation costs, but superior performance and reliability.

Level 3: Panel-Integrated Dynamic Load Management

Best for: Retrofitting existing buildings without major upgrades

Current Transformer (CT) clamps monitor real-time power consumption at electrical panels, allocating remaining capacity to EV charging. When air conditioning peaks on hot afternoons, EV charging temporarily reduces.

When HVAC cycles off at night, charging power automatically increases.

Trade-offs: Charging performance directly correlates with building-wide electrical consumption, potentially seeing 70-80% speed reductions during extreme weather.

Example: By using panel-integrated load management, ASPAC Developments’ Hollybridge at River Green property was able to save $1,000 per parking stall on a 574-stall EV-readiness upgrade.

Read the full success story here.

Level 4: Whole-Building Integrated Management

Best for: Large properties with substantial utility demand charges

The most sophisticated approach monitors the building’s main electrical feed to prevent costly demand charge spikes (additional fees based on peak 15-minute power usage each month). Many larger properties pay fees based on their single highest 15-minute power usage peak each month—substantial demand EV charging at the wrong time could trigger thousands in additional monthly charges.

Trade-offs: Most complex installation requiring coordination between multiple stakeholders, but can deliver substantial ongoing operational savings.

Example: Shannon Wall Centre was able to save more than $1 million on electrical work for getting 300 parking stalls EV-ready by using whole-building integrated load management for its EV chargers.

Read the full success story here.

Load Management System Comparison

Financial Comparison: Traditional vs. Smart Load Management

The economic case for smart load management becomes clear when comparing project pathways. Consider a typical multifamily property planning to install a bank of Level 2 chargers:

Traditional Approach:

• Initial project cost: The cost of the EV charging hardware and standard installation
• Required electrical upgrade: A major, and often prohibitive, electrical service upgrade is frequently required. This cost alone can easily double or even triple the project’s initial budget, bringing many projects to a halt
• Total upfront investment: A substantial capital outlay, driven largely by the massive cost of the infrastructure upgrade

Smart Load Management Approach:

• Initial project cost: The cost of networked EV chargers and installation, which includes a marginal increase for smart technology like a network gateway and CT clamps (current transformer monitoring devices)
  Required electrical upgrade: $0. The system is designed to work within your building’s existing capacity
• Total upfront investment: A dramatically lower investment, focused on the charging technology itself rather than on expensive, foundational electrical work
• Ongoing costs: Modest annual software and network fees to support the intelligent management platform

By eliminating the need for a major electrical upgrade, the smart approach can slash the total upfront investment required, often by more than half.

And for those properties that opt for total building optimization, load management can deliver thousands of dollars in additional ongoing monthly savings, creating even more substantial ROI.

The Strategic Action Plan for Load Management: Beyond “Call an Electrician First”

To install EV charging that saves money through load management, it’s important to use a data-driven strategy that identifies the best path forward for your property specifically.

Step 1: Assess Your Property’s Present Situation

Before selecting hardware, understand your building’s electrical consumption patterns and determine which level of load management aligns with your priorities:

• Budget constraints → Consider Level 1 or 3
• Performance priority → Level 2 or 4
• Existing building limitations → Level 3
• High utility demand charges → Level 4

Step 2: Power Capacity Assessment

Commission a comprehensive analysis of actual building electrical consumption patterns over extended periods. This usually involves installing temporary monitoring equipment or analyzing utility data to understand peak usage throughout different seasons.

Step 3: Performance Modeling

Work with qualified EV charging solutions experts to model how your chosen load management level would perform using your current electrical infrastructure. This modeling uses actual consumption data to simulate various charging scenarios and demonstrate the system’s ability to meet requirements within existing constraints.

Step 4: Right-Size Your Solution

Only after understanding available capacity and modeled system performance should hardware selection proceed. This ensures solutions optimize actual conditions rather than theoretical maximums.

The Strategic Imperative: Treating Electrical Capacity as a Manageable Asset

This methodology represents more than cost avoidance—it embodies a strategic approach to infrastructure investment that treats electrical capacity as a manageable asset rather than a fixed constraint.

Properties that adopt load-managed EV charging position themselves to be flexible in the face of evolving tenant expectations while also keeping their costs lower.

Beyond lower initial costs, some of the advantages that load management can offer include:

• Easier expansion when more chargers are needed
• Potential ongoing savings through demand charge management
• Enhanced property value through future-ready infrastructure

Smart Load Management: The Key to Accessible EV Charging

For forward-thinking property owners, smart load management provides the tools for approaching EV charging strategically and with an eye on rapid ROI.

The right system allows you to deploy more chargers with significantly less infrastructure investment, all while ensuring driver satisfaction and controlling ongoing operational costs.

The properties that recognize this opportunity will avoid significant capital expenditures while positioning themselves as innovation leaders. People want EV charging today, and the faster you can deliver, the sooner you can start building up goodwill with them.

Ready to explore smart load management for your property?

Get in touch with our team today! We’ll help you get started.

Smart Load Management FAQ

Q: Will my charging speed always be slower with load management?
A: Not always! Dedicated-circuit systems often provide full-speed charging most of the time, only throttling when the entire system approaches capacity. Even panel-integrated systems frequently deliver high charging speeds during off-peak hours when building loads are minimal.

Q: What if my building’s electrical needs change seasonally?
A: Advanced systems will adapt to your consumption throughout the year. Total building optimization systems are particularly sophisticated, pre-adjusting charging schedules based on weather forecasts and historical building consumption data.

Q: Can I upgrade my load management technology later?
A: Yes, though depending on where you start and what you want to implement, there may be some installation or electrical work that needs to be performed.

Q: How do I explain variable charging speeds to residents?
A: Proactive communication is key. Use signage and app notifications to explain that the system optimizes charging based on building-wide energy use, ensuring everyone gets adequate overnight charging while avoiding expensive electrical upgrades that would increase costs.

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There are many strategies a property might employ to retain its residents, but in an era where the average cost of resident turnover approaches $4,000 per unit, one amenity stands out as particularly well-positioned to drive this retention advantage: electric vehicle charging.

EV chargers are in high demand among drivers who need a convenient place to plug in, but there’s more to their appeal. Underreported value lies in their ability to serve as catalysts for building a strong community culture. It’s this culture that can make the difference in getting your best residents to stay.

The financial power of fostering belonging

While the value of a strong community feels obvious, a specific value for a community-building initiative may feel hard to quantify. Still, by examining the various costs associated with turnover, we can begin to approach something like an accurate estimate.

To begin, it’s important to assess the true cost of resident turnover not as a single event, but as a cascade of distinct expenses that accumulate each time a resident leaves.

Per Zego, average turnover costs include:

• Lost rent: $1,560.
• Make-Ready Costs (repairs, painting, etc.): $736
• Marketing: $358
• Concessions: $1,218

And while this sums up to nearly $4,000, it doesn’t even account for secondary effects like operational strain on your team, the risk of negative reviews from outgoing tenants, and potential erosion of the social stability that makes a community truly desirable.

This is where the investment in community, catalyzed by amenities like EV charging, begins to pay powerful dividends.

Consider a 200-unit property with an average turnover of about 45% (LeaseLock). If, by fostering a sense of community and belonging, you could decrease this to even just 40%, that’s $40,000 per year in avoided turnover costs.

And this financial upside doesn’t stop at cost savings. Properties that cultivate loyalty and become known as exceptional places to live often command higher rent premiums thanks to residents being less resistant to rent increases.

And these positive attributes all reinforce each other and produce advantages across all areas of property management; a stable, engaged resident base leads to stronger word-of-mouth referrals, which lowers future marketing costs, and a genuine community atmosphere accelerates leasing when units do become available. It’s a virtuous cycle, and it helps your team to shift their focus from the reactive churn of turnover management to proactive community enhancement, creating a self-reinforcing flywheel of success.

But how exactly does an amenity like EV charging catalyze this kind of community transformation? The answer lies in understanding the psychological progression that turns functional conveniences into sources of identity and belonging.

How amenities like EV charging can drive retention: a three-stage process

Though price is certainly a factor in where people live, it tends not to be the most significant reason for residents leaving a multifamily home. Rather, it’s more often the case that they leave because they feel no meaningful connection to the property where they live.

A successful retention strategy, therefore, ought to recognize that resident loyalty operates on multiple levels and take steps not only to meet the basic needs of a home but to foster greater emotional investment.

This dynamic can be understood through three distinct stages of resident engagement.

Stage 1: Functional adoption

Initially, residents interact with amenities—including EV chargers—as utilities. The charging station serves its primary function: providing power to their vehicle. This represents the baseline expectation, a necessary but insufficient condition for retention. At this stage, the amenity’s value is purely transactional.

Stage 2: Community integration

The transformative shift occurs when amenities become integrated into the community’s narrative and identity. At this stage, EV chargers evolve from individual conveniences to visible symbols of shared values—sustainability, innovation, and forward-thinking. They become part of the community’s story, a point of collective pride that residents actively discuss and promote.

Stage 3: Identity alignment

The most powerful retention dynamic emerges when residents begin to see their personal identity as intertwined with the community’s identity. When a resident describes their home as “innovative” or “environmentally conscious,” their sense of belonging deepens. While no single amenity can redefine someone’s identity, amenities that consistently reinforce a community’s values—like sustainability and innovation—can deepen a resident’s emotional investment over time. This psychological investment makes the prospect of relocating not just inconvenient, but inconsistent with their self-concept.

From a strategic perspective, then, deploying amenities with the potential to progress from utility to identity offers much greater retention value than those that will remain purely functional. EV charging infrastructure, with its visible commitment to sustainability and technological advancement, is uniquely well-positioned to undergo this progression.

This becomes especially potent given the speed with which EVs are being adopted.

Per Cox Automotive, EVs represented 7.5% of new US car sales in Q1 2025, with projections by J.D. Power indicating they will have around a 36% market share by 2030. Meanwhile, about 43.9 million residences (accounting for a third of Americans) are multifamily, yet few rental properties currently offer EV charging access.

This supply-demand imbalance creates opportunity. Early movers can capture and retain a growing demographic of environmentally conscious residents who are actively seeking communities that support their lifestyle choices.

A strategic framework for value creation through EV charging

The transformation of EV charging from amenity to retention driver requires strategic thinking about three core value creation mechanisms: recognition, engagement, and narrative.

Recognition: Position EV charging as the premium, community-focused offering that it is

Position EV parking in premium locations with distinct branding that highlights your property’s commitment to electrification or sustainability as a whole.
This approach serves multiple purposes. It provides tangible value that EV-owning residents immediately appreciate, creates visible differentiation that reinforces community values, and establishes exclusivity that enhances perceived value across the resident base.

The marginal expense of premium signage and preferred positioning for the parking spaces generates ongoing positive reinforcement that strengthens residents’ emotional connection to the community.

Engagement: Turn EV charging into a shared victory

Just installing EV chargers and making the effort to promote them to your residents should lead to increasing usage over time. To make them into true drivers of engagement, though, a little additional work will go a long way.

Consider hosting a launch event for your residents or hosting sustainability showcases that feature your charging offering. These initiatives create shared experiences that build connections between residents and invite them to participate in your electrification journey. Anonymous apartment living is replaced with genuine membership in a community.

The uptake may not be substantial to start, but making a consistent effort across these kinds of activities will likely generate returns that far exceed the cost and effort associated with implementing them.

Narrative: Make EV charging into a story, not just an amenity

To maximize the effectiveness of an EV charging deployment, you should develop consistent communication that positions this amenity within broader community achievements.
Share quarterly milestones such as “Our community supported 25,000 clean transportation miles” or “Together, we’ve offset 150 tons of CO2 emissions.”

