How Landlords Can Choose the Right EV Charging Partner in 2025

As EV adoption grows, landlords across retail, multifamily, office, and mixed-use properties face a common decision: how to integrate EV charging, and with whom. The right partnership can elevate property value, generate ancillary revenue, and improve tenant/visitor experience. The wrong choice can leave stranded assets, costly retrofits, or underused equipment.

In today’s fragmented charging landscape, here’s how property owners should evaluate potential Charge Point Operator (CPO) partners.

1. Start with your business model alignment

The first question isn’t which hardware—it’s which revenue and operating model fits your property strategy.

• Landlord-owned (self-op): You buy the equipment, claim tax credits (30C), and hire a CPO or network provider for software + O&M. Upside: control of pricing, data, and tenant incentives. Downside: you carry capex and risk.

• CPO-owned (third-party install & operate): A CPO funds, installs, and runs chargers, often paying a revenue share or rent. Upside: minimal landlord cost, expertise outsourced. Downside: less control of pricing and branding.

• Hybrid models: Some landlords co-invest, covering site prep or utility upgrades, while the CPO funds hardware. Good fit where access to 30C credits or local incentives can be shared.

Tip: Ask: Do I want EV charging as a tenant amenity, a profit center, or both? The answer drives your partner shortlist.

2. Evaluate financial stability and capital access

A key risk for landlords is partnering with a “here today, gone tomorrow” CPO.

• Public charging firms in the U.S. have faced stock volatility and policy shocks (NEVI pauses, shifting incentives). Even so, strong players are securing nine-figure debt facilities and DOE loans—proof they have the runway to honor contracts.

• Ask for proof of capital sources (credit lines, DOE loan eligibility, recent raises) and how they structure site leases.

Red flag: Partners who insist on short timelines without showing financing capacity for scale.

3. Scrutinize operations, not just installations

Reliability is the number-one driver of driver satisfaction. In J.D. Power’s 2025 survey, failed charging attempts are down—but payment friction and downtime remain top complaints.

• Demand uptime guarantees (e.g. 97–98% SLA).

• Ask how quickly they replace broken hardware (spares program, local technicians).

• Look at their network management software—does it integrate roaming, tap-to-pay, fleet billing?

Checklist question: If a charger goes down Friday night, who rolls the truck, and how fast?

4. Prioritize future-proofing

Connector standards and vehicle mix are shifting fast:

• Ensure partners install hardware supporting SAE J3400 (NACS) + CCS by default.

• Ask about power upgrade paths—can a 150 kW site be scaled to 350 kW without tearing up the lot?

• Check if their software allows for demand response and utility integration—important as utilities push for smart charging.

5. Understand the tenant and customer experience

For retail, hospitality, and office landlords, charging is as much about dwell time as electrons.

• Can the CPO integrate loyalty apps, building access cards, or tenant discounts?

• Do they offer Wi-Fi, digital signage, or bundled amenities at the station? These can transform charging into a retail engagement tool rather than a simple utility.

6. Negotiate flexible contract terms

Many landlords sign 10–15 year exclusivity contracts with charging providers—only to find technology or policy has shifted.

• Push for mid-term renegotiation clauses or performance-based term lengths.

• Clarify revenue share mechanics (gross vs. net, who sets prices, who pays utility bills).

• Ensure early exit language if the partner fails to meet uptime or usage thresholds.

7. Factor in policy + incentives

Your partner should be fluent in maximizing NEVI, 30C, and state/local programs:

• In some states, CPOs can stack 80% NEVI reimbursements with 30C tax credits—but only if sites meet location and compliance requirements.

• Ask: Who files for incentives? Who claims the credits? Who takes on prevailing wage compliance?

Well-structured partners can reduce your effective costs by 40–60% using incentives.

Bottom Line

Choosing an EV charging partner is less about hardware and more about alignment of incentives, operational competence, and capital strength.

For landlords, the best partners are those who:

• Match your financial model (amenity vs. revenue play)

• Prove operational reliability (uptime, spares, responsiveness)

• Future-proof the site (connectors, power, software)

• Align contract terms with long-term property strategy

In 2025, landlords have leverage. With demand growing and policy support in flux, the right CPO will view you not just as a host, but as a strategic asset partner.