Property Manager's Guide to Running an EV Charging Program

EV charging is moving from “nice to have” to basic infrastructure in multifamily housing. Renters increasingly ask about charging on tours, and most EV drivers prefer to charge at home. But installing hardware is only step one. This guide gives property managers a plain‑English playbook for pricing, access controls, communication, and day‑to‑day operations—plus a one‑page, fill‑in quick reference for the leasing desk. 

Why EV Charging Matters in Multifamily (Now)

• Leasing impact: interest in EV charging among renters is rising year over year; communities that offer it gain a competitive edge. 

• Resident convenience: most EV drivers prefer home charging for cost and predictability. 

• Equity & retention: apartment residents have less access to charging than single‑family homeowners; solving this helps retain residents. 

• Code momentum: more cities/states require EV‑capable or EV‑ready parking in new developments; planning ahead avoids costly retrofits. 

Program Design Decisions (Make These First) 

• Access: resident‑only, residents + guests, or limited public access? Start simple; expand later if needed. 

• Pricing: kWh‑based (where permitted), time‑based, per‑session, or subscription. Pick one, keep it transparent. 

• Port mix: Level 2 (workhorse for overnight charging); Level 1 as overflow/backup only. 

• Networking: choose networked stations for payments, access control, usage data, and remote support. 

• Load management: use managed charging to add more ports without major electrical upgrades—critical in older buildings. 

• Location: well‑lit, visible, ADA‑compliant spaces near electrical rooms to reduce trenching/cost. 

• Uptime & support: define maintenance responsibilities, response times, and uptime expectations in writing. 

• Data: track utilization, revenue, and uptime; expand when peak utilization remains high. 

• Resident communications: prepare a clear, simple script for the 5 basics (who/where/how fast/how much/what if full?). 

• Future‑proofing: in new builds, stub conduits and reserve capacity; in retrofits, plan phased growth with load sharing. 

Infrastructure Basics (What to Buy, In Plain English)

Level 1 (120V): Slow but inexpensive. Helpful as overflow or for long‑dwell parking.

Level 2 (240V): Standard for apartments; typically adds ~10–30 miles of range per hour—enough to fully recharge overnight.

Networking: Enables user authentication, pricing, reservations/notifications, reporting, and remote troubleshooting.

Load management: Software shares available power across ports/panels to avoid overloading while meeting overnight needs.

Safety/Compliance: Use UL‑listed equipment and licensed electricians; follow local building/electrical codes and ADA guidance.

Dollars & Ops (What to Expect)

• Capital drivers: number of ports, distance to power, trenching/conduit, panel/transformer capacity, networking. 

• Operating costs: electricity, network fees, routine maintenance/warranty. Budget a modest annual amount per port. 

• Pricing strategy: align fees with your goals—cost recovery without gouging. Keep it simple and transparent. 

• Utilization rule of thumb: start with a small bank of ports; add more when evening peak utilization persists at ~40–50%+. 

Six‑Step Launch Plan (Run With Normal Staffing) 

• Assess demand: survey residents, note EVs on site, check market comps. 

• Call the utility early: confirm capacity and ask about multifamily incentives/rebates. 

• Pick locations & counts: start small but wire for growth; include ADA‑compliant spaces. 

• Choose Level 2 networked + load management as your default; add Level 1 only as overflow. 

• Decide policies: access, pricing, dwell/overstay, and support. Document them. 

• Train staff & announce: give leasing a short script; post QR signs linking to the one‑pager. 

Operating Rules That Keep Everyone Happy 

• Access controls: resident‑only to start; allow guests with codes during office hours if desired. 

• Dwell time: set clear windows (e.g., move within 30 minutes of charge completion). 

• Fair‑use queueing: first‑come‑first‑served or reservations if your network supports it. 

• Enforcement: mirror parking policy—courtesy notices → fines → towing for violators. 

• Transparency: show price, power (kW), and expected miles/hour at the point of use. 

• Uptime: post a single support contact and response‑time expectations. 

New Construction vs. Redevelopment 

• New builds: meet/beat EV‑capable/EV‑ready code, and stub for future ports; reserve electrical capacity. 

• Retrofits: use load management to stretch capacity; site chargers near electrical rooms; phase work to reduce disruption. 

Reliability (and Perception) Matters 

Residents judge the entire program on whether chargers work when needed. Contract for monitoring and maintenance, respond quickly, and communicate clearly about outages and fixes. Reliability builds trust; trust drives utilization and renewals. 

Leasing Desk One‑Pager (Printable, Fill‑In‑The‑Blanks) 

Deploying a charging program is step one, but the success of the program is dependent on the resident experience. Make sure that your property managers know how to speak the “EV-lingo”. This sets you miles apart from the competition as EV drivers will notice if your property managers are in the know of how the program works.  

As a part of this guide, we have attached our “Quick Reference” one pager which we fill-in with all of our clients. This should be the go-to cheat sheet for your property managers with all of the relevant information they should know.  

Click for "Blank Template"

Click for "Filled-In Example"

Visibility & Trust: List Your Chargers on PlugShare 

Why it matters: Savvy EV drivers check PlugShare before they sign a lease or visit a site. A clean, accurate PlugShare listing builds trust and shows your program is well‑run. 

Who should own it: Your program manager (we handle this for our clients at PlugOp) should create and maintain the listing. 

How to list: Include property name, connector types (e.g., J1772/Tesla adapter), power (kW), access policy (residents‑only / guests / hours), pricing, hours, floor/area (e.g., P1 near south elevator), and a support number. Add clear photos and short house rules (e.g., move when done). 

Access flag: If your stations are not public, mark the listing as residential/restricted and state eligibility (e.g., residents only; guests with approval). 

Ongoing care: Monitor check‑ins/reviews, update temporary outages, and keep pricing and access notes in sync with your website and leasing one‑pager. 

Talking point for staff: “It’s one thing to list EV chargers on our website. Any savvy EV driver will check PlugShare to see how they actually operate. We keep our listing current so you know what to expect.” 

EV‑Installed vs. EV‑Ready vs. EV‑Capable (Why it Matters) 

EV‑installed: Charging stations are fully installed, energized, and ready for resident use. 

EV‑ready: Panel capacity, wiring, and a 240V outlet or junction box are in place at the parking stall—no charger yet. You can add a station quickly later with minimal disruption. 

EV‑capable: Conduit/raceway and electrical capacity are reserved to the stall location, but no wiring or outlet yet. It’s the lowest‑cost way to prepare for future growth. 

Why you care: Planning a mix of installed, ready, and capable spaces lets you expand quickly and cost‑effectively as demand increases—install a baseline now, then convert ready/capable spaces as utilization rises. 

Practical tip: In new builds, exceed code by wiring more stalls EV‑ready than required and stub raceways to additional stalls (EV‑capable). In retrofits, pair EV‑installed stalls with load management and add EV‑ready/capable as part of any electrical or resurfacing work. 

References 

• U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) — EV charging basics, pricing, access, O&M, incentives. 

• NREL — managed charging/load management guidance and research for buildings/garages. 

• Drive Electric Tennessee — Multifamily EV Infrastructure Guide (site planning, ADA, networking basics). 

• J.D. Power — U.S. EV Experience (EVX) Home Charging Study (home‑charging satisfaction). 

• City & State building code resources — examples: Denver EV parking requirements; California CALGreen updates for multifamily.