This approach transforms routine amenity usage into meaningful participation in collective environmental progress. Even for those who do not (yet) own an EV, the statistics around the environmental benefit of your property’s charging stations will likely be interesting data that leads them to hold your property in higher esteem.

The aim is to create emotional investment that transcends transactional relationships. When residents view their home as a place where their values are actively supported and their choices contribute to meaningful collective impact, their connection deepens, moving beyond simple housing satisfaction to a more significant alignment of home with identity.

Potential limitations to this strategy

Your community’s demographics don’t align well

Though there’s a lot of value in establishing your EV charging amenity as something core to your community, there are situations in which the impact of doing so may be reduced.
Properties serving markets with minimal EV adoption rates (below 2-3%, let’s say), demographics skewing significantly older (65+ as primary resident base), or communities where retention decisions are driven primarily by economic rather than lifestyle factors may find they get reduced mileage from this undertaking. Alternative retention strategies may prove stronger bets in these situations.

Costs exceed the likely benefit for your property in particular

If your property is expecting significant electrical upgrade costs before chargers can even be installed, you may want to pursue a goal of better retention through less costly measures. Note, however, that advanced electrical load management technology like SWTCH Control can eliminate the need for electrical upgrades to install EV charging stations, dramatically improving the ROI of EV charging projects.

Or, if your property is already achieving retention rates significantly above market averages, you may experience diminishing returns from amenity-based initiatives compared to investments in simply upgrading your operational efficiency.

All of this said, even if EV charging is not the right fit today, the strategic principle remains constant: identify amenities that create opportunities for value alignment and community engagement around shared goals, whether through smart building technology, comprehensive sustainability programs, or other innovation-forward initiatives that resonate with target demographics.

Why now’s the time to invest in building community

The multifamily housing industry is in a period of increased competition and operational complexity. Properties that rely solely on amenity arms races or pricing strategies will find themselves vulnerable to competitors with deep enough pockets to replicate features and match concessions.

The retention advantage created through nurturing an authentic community culture represents a fundamentally different type of competitive asset. Another property can install similar charging stations or offer comparable amenities, but they cannot instantly replicate the social connections, shared identity, and emotional investment that characterize truly engaged resident communities.
This is especially important in challenging market conditions. Properties with strong community cultures demonstrate greater revenue stability, reduced price sensitivity, and enhanced resident advocacy. These communities create their own market demand through word-of-mouth referrals and positive reputation effects that transcend traditional marketing approaches.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, when deployed as a community-building asset rather than merely a functional amenity, provides one prominent pathway to this competitive advantage. The key lies in recognizing that the technology itself is not the strategy—the strategy is using visible commitments to shared values as foundations for building within and to your community.

Ready to make EV charging a retention engine at your property?

Reach out to SWTCH today to get started!

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At SWTCH, we believe this is an exciting opportunity, not a burden. By proactively embracing EV charging, you can not only avoid higher fees but also attract a growing base of EV drivers, enhance your property’s value, and contribute to a greener city.

What You Need to Know: The Vancouver Mandate

The City of Vancouver’s updated business license requirements are designed to accelerate the build-out of public EV charging infrastructure. Here’s a quick overview of the key specifications:

• Gas Stations: Must provide at least 50 kW of charging capacity. This typically means installing one DC Fast Charging station. Gas stations have the flexibility to install this charging on-site or, with pre-approval from the City, at an off-site location.
• Commercial Parking Lots (60+ stalls): Need to offer a total of 26.6 kW of charging capacity. This is equivalent to approximately four Level 2 charging stations, which are ideal for longer stays.

The deadline to submit your verification package to the City of Vancouver is September 1, 2025, to qualify for the lower business license fee starting in 2026. If you don’t meet these requirements, your annual business license fee could jump to $10,000.

Why Act Now? Beyond Compliance

While avoiding a hefty fee is a clear motivator, the benefits of installing EV charging extend far beyond mere compliance:

1. Attract a Growing Customer Base: The number of EV drivers on the road is rapidly increasing. By offering convenient charging, you position your business as a destination for this growing demographic, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits.
2. Boost Property Value & Future-Proof: EV charging infrastructure is becoming an essential amenity. For parking lot owners, it enhances the appeal and value of your property. For gas stations, it diversifies your service offering and prepares you for the evolving automotive landscape.
3. Demonstrate Environmental Leadership: Installing EV chargers showcases your commitment to sustainability and supports Vancouver’s climate action goals, enhancing your brand image within the community.
4. Avoid Delays and Headaches: Electrical upgrades and charger installations can take time. Starting the process now ensures you have ample time to plan, secure permits, and complete the installation before the September 1, 2025 deadline.

Your Step-by-Step Path to EV Charging Success

Navigating new regulations can feel complex, but with a structured approach, it’s entirely manageable. Here’s how SWTCH can help streamline the process for you:

1. Assess Your Needs: We’ll work with you to evaluate your property’s existing electrical capacity, determine the optimal number and type of chargers for your specific needs, and identify ideal installation locations.
2. Expert Design & Planning: Our team of EV charging specialists will design a solution that meets Vancouver’s requirements, optimizes energy usage, and integrates seamlessly with your operations. For gas stations considering off-site charging, we can guide you through the pre-approval process with the City.
3. Seamless Installation & Management: From coordinating with electricians and managing permits to ensuring proper connectivity and ongoing maintenance, SWTCH provides end-to-end support. Our intelligent load management solutions ensure your property never exceeds its electrical capacity, even with multiple chargers in use.
4. Verification & Beyond: We’ll assist you in compiling the necessary documentation for your verification package to the City of Vancouver, ensuring you meet the September 1, 2025, deadline. Beyond that, our robust software platform provides real-time data and insights, making it easy to manage your charging stations and monitor their performance.

The Time to Electrify is Now

Vancouver’s new EV charging requirements are a clear signal: the future of transportation is electric. By taking proactive steps to install charging infrastructure, gas stations and parking lots can not only avoid penalties but also unlock new revenue streams, attract a growing customer base, and solidify their position as forward-thinking businesses.

Don’t wait until the last minute! Contact SWTCH today for a complimentary consultation. Let us help you navigate these new requirements, design a tailored EV charging solution, and ensure your business is ready for Vancouver’s electric future.

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This guide provides a clear, step-by-step path for you to successfully implement and manage EV charging. By following these steps, you can turn charging into a significant opportunity, enhancing your facilities and preparing for a profitable, sustainable future.

Just want to talk to someone about your facility? Reach out to us here!

First, why EV charging matters for parking

By adding EV charging to your parking facility, you can turn electric vehicle market growth into a profit-driver.

Customer Attraction

EV drivers actively seek charging locations and often demonstrate higher loyalty to parking facilities that offer convenient charging. This creates powerful competitive differentiation as EV adoption accelerates.

New Revenue Streams

Well-managed EV charging generates revenue through energy sales, session fees, or premium parking rates.

Future-Proof Your Facility

EV charging is changing from a luxury amenity to essential infrastructure. Early installation protects long-term asset value and market relevance.

But understanding the opportunity is just the beginning. Ready to get started? First, we’ll help you evaluate whether your facility is ready for successful EV charging implementation.

Step 1: Assess your facility’s EV-readiness

The first step of any EV charging installation is to figure out what work actually needs to be done to get a high-quality charging amenity installed. You may find you’re more ready than you think!

Here are the basics you ought to complete.

Initial check of your electrical capacity

Have an electrical contractor experienced in EV charging assess your current electrical service and available power near potential charger locations. This will help determine how many chargers you can install.

Note that you can also rely on load management technologies to extend the capabilities of your electrical infrastructure. With an advanced solution like SWTCH Control, the full potential of your electrical infrastructure will be accessed, allowing you to install as many chargers as you need with zero upgrades required.

Evaluate prime locations

Identify parking spots that are visible, easily accessible, well-lit, and close to entrances. Good charger placement balances user convenience with installation costs.

Gauge current demand

Count existing EVs that frequent your facility and survey parkers about EV ownership plans. You should also research local EV adoption rates and public charger availability in your area to understand broader market trends. These data help determine initial charger quantity and future expansion needs.

With site readiness confirmed, your next step is to set clear goals that will drive your implementation strategy.

Step 2: Set your goals for EV charging

There are different approaches to success with EV charging, and

Choose your primary goal

Decide whether EV charging serves mainly as a customer amenity or a direct revenue generator. This fundamental choice guides all subsequent decisions about pricing, equipment, and operations.

Determine your future scale

Start with 2-4 chargers based on current demand, but plan electrical infrastructure for future expansion. It’s much cheaper to install extra capacity now than to retrofit later.

Set financial targets

Establish realistic revenue goals and ROI expectations. Account for both direct revenue generated by EV charging and related increases in revenue driven by things like increased occupancy, new corporate parking contracts, etc.

Once you have specific what it is you want to accomplish, the next step is to secure partners to help you plan your installation, select the right technology, and navigate funding programs to drive down the cost of your project.

Step 3: Secure funding & solutions partners

With so many funding programs available at the federal, state, local, and utility levels, odds are good that you won’t have to pay full-price for your charging stations or installation. In some places, you could get the entire project paid for entirely!

In order to maximize your odds of success, though, you’ll want to ensure you’ve found the right partners to guide you through your installation and help navigate the application process for funding programs.

Apply for available incentives

Federal, state, and utility-level programs can cover thousands of dollars of your total costs.

Work with an EV solutions provider like SWTCH to identify the best funding programs and maximize your odds of a successful application.

Select reliable hardware

Choose commercial-grade chargers with proven reliability, smart connectivity, and strong warranties. OCPP-certified hardware will help ensure you can easily swap software or chargers down the line without issue.

Find qualified installers

Use only licensed electrical contractors with extensive EV charging experience. This will help you avoid potentially costly mistakes down the line.

With your partners identified and your funding applications in the works, it’s time to plan out your installation in detail.

Step 4: Plan your installation

Having taken stock of your current electrical capacity, secured your partners, identified target funding programs, and outlined your goals for EV charging, it’s time to plan the actual installation.

Complete a full electrical assessment

Work with your installation partner to conduct thorough load calculations and identify exactly what level of electrical upgrade you need (if any). This prevents costly surprises and ensures safe installation.

Design optimal layout

Group multiple chargers to share electrical infrastructure where possible. Plan for accessibility compliance and future expansion during initial design.

Budget completely

Installation typically costs substantially more than the hardware price. Include electrical work, permits, trenching, and extra contingency money in your budget planning.

If all has gone well to this point, you will be in the perfect position to get to the most exciting part of this process: installing your chargers!

Step 5: Install charging stations in your parking facility

This is the big moment. Installing a great charging station setup in your parking facility can set you up for success for years to come, so it’s important to make sure everything proceeds according to plan.

Oversee the installation process

Maintain clear communication with contractors and verify all permits are obtained before work begins. Quality installation prevents future operational problems.

Here, again, you can rely on a dependable EV charging solutions provider like SWTCH to assist with ensuring your project is being deployed correctly.

Test everything thoroughly

Test each charger with actual EVs, verify payment processing, and confirm network connectivity before accepting installation as complete.

Complete final approvals

Obtain electrical inspection approval, install compliant signage, and ensure all safety systems function properly before opening to users.

Installation is a big deal, so take a moment to celebrate with your team. Once you’re ready, the next step will be to work with your EV charging solutions provider to ensure a smooth launch for your team and any drivers who will be using your chargers.

