The Group Chat That Exposed a Free Charging Problem

We got a call last week from a property manager we have worked with for years. He has seen REVS in action at multiple properties and knows what a well-run EV charging program looks like. So when he took over a new multifamily community and walked into the parking garage, he was not prepared for what he found.

His property shares a parking structure with a sister multifamily community next door. That neighboring property had done things the right way. They installed EV charging stations and set up a system where residents pay a fair rate to charge their vehicles. Simple, sustainable, and smart.

His property? Free charging. No fees. No structure. Just open plugs and a prayer.

Now here is where it gets interesting.

The residents at the sister property figured out pretty quickly that free stations were just a short walk away. They created a group chat dedicated entirely to coordinating who was using the free chargers. Messages flying back and forth all day: "Just unplugged, spot is open!" and "Heading down now, save me a spot." A full operation running right under the property team's nose.

Let that sink in. Residents from another building organized a system to avoid paying for charging at their own property by using someone else's stations for free. And the property footing the bill had no idea how much it was costing them.

Here is the thing. Free EV charging sounds generous, but it is not a strategy. Have you ever seen a gas station giving away free fuel? Of course not. Energy has a cost, and someone always pays for it. When a property offers free charging, that cost lands squarely on the operating budget. And when word gets out that your stations are free, you are not just serving your own residents anymore.

This property manager knew exactly what he needed. He had seen the REVS model work firsthand at his previous communities. REVS covers the cost of the equipment and the installation. REVS handles the ongoing management of the stations. And residents pay a fair, transparent rate to charge their vehicles. The property gets a turnkey EV amenity with zero capital outlay and zero headaches.

He called us ready to fight for budget approval on the spot. Not because he needed convincing, but because he had already lived the REVS experience and wanted it again. That is the kind of loyalty you earn by consistently delivering a program that works for property teams and residents alike.

EV charging at multifamily properties is not going away. The question is whether you set it up in a way that adds value to your community or in a way that quietly drains your budget while the building next door sends thank you texts in a group chat.

Ready to stop giving away free electricity? Learn how REVS can bring turnkey EV charging to your property at zero cost. Get Started with REVS