How to Decide What EV Chargers to Deploy on a Multi-family Property

Choosing the right EV charger for a multifamily property isn't a hardware decision. It's a business decision. The equipment itself is only a fraction of the total cost, and picking the wrong product or the wrong partner can turn a revenue-generating amenity into a money pit.

Here's what property owners need to understand before signing any contracts:

The Hardware Is More Similar Than You Think

There are only a handful of companies that actually manufacture Level 2 EV chargers, and most of the hardware comes from the same regions in Southeast Asia. From a physical standpoint, the differences between one Level 2 station and another are relatively minor. Cord length, mounting style, and power output (ranging from 7.2 kWh to 19.2 kWh) vary between models, but the core components are similar across manufacturers.

Where chargers truly differ is in their power output and build quality. A 7.2 kWh station adds roughly 25 miles of range per hour of charging. A 19.2 kWh station can add over 60 miles per hour. For a multifamily property where residents charge overnight, a mid-range station is usually more than sufficient — and significantly less expensive to install because it draws less power from your electrical panel.

Software Is Where the Real Differences Show Up

The software running on your charging stations determines whether they're easy to manage or a constant source of problems. Every EV charging company charges a monthly network fee typically $10 to $30 per station for their software platform. That fee covers the user interface, billing controls, and usage tracking. But not all platforms offer the same capabilities.

Here's what to look for:

Reservation systems. Can residents reserve a time slot? If someone reserves and doesn't show up, can the system charge a no-show fee? Without this, you'll get complaints about stations being unavailable.

Connection fees. One of the biggest issues at multifamily properties is residents leaving their car plugged in after it's fully charged, blocking the station for hours. Good software lets you charge an idle fee after charging completes, which keeps stations turning over.

OCPP compatibility. Open Charge Point Protocol is the industry standard that allows charging stations to communicate with management software. The industry has moved from OCPP 1.6 to OCPP 2.0.1, which offers better security, smarter charging features, and improved diagnostics. Make sure any station you install supports the latest protocol and can receive over-the-air software updates.

Why the Cheapest Option Costs the Most

This is the mistake property owners make more than any other. They shop for chargers the same way they'd shop for appliances: find the lowest price and buy it. The problem is that the charging equipment typically accounts for less than half of the total installation cost. The bigger expense is the electrical work. Most multifamily properties don't have spare electrical capacity sitting around waiting for EV chargers. Running new conduit, upgrading panels, and pulling permits can cost two to three times what the stations themselves cost.

When a property owner saves $500 per station by going with a cheaper product, but the installer doesn't understand multifamily electrical systems and the infrastructure work costs $10,000 more than it should have, those savings disappear fast.

The Manufacturer Trap

There are over 75 companies competing for a piece of the EV charging market. Most are publicly traded or early-stage startups, and their primary business objective is the same: get as many stations deployed as possible so they can collect recurring network fees.

That incentive doesn't always align with what's best for your property. A manufacturer will often recommend more stations than you need because every station generates monthly software revenue for them. They may also push their own hardware even when a different product would be a better fit for your parking layout, electrical capacity, or resident needs.

This is why working with an independent advisor like someone who isn't selling hardware can lead to better outcomes. You want a partner whose recommendation is based on what your property actually needs, not on what generates the most recurring revenue for them.

What to Do Instead

The simplest path is to work with a company that understands both the EV charging technology and the multifamily industry. That combination is rarer than it should be. Most charging companies come from tech. Most real estate consultants don't know charging.

REVS was founded by real estate professionals who understand how properties operate, how capital decisions get made, and what residents actually need. That means deployment plans are designed around your property's specific electrical infrastructure, resident mix, and long-term growth and not around selling the maximum number of stations.

If you're evaluating EV charging for your property, contact REVS for an honest assessment of what makes sense for your situation.