Step 6: Launch your EV charging service

Running a successful EV charging amenity is about more than just sticking chargers in a garage. Rather, it’s about creating a thoughtful pricing strategy, configuring access based on your business needs, and ensuring drivers can get timely support when needed.

Choose your pricing strategy

Select per-kWh pricing for fairness, time-based for turnover, or session fees for simplicity. Research local rates to ensure competitive positioning.

Configure access control

Decide between open access for maximum utilization or restricted access for specific user groups. Ensure multiple payment options for user convenience (app, RFID card, credit card, etc.).

Secure driver support

Drivers will need occasional assistance. If you want to handle it yourself, teach your onsite team basic charging assistance, common issue recognition, and appropriate escalation procedures. Focus on customer service without requiring technical expertise.

Or, if you don’t want to add charger troubleshooting to your team’s plate, partner with a company like SWTCH for 24/7 charging support for any driver who plugs in.

With your chargers now operational, it’s time to integrate them with your overall parking solutions (if you haven’t already).

Step 7: Integrate with your parking solutions

By integrating your EV charging with the rest of your parking solutions, it’s possible to not only improve the user experience for drivers who plug in, but also

Connect with your parking management app: Make it so drivers can start a charging session within the same app they use for reserving or paying for parking.

Unify the transactions: Ideally, drivers should pay just one time for the balance of what is owed for their parking + charging.

Ensure data feed back to your analytics platform: Bring charging data in alongside your other analytics to gain a clearer picture of how charging is impacting your business.

With your charging and parking solutions connected, the next step will be to promote your services to drive user adoption.

Step 8: Promote your chargers & educate parkers on how to use them

Even though EV chargers in parking facilities are in high demand, just installing the hardware won’t be enough to get the level of usage you’ll want to see. Instead, you’ll need to take steps to ensure people know your chargers are there and how to use them.

Optimize visibility

Install clear directional signage and mark EV spaces distinctively. Ensure accurate listing of your chargers on PlugShare, ChargeHub, and Google Maps.

Note that if you would like assistance, SWTCH can help ensure your chargers are all listed properly in the most important map and EV charging applications.

Offer user instructions

Provide simple charging guides through QR codes, instruction cards, and clear station signage. Include both network support and facility contact information.

Engage your community

Announce availability to existing users, partner with local EV groups, and leverage social media to build awareness and positive word-of-mouth.

Taking these steps will go a long way toward getting the level of utilization required for speedy return on your investment. To make sure you’re on the right track, you’ll also want to monitor the performance of your stations and make adjustments to optimize your installation where needed.

Step 9: Monitor performance & optimize your charging strategy

With EV charging, as with the rest of your parking business, data are your friend. Reviewing charging session information, revenue details, and related metrics will help you improve the performance of your stations toward your business’ goals.

Track key metrics

Monitor utilization rates, revenue per session, uptime statistics, and user feedback to identify optimization opportunities.

Optimize based on usage

Adjust pricing during peak periods, improve signage based on user questions, and schedule maintenance during low-usage times.

Plan for growth

Set expansion triggers based on sustained high utilization rates and prepare electrical infrastructure for additional chargers when demand justifies investment.

With processes in place to account for these items, your EV charging amenity will be in excellent shape for success. All that is left is to make sure you keep up with new developments to ensure you’re ready for growth and new technology that might benefit your property.

Step 10: Adapt and scale for lasting success

Things will change over time. Your parking facility’s charging needs will almost certainly grow, and new technologies may arrive to help you meet that need. It’s important to stay on top of these developments to maintain the high standard of quality EV charging you’ve gone and installed to this point.

Keep up with new tech

Stay current with evolving technology. Evaluate and adopt new smart charging features (like Plug & Charge or demand response capabilities), payment system advances, and other innovations that enhance user experience and operational efficiency.”

Expand strategically

Add chargers when utilization consistently exceeds 60-70% during peak periods. Use proven locations and operational procedures for expansion success.

Build industry connections

Join professional associations, attend industry conferences, and maintain relationships with equipment suppliers to access latest developments and best practices for parking facility EV charging.

Your journey to EV charging success in parking begins today

This 10-step framework transforms EV charging from complex challenge into a straightforward competitive advantage. Start with thorough site assessment, proceed methodically through each phase, and build sustainable operations that attract customers while generating consistent revenue.

Your EV charging investment positions your facility at the forefront of transportation evolution, delivering immediate benefits and long-term asset value in an increasingly electric future.

Want professional assistance at every stage of your EV charging journey? Contact SWTCH today!

With thousands of charging stations across North America, including in many prominent parking facilities, we’re well-positioned to help your business thrive as charging becomes more and more critical to your ongoing success.

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As of 2023, the US smart parking market was valued at $2.47 billion, and it’s projected to reach USD 6.70 billion by 2029. Through the introduction of new kinds of sensors, automation, and enhanced connectivity, there are some exciting opportunities to optimize parking operations and enhance the parking experience for drivers.

But there’s one specific amenity that ought to receive the lion’s share of attention today: EV charging. Though some operators still view this as just another item to check off the list, it should instead be seen as a core component of an integrated smart parking ecosystem.

The current reality: EV charging as an afterthought

Walk through many parking facilities today, and you’ll see the problem immediately. EV charging stations often appear to be totally separate entities from the parking facilities in which they sit. There tends not to be enough of them, they may be tucked away in a corner, and they usually rely on totally separate payment systems or apps. They’re treated like add-ons to check a box, not essential infrastructure for modern parking.

This approach creates several problems:

For customers: It takes juggling multiple apps—one for parking, another for charging, sometimes a third for payment—just to complete what should be a simple transaction. Will they still plug in to charge? Possibly, but without the same enthusiasm, and those with other options might not charge at all.

For operators: It becomes difficult to piece together the data to understand how charging impacts your business. Your parking management system shows space utilization, but you have no idea how charging patterns affect dwell times, peak usage, or revenue opportunities. Critical business intelligence lives in separate silos.

For the bottom line: Facilities with standalone charging stations consistently see lower utilization rates and higher customer complaints. You’re investing in charging infrastructure without capturing its full potential value.

The disconnect isn’t just inconvenient—it’s expensive. When systems don’t talk to each other, you’re essentially running multiple separate businesses under one roof, each with its own overhead, management requirements, and missed synergies.

Bridging parking and charging with connected EV solutions

Where EV charging as a standalone service creates challenges, integration creates new value.

For customers: A seamless experience that covers everything from finding an available space to making a single payment for parking and charging, all in a unified interface. It eliminates the need to juggle multiple apps or payment systems and makes the entire process far simpler.

For operators: Integration eliminates redundant interfaces and consolidates management tasks, streamlining the workflow for your team.

For the bottom line: Comprehensive data analytics reveal powerful insights when parking and charging data are combined. It might reveal that charging produces a strong occupancy benefit, for instance, that leads you to invest in more charging stations sooner than expected.

The best part? Because many parking and charging solutions are built with integrations in mind, it typically won’t cost you anything more to integrate than what you’re already paying. Your providers will likely be happy to work with you to connect your systems and ensure you have smooth, simple user and management experiences across the board.

Making the parking + EV charging integration work

The foundation of successful integration is selecting parking and charging solutions that can communicate with each other through APIs—interfaces that allow different software systems to share data seamlessly.

Though there are many ways to integrate parking with EV charging, the three elements that are likely to be most important include:

1. Mobile apps that handle parking and charging reservations, booking, and payment through a single interface
2. Payment systems that consolidate all transactions and simplify accounting
3. Data analytics that reveal usage patterns across both parking and charging

These elements represent the most straightforward path to establishing a unified parking and charging experience with minimal friction, minimal input by your team, and deep data to help you understand the impact of charging on your business, when you ought to install more chargers, and other critical information.

Building your competitive advantage

Operators who approach EV charging as a core component of their smart parking strategy, rather than as a standalone amenity, will create more value for users while maximizing operational efficiency and revenue potential.

The future of parking is one of interconnected ecosystems that enhance every aspect of the mobility experience. As the US parking management market continues its trajectory toward $15 billion by 2030, the competitive advantage will belong to those who embrace this integrated approach today.

Are you ready to transform your parking facility into an intelligent mobility hub?

Contact SWTCH today to learn how we can integrate with your parking systems!

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Meeting the growing demand for convenient EV charging offers a simple, cost-effective way to boost overall parking business, generate new revenue, and build preference for a business for years to come. 

And it is not really an option to forego EV charging altogether. Where once it was seen as a premium amenity, charging has become essential infrastructure, as fundamental to modern parking operations as payment systems or security lighting. Failing to adopt quickly will likely lead to increasing challenges for your business.

EV charging’s shift from parking luxury to necessity

The evolution of EV charging mirrors other technological advances that were once considered optional luxuries. Remember when Wi-Fi was a premium offering in commercial spaces? Today, it’s simply expected infrastructure, its absence more notable than its presence.

EV charging is following this same trajectory, and quickly, with EV charging integration emerging as a critical component of this growth.

Major parking operators like LAZ Parking recognize this shift and are establishing strategic partnerships to deploy EV charging across their inventory—for LAZ, 50,000 chargers over the next five years. It’s a signal that charging infrastructure isn’t merely an add-on service – it’s becoming central to the core business model of leaders across the parking industry.

The many costs of waiting to install charging

As EV adoption accelerates, drivers increasingly make parking decisions based on charging availability, choosing facilities that offer reliable charging over those that don’t. A facility without adequate charging infrastructure isn’t merely missing a revenue opportunity; it’s actively losing market share to competitors who’ve made the investment.

And the longer you wait, the more costly it is to catch up. 

Initial investment costs typically range from $8,000-$12,000 per Level 2 charging port for smaller facilities, reducing to $5,000-$9,000 per port for larger installations due to economies of scale. But these costs are usually offset quite substantially by generous incentive programs, like NY’s EV Make-Ready program, which offers funding of up to 50% of costs for parking facilities to install EV charging. These programs will not last forever, meaning operators who delay implementation face not the prospect of lost business today, but higher future installation costs when they decide to install chargers.

It is important, too, to consider longer-term effects related to brand preference (or a lack thereof). Those parking facilities that invest in EV charging today will develop goodwill and, more importantly, habit, among EV drivers. Provided the parking and charging experiences are both good, why would a driver change parking facilities when they’ve gotten used to how their regular one works, even if there’s another facility that has added charging?

Failing to act today puts your business at risk not only of lower competitiveness in the near term, but also the potential for long-term weakness compared with competitors who electrified more quickly.

EV charging’s new revenue opportunities

The direct revenue from charging fees represents just one layer of the financial opportunity tied to the installation of EV charging. Here are some other financial benefits that tend to come along when parking facilities introduce EV chargers:

1. Revenue from direct charging fees: Successful pricing strategies include time-based rates (usually $1.50-4.00/hour), combined parking+charging packages, and tiered pricing structures.
2. Increased occupancy rates: Facilities with reliable charging consistently report higher utilization, particularly during off-peak hours.
3. Extended dwell times: In retail settings, EV charging significantly increases customer stay duration and subsequent spending.
4. Enhanced customer loyalty: As discussed earlier, EV drivers demonstrate stronger loyalty to facilities with reliable charging.

What are the impacts? To take a hypothetical 500-space garage as our example, by converting just 5% of spaces to EV charging, the facility could generate $125,000-$240,000 in annual revenue (from direct charging fees plus increased utilization) and, depending on upfront costs, reach payback for its charging infrastructure within 2-3 years.

Additional strategies for increased affordability

Common hesitations about implementation tend to focus on startup costs and associated expenses. Beyond securing funding through incentive and rebate programs, there are a number of approaches that can help make the costs of installing EV charging more manageable.

1. Starting small with an eye on gradual expansion. Successful operators typically begin by electrifying just 3-5% of spaces in prime locations, then expand as demand grows.
2. Business models like charging-as-a-service (CaaS) or hosting charging stations operated by third parties, both of which minimize or eliminate upfront capital requirements in place of monthly fees or revenue-sharing agreements.
3. Partnerships with experienced providers who can assist with navigating operational challenges like ICEing (non-EVs in charging spots), maintenance, and site design. intelligent electrical capacity management.
4. Selecting EV charging solutions with intelligent energy management, advanced wireless connectivity, and other technologies that reduce the costs of installation and operation.

To electrify your parking facility is essential, not optional

It is already true that EV charging has crossed the threshold from amenity to essential service in parking, but as the number of EVs on the road grows, the urgency of offering this service will quickly mount. The question should not be whether to implement EV charging but rather how to implement it to most effectively drive both immediate returns and long-term strategic positioning.

For parking operators, this moment represents a clear inflection point – an opportunity to adopt new technology that offers a compelling source of direct revenue and significant competitive advantages. Those who seize this opportunity won’t just be prepared for the future of parking; they’ll be actively shaping it.

Learn more about how SWTCH works with parking operators at swtchenergy.com/parking.

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Mark Marmer from Signature Electric, Luis Leal from Phoenix Contact, and Thomas Martin from SWTCH weighed in, giving property managers and condo boards the insights they need to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. The key takeaways? Start planning for EV charging now, think about how to succeed in the long term, and find trusted partners to guide you through the process.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights of their discussion.

What are the main challenges to adding EV charging in older multifamily buildings?

When it comes to implementing EV charging in existing buildings, the panel identified several critical barriers, with cost leading the way.
“I don’t care where you go, the biggest problem is money,” Mark said. “Especially if it’s in a condo. They haven’t usually budgeted for whatever’s needed.”

But beyond this near-universal concern, two more common challenges were identified by the panel as presenting likely complications: dated electrical hardware and a lack of historical energy usage data.

“A lot of the time, the physical hardware in the building is dated, so sourcing some of those parts can be a challenge,” Thomas noted. “But we also need to understand the load profile of the building when installing chargers. A lot of these buildings weren’t necessarily installed with technology to keep a historical record of when they’re experiencing their peak. We need to figure that out to make more educated decisions around how to plan for the future.”

In other words, even before many property owners can worry about how much it will cost to install EV charging, there’s a need to do foundational work to even understand what it will take to get EV charging installed.

How can buildings assess their electrical capacity?

Understanding a building’s electrical capacity starts with what experts call a “load evaluation” – a process that examines the building’s electrical service size and historical energy usage through electrical bills. This evaluation provides property managers with critical insights about available capacity and potential constraints.

“These evaluations are very valuable,” Mark explained. “In part, they provide a snapshot of what’s happening in the building. Sometimes the building, especially the older buildings, they’re having a problem anyway, and it needs to be dealt with.”

The panel highlighted that modern technology now allows for more dynamic approaches to energy management.

“If we can put in a system that’s intelligent and can adjust to changing data in real time, you don’t necessarily have to worry about making assumptions that have to last 10-20 years,” Thomas said. “The system’s going to adapt with every new EV that starts plugging in.”

What solutions exist for buildings with limited electrical capacity?

Every building, regardless of age, needs an EV energy management system, according to the panellists. It’s the only viable path forward in a world where electric mobility is becoming the norm. But with limited capacity, how can properties realistically install sufficient charging to service the growing number of EV drivers? The answer is not to install dramatically more electrical capacity, but rather to lean on intelligent energy management to do more with less.

Thomas offered an analogy to illustrate the concept: “In a home or a condo unit, your water pipe isn’t designed to have every faucet, toilet, dishwasher, and shower running at the same time. In the very rare scenario – call it Thanksgiving dinner, where everyone’s home using water at the same time, the pressure drops, but we don’t need to design for that scenario when we’re building the house.”

Instead, the goal should be to match the infrastructure to typical usage patterns and so that when usage spikes higher, it’s still possible to achieve a desirable outcome for EV drivers plugging in at a given property. Generally, that means ensuring cars are ready to go first thing in the morning.

“If, by 6 am, everyone’s vehicle is full… as long as we can meet that objective, even in the worst-case scenarios, the building wins,” Thomas said.

Planning for all residents, not just early adopters

Crucially, the panel strongly emphasized the importance of thinking long-term and planning for widespread adoption, not just accommodating the first few EV owners who offer to install a solution for themselves. This forward-thinking approach offers several benefits:

• Ensures consistent infrastructure
• Provides equal treatment for all residents
• Avoids piecemeal solutions that become problematic later
• Allows for fair cost distribution

“You will be sorry if you don’t plan,” Mark warned. “I can’t tell you how many times we get all settled to put in the new system, and then they want to know: ‘What am I going to do about these three people who installed something else earlier?’”

Thomas added, “Build a plan for everyone, present and future, and try to make the 100th person’s cost to install the same as the first.”

A comprehensive plan, established as early as possible, helps avoid the “hodgepodge of solutions” that can result from addressing requests one at a time.

Getting stakeholder buy-in

Implementing EV charging requires support from multiple stakeholders, including condo boards, property managers, and residents. The panellists recommended starting with fundamental questions to establish a consensus before getting into technical details:

• What charging capacity will be guaranteed to each resident?
• What will the approximate cost be?
• Can residents expect consistent availability?

As Thomas put it, “At the end of the day, residents are looking to know: ‘Can I buy an EV? Is this going to be within budget?’”

Mark also cautioned about the timing of resident surveys, which are a standard means of understanding demand for charging. His suggestion is that properties should have a solid plan in mind before soliciting feedback, as a survey raises expectations around access to charging and how quickly it will be installed.

Luis agreed, saying, “Communication is key. In my own experience, it was not very well done. They just sent a random email saying, ‘We’re gonna install EV chargers.’ So, nothing about the costs, who is going to be operating the chargers… A good vendor should be able to help answer the important questions that residents will have and help them understand what is in store for them.”

Policy recommendations for the future

When asked about potential government policies that could accelerate EV charging adoption, the panellists had clear recommendations, though they were particularly united on one point: EV-readiness.

“EV-readiness is the most important thing,” Luis said. “So all the load calculations are done beforehand, all the electrical is ready, and property owners are ready to just deploy.”

Other recommendations included clarifying rules around using condo reserve funds for EV infrastructure and mandating conduit installation in concrete slabs during new construction to further ease installation. Overall, though, there was strong agreement that the best possible step to be made at the level of policy is to mandate that new buildings be ready to offer charging from day one.

It’s time for multifamily properties to prepare for EV charging

The EV charging landscape for multi-family buildings is complex but navigable with the right partners and approach. As Mark emphasized throughout the panel, finding trusted experts is essential for navigating this complicated process.

The panellists agreed that the best time to start planning for EV charging was yesterday, but today is the next-best option. With electric vehicle adoption accelerating, buildings that get ahead of the curve will be better positioned to meet resident demand and avoid rushed, potentially problematic implementations.

Start by assessing your electrical capacity, developing a comprehensive plan, and finding trusted industry partners who can guide you through the process.

Want to get your multifamily EV charging journey off on the right foot?

Contact us today! SWTCH was founded to solve the challenges of multifamily EV charging, and we’re happy to help.

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This revenue is perfect for helping to pay back the costs of purchasing and installing the chargers, as well as ongoing costs related to maintenance, software fees, etc. Once you’ve paid off your existing installation, you might want to put revenue from charging sessions towards expanding the number of charging stations you have installed, or even towards generating profits for your business.

Of course, to do any of this, you need to set—and hit—the right goals for generating revenue from your chargers. Here’s the playbook to help you do just that by using SWTCH Portal.

Aligning your charger revenue goals with larger business goals

It’s typical to generate revenue with EV charging—very few locations offer completely free charging anymore. But it’s important to define why it is that you’re generating this revenue and how this ties back to your larger business goals.

We touched on a few reasons for generating revenue in the intro, but here’s a more complete list of why generating revenue is worthwhile:

• To cover electricity costs related to operating your chargers
• To pay back some of the costs of purchasing and installing chargers
• To pay back costs related to electrical upgrades necessary for the chargers
• To help pay for other amenities for the property
• To generate a profit

By setting a goal for your charger revenue (rather than passively earning money as your chargers see use), you gain both better insight into the value being delivered by your chargers and a stronger basis for making adjustments to your pricing to optimize that same value.

Here are some common goals and how they can help guide your charger revenue strategy.

Goal: Using revenue to cover electricity costs

For some properties, there’s little interest in generating additional revenue from charging—they just want to make sure they’re not on the hook for the electricity that is consumed.

To hit this goal: Compare the remittance total with your connected energy bill for the corresponding period. Does the remittance hit your target for that period? If not, you’ll likely need to increase the charging fees for your chargers.

Goal: Using revenue to help fund additional EV chargers

Your remittance covers your electricity costs and maintenance costs, but you think you might want to expand the number of chargers you have.

To hit this goal: Consider increasing your hourly fee to generate the additional revenue needed to expand your amenity.

Goal: Developing EV charging as a steady revenue stream

After the chargers and installation have been paid off, for some properties, the goal is to turn EV charging into a new source of revenue that boosts the bottom line.

To hit this goal: Monitor your utilization rates and ensure your chargers are priced competitively within your local market; public chargers are less convenient, but if the rates are better, drivers may seek them out. And consider implementing a tiered pricing structure whereby tenants receive preferential rates but visitors are charged slightly more.

Review your revenue quarterly against your operating costs to ensure you’re maintaining healthy profit margins, and be prepared to adjust your strategy as the EV market in your area evolves.

What to do when you’re not covering costs or meeting your financial targets

If you discover your revenue isn’t covering costs, you may need to evaluate your pricing and update your fee structures to begin generating the necessary additional revenue.

To address this challenge

Review your charger usage rates to understand when drivers are making use of the charging stations, as well as the frequency with which repeat chargers plug in.

You may want to do some research to ensure your chargers are priced competitively with other charging in the are. A modest price reduction might actually lead to increased usage and an overall boost to revenue.

It might also be worthwhile to reach out to tenants who you know own EVs to understand what might encourage them to plug in more often.

If you’re an existing SWTCH customer, please know that you can always reach out to the customer success team for assistance with optimizing your pricing structure and otherwise trying to get your charging stations’ revenue on track.

Accessing the SWTCH financial summary report to track progress toward your financial goals

In order to make measurable and meaningful progress toward your goals, it’s important to follow the data. With your SWTCH financial summary report, you can easily monitor the amount of money your chargers have generated, along with any other metrics you’re focused on.

Making a regular habit of checking in with the financial summary report is a great way to ensure you and your business are on track.

If you are not operating SWTCH chargers, you may still be able to access similar data and reports, depending on your EV charging solution, though we can’t make any promises nor offer any assistance in navigating other platforms.

Accessing the SWTCH financial summary report

When setting up your SWTCH account, you will be able to designate any number of users to receive quarterly financial summary reports via email. If, however, you want to access your data at any time, you can produce a report by going to the “Reports” section in SWTCH Portal.

You can access a great deal of information in these reports, but here are some of the most important ones for setting and meeting financial goals:

• Property total: Amount to be remitted to you after accounting for taxes and fees
• Property tax: Taxes collected by SWTCH and remitted to you quarterly (only applicable if you have provided tax registration data to SWTCH)
• Driver fee: The total amount paid by a driver for a charging session
• SWTCH transaction fee: The per-session fee charged by SWTCH
• SWTCH payment processing fee: The per-session fee charged by SWTCH to cover the costs of processing payments

How to proceed with making strategic pricing and revenue adjustments to minimize disruption

Once you’ve settled on changes you want to make to your pricing, it’s important to implement them in a way that minimizes disruption to your tenants and also gives you enough time to properly determine what impact they had.

Here are the most important steps to follow.

1: Inform drivers of upcoming changes

Price changes are rarely a happy surprise. Taking a moment to inform your drivers of upcoming adjustments can go a long way toward improving how they’re received.

This doesn’t have to be anything extensive—just share a quick note through your typical communication channel to inform drivers that a price change is being implemented and when that change will go into effect.

If you’re open to doing so, being transparent about the reason behind the change will likely be appreciated by your drivers as well.

2: Give your changes some time to produce the desired results

Even the best plan may not produce the results you’re looking for right away. Still, it’s important to give your changes a little time to breathe before backtracking or making additional changes.

Your initial change might slightly change driver behaviour, which would impact the results you see. Or there might be external factors at play that also influence driver behaviour and make it seem as though your changes are not working.

Give it time. Our recommendation is to wait at least one electrical billing cycle before revisiting your changes to determine whether they’ve had the desired effect. This should allow enough time for you to get a real sense of what impact your changes have had and what to do next.

3: Create a process for soliciting feedback on charger pricing and changes

The best way to understand how your drivers are getting on with your charging stations, how they feel about pricing changes, etc., is to ask them directly. That’s why we recommend creating some sort of way to solicit feedback directly from your drivers.

There are many options for doing this. You might regularly issue surveys to drivers who make use of your chargers, for example, or conduct periodic roundtable discussions to facilitate a more detailed discussion.

The goal is simply to find a means for your drivers to provide feedback that works for your team, gives you a chance to receive truly meaningful feedback, and helps your drivers feel as though their needs and concerns are heard.

Optimizing the revenue of your EV chargers is an ongoing process of refinement, though arriving at a solid baseline should be possible within a short time after installation. Aligning your revenue goals with larger business goals, monitoring performance using your financial reports, and taking care to communicate changes with your drivers will all contribute to achieving optimization faster—whatever that looks like for you and your business.

Ready to Maximize Your EV Charging Revenue?

Optimizing your charging station revenue is just one aspect of a successful EV charging strategy. Put these insights into action and discover more ways to enhance your EV charging offering.

Take your next step today:

• Explore our comprehensive guide to multifamily EV charging
• Learn best practices for commercial EV charging
• Contact us to learn how SWTCH can help you build an affordable and reliable EV charging amenity

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At a recent industry panel, SWTCH’s VP of Sales, Joe Zulewski, joined moderator Elena Ciccotelli from The EVs for Everyone Podcast, David Hughes of the Hughes Family Trust, and Hunter Lambroff from Energy Source to tackle this question, sharing insights on how to choose the right charging level, optimize ROI, and future-proof charging infrastructure. Their key takeaway? Success isn’t just about installing chargers—it’s about aligning technology with business goals, visitor behavior, and site-specific energy capacity.

Check out these key takeaways to learn how to make smarter EV charging decisions that drive real ROI.

How do you choose the right charging level?

This was the panel’s core question. And the conclusion was that, when deciding between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3/DC fast charging, two factors matter most: the charging use case and typical driver dwell time.

Essentially, the longer a car is expected to be in one spot, the slower the charger can (and arguably should) be.

At an airport, a Level 1 charger (slowest, multiple days to get a full charge) is going to work great most of the time—cars will likely be parked and plugged in for days.

For quick-turnover locations like highway rest stops, the faster, the better. Level 3 chargers (fastest, generally 30-60 minutes for a full charge) allow drivers to get back on the road quickly (though still with enough time for a meal break). They’re not as good a fit for home use.

“Level 3 at a multi-family doesn’t make too much sense,” David said. “People kind of want something that they can slow charge overnight and forget it, like your cell phone.”

As Joe pointed out, for lengthy but not days-long dwell times, Level 2 (medium speed, generally several hours for a full charge) will be the best choice. Some examples:

• Multifamily buildings and workplaces
• Retail locations like malls
• Commercial properties with long visitor stays

This was a point echoed by both Hunter and David, who stressed the importance of closely examining not just whether a property is multifamily, commercial, retail, etc. but what kind of business operates there. The dwell time at a bank is very different than at a doctor’s office, for instance.

How to optimize for EV charging ROI, case by case

There was a mix of perspectives on this topic, reflective of how there are many ways to extract value from EV charging.

For David, multifamily EV charging is an amenity to attract and retain tenants, and so he prefers not to seek profit from the charging sessions themselves—he thinks it’s best to just add a small surcharge over the energy costs to contribute to maintenance costs. But he also said that incentive programs and existing energy capacity are a must. If electrical upgrades are necessary and there are no incentive programs out there, he isn’t interested in installing charging.

But Joe pointed out that, even in the absence of electrical capacity, technology can make up the difference and allow for EV charging to be installed and generate ROI.

“What we do a lot of is just active load management. So making sure that we’re dynamically managing that load on the property, and we can utilize the existing panels,” Joe said.

This allows properties to install a couple of chargers—or, using SWTCH Cortex, as many as they like—without having to complete electrical upgrades. It completely changes the ROI conversation.

And for other spaces like retail, Hunter pointed out that the goal is usually more about drawing in traffic and prolonging dwell times, pointing to research that found EV drivers spend about 50 additional minutes on their shopping. “When they took a look at the additional spend from customers shopping at their stores, it was about $1 per minute that customers were spending there, he said.”

With a single charging session per day, that works out to an additional $18,000 spent on-location over the course of a year, not including the money spent on the charging sessions themselves.

Whatever approach or approaches you choose, the key takeaway is that there is strong ROI associated with EV charging. You just need to optimize your offering to deliver on your specific goals.

EV charging really is like Field of Dreams—if you build it, they will come

A line from Field of Dreams pops up frequently in discussions about EV charging: If you build it, they will come. The idea is that a property with few, or even zero, EV drivers will find their charger utilization rate quickly increases as people adopt EVs for their next vehicles. Often, the only thing holding them back was access to charging at home.

But is it true?

Well, yes.

“We had a property in Colorado where we worked with them to announce to all the tenants that we’re putting in level 2 chargers at this property,” Joe said. “Before the chargers have even gotten in the ground, two tenants have gone out and bought EVs.”

But even more important, he said that the benefit persists. “I would expand on that and say if you build it, not only will they come, but they will stay.”

Multifamily EV charging being in short supply means that residents cling tight to places that do offer charging, unwilling to move unless their new home will also offer charging. It presents a powerful opportunity for properties ready to install EV charging today; build up the goodwill now and get EV drivers comfortable with you, and you can expect to keep them around for a long time.

The conversation was wide-ranging, but the overarching theme was one not only of optimism for the future but of how remarkable the landscape is today. You can get strong ROI from EV charging today. Choosing to install now and build momentum over slower-moving competitors is a shrewd move that will serve property owners of all kinds extremely well.

Ready to maximize your property’s EV charging ROI? SWTCH can help you determine the right charging level, implement smart load management solutions, and develop a strategy tailored to your specific goals.

Contact our team today for a free consultation!

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Quebec is by far the Canadian leader in EV ownership, with about 42.7% of all EVs on Canadian roads being registered in Quebec. This makes addressing current gaps in charging availability absolutely critical, both for ensuring current charging accessibility and for maintaining the momentum in electrifying transportation in the province.

Our position: The draft regulations are strong, visionary, and perhaps most importantly, offer a compelling view of the costs associated with not taking immediate action to bolster the number of charging stations in Quebec.

EV-readiness could save Quebec nearly $1 billion over five years

The most significant elements of the draft code include:

• A 100% EV-readiness requirement for new construction
• Adherence to the existing Canadian Electrical Code for electric vehicle energy management systems
• Per the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), an expected cost of $785 million over five years, averaging out to about $157 million per year

The cost is notable, but the RIA also points out that the cost of not implementing these measures would lead to far greater expense down the road—an estimated $1.6 billion over five years.

Simply put, as EV adoption increases, there will be an unavoidable need for charging stations to be installed, particularly in multifamily and commercial areas where access to charging is lagging behind demand. Paying for the cost of EV readiness upfront is a far more efficient use of resources.

To top this all off, implementing these draft regulations will lead to the creation of an additional 300 electrician jobs and 50 engineering jobs in the province.

What the rest of the country should borrow from this proposal

Quebec might have the most pressing need for sorting out EV charging, but the rest of the country will catch up before long. In developing their own EV-readiness policies, regulations, and plans, there are a number of elements of this draft from Quebec that I think other provinces and territories ought to use as inspiration.

Encouraging EV energy management systems (EVEMS) and requiring networking

Supporting networking and EV energy management systems (EVEMs) will result in Canada’s growing network of chargers being deeply connected to the grid and able to adjust their energy usage based on either on-premises activity or grid-level demand.

This is a powerful tool for ensuring energy consumption doesn’t exceed what is comfortably available and will help us electrify transportation more quickly and more efficiently than we could hope to do otherwise.

Aiming for 100% EV-readiness

By implementing an upfront requirement for EV readiness, we make it easier and more affordable to get to a state where at-home charging is abundant. Having to retrofit properties to install chargers simply takes more time and money than installing them as a property is being built.

Targeting 100% EV-readiness puts Quebec on the best path toward abundant charging infrastructure. Applied nationwide, this approach would ensure Canadians everywhere have remarkable levels of charging access in a fast-approaching future where just about everyone drives an EV.

Comprehensive requirements, clear definitions, and participation from industry, builders, and utilities

These draft regulations reflect a comprehensive vision and approach to installing EV charging capacity, but they also get two additional, critical pieces right:

Every requirement is clearly defined, removing ambiguity from these new requirements
The draft was composed with input from industry, builders, and utilities, ensuring expectations remain realistic and the undertaking is approached in a collaborative spirit

EV charging projects are not built in a vacuum. Many groups with many different concerns are involved, and they deserve both a chance to be heard and to have crystal clear expectations once a building code is finalized. Quebec offers a strong example of how to pull off both of these elements.

Overall, these regulations are compelling, and I expect they will be passed to help Quebec keep up its remarkable progress in electrifying personal transportation in the province. I hope the rest of the country takes notice and borrows the most compelling elements for plans of their own when the time soon comes for them to make their own ambitious plans for encouraging widespread installation of EV charging.

Ready to implement EV charging infrastructure that meets Quebec’s new building code regulations?

Connect with the SWTCH team today to discuss your project needs and discover how our smart charging solutions can help future-proof your buildings.

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From the earliest planning stages through installation and beyond, our team is ready to assist so that your installation benefits from expert input while your team gets to focus on its existing priorities.

Here’s a stage-by-stage look at all the ways SWTCH makes planning, installing, managing, and supporting your EV charging installation effortless.

Stage 1: We help you build a plan for lasting EV charging success

Before any other work starts, it’s important to define what your EV charging installation needs to include, as well as how you are going to finance your installation.

At this stage, our team will:

• Assess your current and likely future demand for EV charging
• Evaluate the current state of your electrical infrastructure
• Determine the best number and kind of charging stations to install
• Identify the best rebate, incentive, and other funding and finance programs to reduce the cost of your EV charging installation
• Connect you with a trusted partner to perform the installation work

The result: You and your team will have a rock-solid foundation for your charging infrastructure project and a clear path to installation.

Stage 2: We ensure the installation process is as fast and smooth as possible

Once your plan is in place, it’s time to get the ball rolling on installation. Given the complexity of an EV charging installation, it’s very important that your chosen installation partner has experience with installing chargers specifically. This will help your project avoid surprises and delays.

At this stage, our team will help:

• Finalize an installation timeline with your contractor
• Conduct post-installation testing to ensure all components are working properly
• Bring your chargers online, and welcome you to the SWTCH network!

The result: You and your team will benefit from a smooth installation process that brings your charging stations online with minimal disruption to you, your property, and its tenants.

Stage 3: We offer any training and support you, your team, and your drivers need

In choosing SWTCH for your EV charging needs, you’re choosing a partner who is in it with you for the long haul. After your chargers are installed, our team will be there to assist with troubleshooting and with optimization. We want to be sure you get the most value possible from your charging stations.

At this stage, our team will:

• Provide you and your team with training and educational resources to ensure you’re able to manage your charging stations with ease
• Assist drivers with any issues they encounter when using your chargers
• Assist your team with any troubleshooting or management questions they may have
• Offer suggestions for optimizing the pricing and access policies of your charging stations to ensure they remain on track for hitting your financial goals

The result: Your team can get as hands-on with your charging stations as you like, while SWTCH handles the day-to-day concerns related to charger functioning and usage so you don’t have to.

Stage 4: We monitor your charging stations and intervene immediately if they encounter issues

Beyond basic troubleshooting and optimization, our team prides itself on its proactive approach to intervention when charger functioning is disrupted.

At this stage, our team will:

• Use AI-assisted 24/7/365 monitoring to ensure your chargers are online and functioning correctly
• Intervene remotely in hopes of correcting charger disruptions before you, your team, or even the drivers can be impacted
• Alert you without delay when a charger issue requires onsite intervention
• Provide comprehensive assistance for hardware malfunctioning and service needs (See SWTCH Care+ O&M).

The result: You’ll be able to trust that your charging stations work the way they should, all the time, and that any issues that arise will be addressed and reported to you without delay. Your team can trust that we’re keeping a close eye on your chargers so that you don’t have to.

Being able to offer EV charging that is reliable and convenient is an increasingly important differentiator in real estate today. By partnering with SWTCH, you’ll ensure that you and your team have thorough, proactive assistance at every stage of your EV charging journey, ensuring you can offer quality EV charging without adding a lot of work for your teams to have to handle.

Want to learn more about how SWTCH will support your EV charging journey?

Get in touch with us today!

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For businesses faced with this dilemma, one great option is to explore EV charging-as-a-service (EV CaaS).

We have a complete guide to EV CaaS here, but here’s a quick look at how it works and when it’s a good option to explore.

What is EV CaaS?

EV CaaS is a model for paying for EV charging stations. Rather than the typical upfront capital expenditure associated with buying hardware and software, completing electrical upgrades, and installing the EV chargers, EV CaaS simply takes that complete cost and breaks it into monthly payments to last the duration of a contract (typically five years).

The main difference between EV CaaS and a typical purchase is that, with EV CaaS, the arrangement is essentially a lease. At the end of your contract, you’ll likely have an option to purchase your charging stations outright, but ownership of the chargers otherwise remains with the EV CaaS provider.

The benefits of EV CaaS

Over the course of an EV CaaS contract, you will pay the same amount as if you had paid upfront for your project. Still, the model comes with a number of significant benefits.

Some of the biggest ones include:

• No upfront costs: Everything you pay for with EV CaaS is split up into monthly payments over the course of years.
• Eligibility for funding programs: EV CaaS projects are still able to benefit from incentives, rebates, and other funding programs that will drive down the cost of your monthly payments.
• Hands-off approach: Typically, EV CaaS projects are handled entirely by the solutions provider—perfect for busy teams that don’t want to deal with the work of installing and maintaining chargers.

Finding the right EV CaaS partner

There are different approaches to EV charging-as-a-service, so it’s important to select a partner that offers terms that will be favourable to your business.

These include:

• Letting you retain the revenue generated by your chargers: Some providers arrange to take some or all of this revenue, but it’s a mistake to give this up.
• A shorter contract duration: Some EV CaaS contracts can be 10 years long or longer. There’s no need to lock yourself into such a lengthy commitment. Seek out arrangements that are about five years long or less.
• Handling maintenance, service, and support: If you’re paying for EV CaaS, it should include everything, including maintenance, service, and support for your team and the drivers who use your chargers. If an EV CaaS provider doesn’t commit to providing these, you’ll be better off finding a different provider who will (like SWTCH!).

With the right partner, an EV CaaS arrangement can be a powerful, convenient option for securing EV charging without any upfront costs. If you’re interested in exploring such an option, just be sure to partner with the right provider to ensure you receive maximum value and benefit from your ongoing investment in EV charging—including the revenue your chargers generate when drivers plug in.

Want to explore EV charging-as-a-service for your property?

Connect with our team today to learn about your options!

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Openness and flexibility are huge advantages to properties looking to install EV charging today, and the gold standard for these qualities is compliance with the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP).

We have a detailed explanation of this standard available in this guide, but here is a quick review of what this standard offers and why it is so important in EV charging today.

What is OCPP?

Open Charge Point Protocol or OCPP exists to standardize communication between EV charging software and EV chargers.

It defines the way EV charging solutions communicate things like:

• Whether a charger is in use or not
• When a charging session has been triggered to start or stop
• The amount of electricity or time to bill for a charging session
• Diagnostic information
• More complex demands from smart charging programs

The main benefits of choosing OCPP charging solutions

There are several important reasons why OCPP charging solutions are the better choice when compared with closed solutions, but here are the three most significant.

Flexibility to grow and change your charging solution over time

With OCPP-compliant solutions, it’s easier to change hardware and software providers if ever you like—just replace your existing solution with something from a different OCPP-compliant provider. The transition process is quick and easy.

This is especially important given the relative youth of the EV charging industry—some of the closed systems that exist today likely won’t exist a few years from now. Already, we’ve seen situations where closed systems shut down and property owners have to simply rip out their charging stations and start over. It’s a big waste of time and money that can be easily avoided with an open solution.

A familiar charging experience for drivers

One of the goals of OCPP is to standardize the charging experience so that drivers have similar experiences no matter where they plug in. With an OCPP-compliant solution, you improve your odds of delivering a familiar experience to drivers, thereby reducing the odds of drivers coming to you with requests for support.

To sum it up, both for property owners and EV drivers, OCPP exists to remove unnecessary headaches by introducing greater consistency to the EV charging space.

Improved odds of securing government and utility funding

Increasingly, EV charging installation funding and rebate programs require that the installed solutions comply with OCPP. This is to help ensure longevity and avoid the chargers being left non-functional in the event of a charging solutions provider going out of business.

Funding programs can save you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on the cost of your project. For this reason alone, it’s very important to select an OCPP-compliant solution.

More advanced benefits of OCPP

Beyond the basics, OCPP is also an important standard in “smart charging” functionality. Choosing OCPP-compliant chargers and charging software can help you benefit from:

Ability to participate in demand response programs

When energy demand is high, a utility may put out a signal that reduces the energy consumption by participating EV charging stations. This is usually in exchange for preferential rates, rebates on an electricity bill, or other financial incentives.

Support for bi-directional charging

When the power is out, charging stations capable of bi-directional charging can send some of the energy in vehicle batteries back to the property to help power essentials.

Support for plug-and-charge charging

With plug-and-charge, a driver simply connects their vehicle to a charger, and the process of initializing a charging session and billing the session to their on-file payment method happens automatically. It’s the next big step for efficient and convenient EV charging and something that many new vehicles will support within the next few years.

For property owners looking to add EV charging to their properties, the benefits of OCPP are hard to overstate. To maximize the odds of securing funding support for your chargers, to retain flexibility in how you grow and change your EV charging offering, and to provide a familiar and reliable charging experience to drivers, be sure to select both hardware and software that are compliant with OCPP.

Don’t risk investing in closed technology

Contact SWTCH to learn about our OCPP-certified charging solutions today!

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While there are some smart outlets that do offer a fairly good EV charging experience, there remain some limitations of the technology that can make them a poor substitute for a proper EV charging station.

Here’s what you need to know about smart outlets, their benefits, and why their tradeoffs mean you should think twice before adopting them.

What is a “smart outlet” EV charger? 

In the context of EV charging, the idea behind these outlets is that rather than install a full EV charging station, a property can simply install one of these devices, which is simpler and often costs less.
It’s important to note, though, that where EV charging stations come with an attached cable and connector for plugging into a car, smart outlets typically don’t include a means of connecting a vehicle. The expectation is that EV drivers who make use of a smart outlet will bring their own portable chargers for use with the outlet when charging up their vehicles.

The pitch for smart outlet chargers: their hardware is cheap

There’s a price tag associated with installing EV charging stations, and much of the appeal of smart outlet technology is that it’s meant to be a low-cost alternative that puts EV charging comfortably within reach for property owners.

Because smart outlets are just enhanced electrical outlets, they lack built-in charging components—reducing upfront costs and eliminating expenses like replacing damaged charging cables.

This positive is offset by a number of negatives, though, including a worse charging experience, less flexibility in how you can evolve your charging offering, and reduced access to funding programs meant to make EV charging installations more accessible.

The biggest smart plug downside: No charger included

It’s easy for most drivers to use most traditional EV charging stations. They plug in their car, initiate the charging session, and then go about their business.

Smart outlets place a heavier burden on drivers because they require that drivers plug in their own portable EV chargers in order to connect their vehicles. This negatively impacts this offering in two main ways.

The portable chargers required for smart outlets are an added expense

A Level 2 portable charger can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 or more, which is not an insignificant expense to ask drivers to pay in order to plug in.

There are Level 1 portable chargers included with most EVs upon purchase, but these can’t be plugged into Level 2 charging outlets, meaning drivers wouldn’t have the option of simply sticking with their existing, slower chargers—they would have no choice but to purchase the pricier level 2 charger if they wanted to make use of the smart outlet system.

Additionally, though the plugs themselves are likely not going to require substantial maintenance over time, the portable chargers very likely will, particularly as they are unplugged and plugged into the outlet so frequently. Drivers will be on the hook for the maintenance or replacement costs.

Finally, there’s also an increased risk of theft. Most vehicles don’t have a locking mechanism to keep a portable charger connected to their vehicle, meaning there’s little to stop someone from walking up to unplug and steal a portable charger that is in use.

Smart outlets offer a less convenient user experience

A seamless user experience matters, and smart outlets add unnecessary friction compared to EV charging stations.

With a normal EV charging station, the only friction points are in plugging and unplugging the car, as well as in initiating the charging process.

With smart outlets, drivers must:

• Ensure they have their portable charger with them
• Dig it out of their car
• Plug it into the outlet
• Plug it into their car
• Unplug from their car and the outlet at the end of a charging session

None of this is unlivable—many EV drivers happily use portable EV chargers—but given the added steps and responsibility associated with charging via a smart outlet, it’s a worse experience for drivers overall.

Why these downsides matter for property owners

By adopting smart outlets and offloading expense and complexity to EV drivers, property owners run a few risks.

It’s more difficult to manage problems related to charging

When charging issues arise, portable chargers make troubleshooting harder—was it the outlet, the charger, or user error?

Is it a problem with the charger? Is it a problem with the smart outlet? Did the driver simply purchase an incompatible charger? And what happens if the driver forgets their charger and desperately needs to charge?

When drivers have charging issues, they’ll likely turn to your team for help—turning a ‘low-maintenance’ solution into a recurring headache. In contrast, EV charging solutions from companies like SWTCH come with dedicated support that can troubleshoot the entire charging experience, meaning driver issues can usually be handled without your needing to intervene.

Smart outlets make EV charging feel like a less-than-premium amenity

As EV charging becomes a standard amenity, the quality of the charging experience will directly impact user satisfaction.

Added friction and added expense will make a smart outlet charging experience feel substandard as compared to charging with a proper EV charging station. This could lead to reduced satisfaction with your services and even make other properties seem like a better alternative, potentially increasing the turnover rate among those who regularly use EV chargers.

The foundation you lay today could impact your property for years

Today, the added expense and complexity for drivers and the potential for reduced satisfaction with your charging amenity are bad enough. As EVs become more common and EV charging becomes a must-have for more properties, though, these problems will be magnified.

Down the line, if the headaches associated with smart outlets become too much, it will be an expensive and complicated undertaking to rip out the existing outlets, replace them with EV charging stations, and complete the necessary infrastructure adjustments for the change in technology.

By adopting proper EV charging stations today, you’ll be able to avoid this hassle and instead establish a foundation for a quality EV charging experience that drivers can rely on for years to come.

Another downside: Smart outlets’ closed technology limits flexibility and choice

With a full EV charging station, choosing an open solution gives you the flexibility to adapt your setup as needed. If you choose to switch software providers in the future, an open system ensures your equipment remains valuable and adaptable, preventing it from becoming an obsolete asset.

Smart outlets, on the other hand, are generally a more closed solution, and this presents real limitations in how you can evolve your EV charging offering.

In the event that you want or need to migrate away from a smart outlet provider’s software, for instance, the process for doing so will likely be complex or even impossible. This would lead to a requirement that you fully remove your smart outlets and replace them with something else—a time-consuming and expensive proposition you could avoid with chargers based on an open standard.

Particularly given the relatively early stage we’re at in EV charging, it’s a risky proposition to lock into a closed platform—many closed platforms have already closed down, and others are likely to follow in the years to come.

By investing in open hardware and software, such as that offered by SWTCH, you’ll retain more flexibility and choice if you want or need to change providers in the future.

Are smart outlets eligible for incentive and rebate programs? It depends

One of the biggest factors in the final cost of an EV charging installation is whether the project receives funding from federal, state, or local incentive and rebate programs. These programs can cover as much as the entire cost of an EV charging installation, making them extremely important considerations when planning how many EV charging stations to install and what kind of technology to use.

Traditional Level 2 EV charging stations are reliably covered by these programs—the programs, after all, were created largely to facilitate the installation of just this kind of technology.

With smart plugs, there’s less certainty. Some incentive and rebate programs do cover them. Others don’t. And even when they are covered, the funds that they are eligible to receive are often substantially lower than what is available for a level 2 charging station.

What this means is that one of the core benefits of smart outlets—their lower price—is far from guaranteed once funding programs are factored in. Combined with the other shortcomings of the technology, this makes them less attractive as an option for properties seeking to install and operate a large number of charging stations that drivers will love.

Though smart outlets are a reasonable low-cost option for EV charging, the drawbacks to the charging experience, their closed technology, and their patchy funding coverage make them a mixed bag.

If you only need a small number of EV chargers and cost is the absolute most important factor, smart outlets could be a good solution for you. But by choosing a fully-featured EV charging solution instead, you’ll gain the best charging experience for drivers, the best technology for advanced load management, and the best odds of receiving substantial funding to drive the cost of your installation way down.

Want to learn what the best charging technologies are for your property?

Get in touch with our team! We’ll be happy to help find the right technology, maximize funding opportunities, and future-proof your setup.

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The bad news: There’s a common misconception that these properties are too old to host EV charging or that installing EV charging would be too expensive.

The good news: Installing EV charging at Class B and C properties is more affordable and accessible than you think. With smart planning and the right solutions, you can boost tenant satisfaction, enhance property value, and even generate NOI, all without a massive cost to your business.

Ready to learn how? Let’s explore why you should bring EV charging to your property—and how to make it a resounding success.

The Case for EV Charging in Class B and C Properties

Boost retention by meeting tenant demand for EV charging

The profile of the EV driver is rapidly changing. Newer, more affordable models of EV are hitting showroom floors, and the used EV market has seen a tremendous influx of vehicles available at very reasonable prices.

As a result, many who previously felt locked out of the EV space are jumping in to buy their first electric cars. With at-home charging being much preferred (and unquestionably more convenient and less expensive for drivers), owners and operators of Class B and C properties will soon receive an influx of requests for chargers to be installed in their parking areas.

When this occurs, two things are almost certain to happen:

1. Residents of Class B and C properties will begin to seek out (or choose to remain residents of) properties that do offer EV charging.
2. Tenant satisfaction will see a nice increase among those who live in properties that offer EV charging onsite.

Between vacancy costs, the costs associated with promoting and filling rental units, and the costs that arise thanks to turnover, it makes good sense to seek any advantage you can in keeping your properties filled with good tenants. In the years ahead, EV charging will be a great option for accomplishing just that.

Enhance property values with the addition of great new infrastructure

Here’s a little secret: You’ll benefit just as much as your tenants will from having EV charging installed at your properties, just in a different way.

Having EV charging present at a property is going to increase property values. In part, this is because of the immediate value of the infrastructure itself, but there’s another layer, as well.

Right now, there are many incentive and rebate programs out there that drive down the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers. This helps with making the cost of EV charging more reasonable, but most of these programs are set to be phased out over the next few years.

These programs are going to go away at the same time that we see huge increases in both the number of EV drivers and overall demand for at-home charging. The result? Properties that do have EV charging are going to see a nice boost to property value by virtue of already having installed charging stations when the cost was lower.

Generate new revenue and positive NOI with EV charging (and fit it easily into your parking area)

There are a lot of amenities that a property could consider adding, but many—like an exercise center, for example—require diverting property space to the amenity. For many Class B and C properties, there simply isn’t room to spare.

EV charging stations, though, will fit into whatever parking area you already have. No need to tear down walls, convert units into communal spaces, or anything else of the sort. Most of the installation work and modifications go on behind the scenes.

Additionally, where most amenities are just additions that can help attract residents and improve their quality of life, EV charging performs these functions and also allows you to generate a nice new revenue stream.

Revenue from charging fees can be put towards maintenance and operating costs for your charging stations or overall business, can help with future expansion of your charging offering, or can even become a new contributor to overall profits and NOI. There aren’t many other amenities that can claim anything similar.

EV chargers are a tangible example of a commitment to sustainability

More residents than ever want to see the buildings where they live make strides towards greater sustainability. While there are plenty of ways to pursue this—electrifying heating and cooling, improving insulation, replacing windows, etc—many of them aren’t especially obvious or visible. With EV charging, though, you get a physical asset that your residents can walk up and touch and which can produce reports into the precise amount of environmental benefit they offer.

This matters. Being able to see reminders of your investment in sustainability every day will reinforce your commitment in the eyes of residents. And, provided you adopt a solution that lets you see data like the amount of emissions averted by virtue of your chargers (compared with a vehicle powering itself with gasoline), you’ll also be able to tout a specific and measurable contribution on your website, during tours, and in other promotional efforts.

EV charging Challenges for Class B and C properties and how to overcome them

Though there are plenty of benefits to installing EV charging in Class B and C properties, there are legitimate challenges or concerns to contend with. Fortunately, solutions exist and are very accessible.

Here are a few of the most common situations and how to handle them.

Infrastructure limitations: No capacity to add chargers or nowhere to put them

Many Class B and C properties are older. They tend to have older electrical systems that, on their face, can’t support the addition of EV charging stations without highly expensive infrastructure upgrades.

On top of that, parking layouts in these properties are often shared or limited in space. This can make it difficult to install EV chargers in a way that promotes equitable use by residents—or to install them at all.

The solutions:

On the electrical front, the main value is found in adopting a solution with electrical load management. What this does is allow individual circuits or whole electrical panels to allocate electricity across a series of charging stations, rather than the default ratio of one charging station per circuit. This can allow a property to install a large number of stations with no major electrical upgrades required, thereby dramatically reducing the cost of the project.

On an ongoing basis, this same technology can also help keep energy consumption by chargers down during times when the building’s overall load is too high, such as when heating or cooling is drawing a lot of power. You won’t face excess demand charges, and EVs will still get the full charge they need when they plug in.

When it comes to managing shared or limited space, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your best bet will be to work with your EV charging solution provider and your installation partner (be sure to pick one with proven experience with EV charging specifically) to assess the layout of your parking facility and determine the best placement for the charging stations in terms of accessibility and installation cost.

From there, you’ll be better able to judge how best to adjust your parking setup to accommodate the new chargers.

Budget Constraints: Charging stations and installation may seem too expensive

Compared to Class A properties, Class B and C buildings often operate with tighter budgets. And with EV charging installations often seeming to come with a hefty price tag, it’s understandable that a property may choose not to install on that basis alone.

The solutions:

The first thing to understand about the cost of installing EV charging stations: it’s easy to slash your bill pretty significantly.

At the federal, state, city, and utility levels, there are many programs in place across North America to either grant funds for the purchase and installation of EV chargers or to offer tax rebates to reimburse property owners after a project is completed. Securing funding through as many applicable programs as possible is a must. It can drive your project costs down by tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Class B and C properties are likely eligible for more funds than average through these programs and are very likely to be approved.

Reach out to SWTCH for support in applying to the best programs for your property.

Beyond funding programs, you might also consider alternative contracts to make purchasing your chargers more affordable. EV charging-as-a-service takes the full cost of purchasing, installing, and operating EV chargers and breaks it up into monthly payments over the course of a period of years.

The best part? This type of contract still allows you to offset costs using incentive and rebate programs. You’ll slash costs and turn what’s left into a manageable operating expense, all while securing EV charging for your property without delay.

Lack of demand: Nobody drives an EV, or nobody is asking about charging

Though there are more EVs on the road than ever, many property owners report the same thing: nobody at my building drives an EV.

On the driver’s side, though, there are plenty of drivers who say they would drive an EV, but because there’s no charging available where they live, they don’t feel it’s an option.

Not every property is going to see demand for EV charging right away, so how can you know whether it’s the right time to go ahead with the installation?

The solutions:

The first thing to do is to run a survey of your residents. See how many currently have an EV and how many are intending to purchase one in the near future. Based on the results, you should be able to get a sense of how many people will make use of the charging stations you install (it’s pretty much a guarantee that they will all prefer to charge at home vs. a public charging station).

If you want help figuring out the business case based on this survey, reach out to our team! We’ll be happy to help you determine the right number of chargers to install, what kind of fees will be required to offset their cost, and how long it might take you to pay back the cost of your charging stations.

It’s also important to consider the larger picture. There are more and more EVs on the road each year, and we’re not that far away from a time when EVs will be the only kind of car most people can buy.

Incentive programs are great and offer a lot of money, but they’re starting to disappear. What you don’t want is to find yourself needing EV charging to compete with other properties but facing a far higher price tag because of a lack of incentive programs.

If you’re able to install chargers today, even if your property doesn’t quite have the demand for it, it’s likely still a solid move. You’ll be in a stronger position once you do need charging infrastructure.

Great EV charging in action: How The Lofts at Beacon future-proofed their building with SWTCH

In 2022, The Lofts at Beacon began receiving questions from residents about whether the property would install EV charging stations. One year later, the property rolled out its first chargers, powered by SWTCH, seeking to meet resident demand and attract newcomers to the property.

The results?

Existing demand was more than met by the charging stations being installed. In fact, The Lofts at Beacon made their chargers accessible to the public, using them as a tool to attract non-residents in hopes that they might fall in love with the area.

The property expects retention to improve thanks to onsite charging—EV drivers tend not to want to live anywhere without charging onsite. And the impact is steadily growing, with more residents electing to purchase EVs thanks to the charging units being online at their property. In addition, The Lofts at Beacon are indeed seeing a large number of drivers from outside their community coming to charge up and getting to see all the property has to offer.

It’s a great example of the power and value of EV charging for multifamily properties, and you can read the full story here.

Demand for onsite charging at Class B and Class C residential properties is going to increase rapidly before long. By taking the steps to plan, secure funding, and get ahead of demand, you can gain a strong competitive advantage at a far lower cost than you’ll pay by waiting. It’s well worth taking the leap today.

Want to secure an affordable, high-quality EV charging solution for your property?

Get in touch with our team! We’ll be happy to help you create the perfect solution for your needs.

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But how do campuses install charging in such a way as to enhance their other sustainability initiatives, ensure student and staff satisfaction, and boost the overall appeal of their campus?

Let’s dive into the current need for chargers at schools and the best way to build a reliable, sustainable, and affordable EV charging solution for your campus.

The Growing Demand for EV Charging on Campuses

Research by insurance comparison site The Zebra found younger generations to be the most enthusiastic about and interested in electric vehicles. More than two-thirds of Gen Z respondents indicated that they had considered or were considering an electric vehicle, compared with about half of millennials and only a third of baby boomers.

With most students falling at the younger end of the age spectrum and the cost of EVs dropping each year, it’s almost certain that students will be among those leading the way in EV adoption over the coming years.

There’s evidence of a similar trend for faculty in most institutions of higher learning, too. A 2023 poll from Ipsos found that 47% of people with a college degree—which surely includes a large majority of lecturers and instructors across schools of all kinds—are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, compared with about 31% of the general population.

Taken together, these statistics show that while there’s a growing need for EV charging in society in general, there’s likely a faster-growing need at educational institutions in particular. And there are plenty of reasons for schools to move quickly to address that need.

The Strategic Advantage of EV Charging for Colleges and Universities

EV charging aligns with institutional sustainability initiatives

There’s a widespread expectation that schools will serve as leaders in helping to usher in a better tomorrow. This is a part of why so many institutions have ambitious sustainability goals, and why many students and faculty are big supporters of sustainability initiatives.

In installing EV charging, educational institutions gain the opportunity to deliver a tangible, measurable improvement to their campus’ sustainability.

Some EV charging solutions, like SWTCH, even include detailed reporting that reveals the amount of CO2e emissions averted by the energy delivered through your charging stations. In reviewing these kinds of reports, you’ll quickly find your charging stations are making a real impact, and be able to share the good news with your community.

On-campus charging can boost your student and faculty recruitment initiatives

A survey from Students Organizing for Sustainability International found that “92% [of respondents] agree that sustainable development is something which all universities and colleges should actively incorporate and promote.” Additionally, “90% of respondents say they are willing to accept a salary sacrifice to work in a company with a good environmental and social record.”

In other words, not only is there a strong desire on the part of students to see their chosen educational institution take strong measures to improve sustainability, but these same students are willing to make large life decisions in part on the basis of sustainability.

By installing EV charging stations, you gain a tangible asset that can help you communicate your commitment to sustainability during tours, in brochures, on your website, and in other recruitment efforts. It’s an easy way to provide your campus a nice boost in appeal.

For EV drivers among the student population, faculty, and staff, you’ll also have another factor in your favor: convenience. Being able to plug in vehicles at work or school can be hugely beneficial, particularly for individuals who live in environments where EV charging isn’t as accessible (such as the many students who live in apartments).

Both demand for and supply of workplace EV charging stations are growing quickly. According to PWC, about 17% of all EV charging stations in the United States are expected to be installed in workplace environments by the year 2030.

As with workers everywhere else, the faculty and staff at your institution will want EV charging available to them. By installing EV charging stations, you’ll be able to deliver the kind of convenience that makes your school an even more attractive location to live and work.

EV charging stations can help you connect with the public

For larger campuses, EV charging can deliver benefits well beyond the day-to-day for students and staff. Those who host the public for sports, lectures, conferences, and other kinds of events will find a great chance to make a good impression by having EV charging stations available.

Here again, is a chance for the EV charging stations to serve as a highly visible example of the school’s commitment to sustainability, but the benefits go beyond that, too. Drivers of electric vehicles often appreciate opportunities to plug their vehicles in while they would otherwise just be sitting idle for a few hours. And given that EV charging stations tend to be placed quite favorably within a parking facility, you can bet that the charging stations will see frequent use during public-facing events.

The Best Ways to Fund and Afford EV Charging for Your Campus

Though EV charging can seem expensive on its face, the truth is that there are a number of smart technological and financial choices that can dramatically reduce the cost of securing and installing chargers. Here’s a quick look at a few of the most significant ones you should know.

Take advantage of as many funding programs as possible

Right now, there are many incentive and rebate programs that exist to drive down the cost of purchasing and installing EV charging stations. These programs won’t exist forever, but while they do, it’s important to secure funding from as many programs as possible in order to lower your bill.

With programs available at the federal, state, local, and even utility levels, there are many possible options available to you, depending on where your campus is located. If you would like help identifying the best programs for your institution—and then applying to them—reach out to our team. We’ve helped secure millions of dollars in funding for EV charging stations across North America, and we’ll be happy to help you as well.

Incorporate charging fees into your operating budget for the chargers

One of the rather unique positives of EV chargers is that they, over time, can pay for themselves.

Typically, the expectation is that an individual who uses a charging station to charge their vehicle will pay for the cost of the electricity they’re consuming plus a modest additional charge that goes to the owner of the charging station.

On a per-charging session basis, this isn’t much. But if your stations get reasonably good use over the course of several years, these fees quickly add up. After a few years, many properties fully pay back their costs for procuring and installing the EV chargers, and can even begin to generate a profit (provided there are no applicable laws forbidding them from doing so).

Whatever your plans for your EV charging, how much you intend to pay, what your budget is, etc. you should be sure to account for likely revenue generated by the charging stations themselves once they are installed. You might be surprised by how much they wind up delivering for you.

Consider alternative models for paying for your charging stations

Though securing funding can dramatically lower the cost of installing EV chargers, it’s possible to eliminate an upfront cost of any kind by simply opting for a different sort of contract: EV charging-as-a-service.

With EV charging-as-a-service (EV CaaS), all costs for hardware, installation, and even electrical upgrades are divided into reasonable monthly payments to be paid over the lifetime of a contract (with SWTCH, this contract typically lasts about five years).

This approach can make installing EV chargers even easier to manage while still allowing you to benefit from the exact same funding programs available for an outright purchase.

When it comes to an upfront purchase vs an EV CaaS arrangement, there’s no objectively right or wrong choice, but it’s worth considering both options to ensure you arrive at the best approach for your specific institution.

Your Roadmap to Installing Effective EV Charging for Schools

If you intend to install EV charging stations at your campus, it’s important that you go about the process in a way that ensures your EV charging infrastructure…

• Properly addresses existing demand for EV charging
• Maximizes the value of your dollar in terms of the number and kind of charging stations installed
• Meets any federal, state, or local requirements for EV charging infrastructure, including any specific requirements for educational institutions
• Provides a clear pathway to expanding the number of charging stations installed as demand continues to grow

Fortunately, these are all elements that are relatively simple to account for with proper planning. Here are some steps to take.

1: Assess your campus’ demand for EV charging stations

When installing EV charging stations, you want to install at least as many charging stations as needed to address the present demand for charging. In an ideal scenario, you’ll also have at least a bit of excess capacity so that you can accommodate increases in demand over the next few years without having to complete additional installations.

One easy option is to issue one or more surveys to see how many people drive an electric vehicle or wish to purchase an electric vehicle in the next few years and, of those groups, how many would make frequent or occasional use of EV charging on campus.
Likely, you’d want to survey students, faculty, and staff and do so in such a way as to be able to segment the responses to understand where your demand is concentrated. You might choose to locate chargers differently if you notice that the majority of your demand comes from faculty, for example, instead of students.

You should also review any feedback you have received over the past couple of years to see how many requests have come in around EV charging—odds are quite good that you’re getting more such requests than you used to.

If you’re not entirely sure how many chargers would be needed to address existing demand and provide a buffer for the future, chat with your EV charging solutions provider to get their input. They should be able to work with you to come to the right number.

2: Choose the right kind(s) of charger for your institution

There are many kinds of EV chargers out there to choose from, and you’ll want to do a bit of work to ensure that the ones you select are the best fit for your institution and the drivers being served.

In general, the best experience will be produced by installing a large bank of level 2 chargers. These are fast enough to deliver a nice increase to a battery’s state of charge, especially over the course of several hours of charging—perfect for students or staff spending hours on campus at a time.

Depending on the kind of traffic you see on your campus, there can also be a case for installing one or two DC Fast Chargers (DCFC) in addition to the bank of level two chargers. Where a level 2 charger would take a few hours to bring a battery from near-empty to full, a DCFC charger can accomplish the same in anywhere from 20 minutes to just over an hour.

Just note that these charging stations are much, much more expensive. Depending on the hardware and the electrical upgrades required to operate a DCFC charger, you might be looking at a bill of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per charger.

At this stage of the EV charging game, most campuses will be best suited by using their dollars to install as many level 2 chargers as they need rather than also introducing DCFC chargers. But it’s worth giving the idea careful consideration to ensure that, whatever you wind up adopting, it suits the needs of your campus.

3: Familiarize yourself with applicable Permits and Zoning Regulations

Odds are, there will be specific permits and zoning regulations that your EV charging installation will have to adhere to. Either on your own or with the assistance of your solutions provider and installation partner, be sure to research any and all requirements necessary for your project to adhere to applicable building codes.

This is also the right time to make sure that your future EV charging stations will meet any requirements imposed by the funding programs you apply to.

Once you figure out which permits are needed and what the requirements and timelines are for your funding programs, be sure to apply as soon as you are able so that progress can begin immediately.

4: Choose a solution with intelligent energy management to build for the future

Your EV charging needs are going to change within just a few years. Many more EVs will be on the road than there are now, and more people will be looking for convenient places to plug in. This is going to be especially true for students, as the apartment complexes where many of them will live are generally lagging behind when it comes to meeting demand for charging.

The solution? Install chargers with intelligent energy management capabilities.

By default, each level 2 EV charging station requires its own electrical circuit to function. In order to install multiple chargers, then, you would need to have an equal number of circuits available, which most properties don’t. To complete the electrical upgrades necessary to add a sufficient number of circuits is generally very expensive.

This problem is easily solved with load management technology. At a basic level, load management can allow up to four stations to coordinate their charging efforts along a single circuit. With more advanced solutions, such as the load management solution offered by SWTCH, you can operate as many as 20 charging stations off of a single circuit, with intelligent rebalancing of electrical demand going on behind the scenes to allocate energy where it is needed most.

Particularly as EV charging demand increases and educational institutions wind up needing to install a great many EV chargers, load management technology will be necessary to get enough chargers installed. It simply won’t make financial sense to do it any other way.

Educational institutions hold a special place in society. They’re hubs of innovation, places of learning and community, and generally leaders in the movement towards a more sustainable future. By adopting EV charging, schools of all kinds can meet a new, growing need in its community for accessible and reliable EV charging, while bolstering existing commitments to sustainability leadership. It’s a move that is well worth pursuing, and with the funding that is available today, it’s one that need not come at an astronomical cost.

Ready to unlock the benefits of great EV charging for your campus?

Get in touch with the SWTCH team today!

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