News Summary: ChargePoint and OBE Power Partner for Multi-Family EV Charging
ChargePoint has announced a strategic partnership with OBE Power to expand Level 2 EV charging infrastructure across multi-family properties, including apartment complexes and condominiums, as well as workplaces and hospitality sites. This initiative targets one of the largest hurdles in EV adoption: providing reliable home charging for drivers who do not live in single-family homes.
- Partnership Model: OBE Power acts as an owner-operator using ChargePoint hardware and networking technology.
- Zero Upfront CAPEX: Property managers and landlords pay no upfront installation or capital expenditure costs. OBE Power funds the make-ready site work, hardware, and deployment.
- Turnkey Operations: OBE Power manages station maintenance, ongoing repairs, and driver support while reimbursing property owners for the electricity consumed.
- Driver Experience: Charging stations appear directly on the ChargePoint app, allowing drivers to plug in using familiar ChargePoint hardware and payment systems.
- Deployment Scale: OBE Power aims to deploy roughly 2,500 charging ports under this collaborative multi-family push.
Industry Context: Addressing the Apartment Charging Gap
Currently, less than 10% of multi-family housing units offer access to EV charging at home. Yet, industry data shows that 80% to 90% of all EV charging takes place where drivers park overnight. This disparity creates a significant barrier for city dwellers and apartment renters looking to switch to electric vehicles.
Without home charging, multi-family residents are often forced to rely on public DC fast chargers. This reliance increases fuel costs and introduces routine inconvenience. By removing the financial and operational burden from property managers, the ChargePoint and OBE Power partnership offers a scalable blueprint to bridge this gap.
| Feature / Metric | Traditional Property Deployment | OBE Power + ChargePoint Model |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost (CAPEX) | High (Hardware + Electrical Make-Ready) | $0 for Property Owner |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Handled by Landlord / On-site Staff | Managed completely by OBE Power |
| Driver Support | Handled by Property Management | 24/7 Support via ChargePoint & OBE Power |
| Electricity Costs | Paid by Landlord or Billed Manually | Reimbursed to Landlord by Operator |
The Electric Duo Take
When we first bought an EV, we lived in a condo complex. While we had a private garage space to plug in, most of our neighbors didn't have access to an outlet, let alone a dedicated Level 2 charger. We see this issue constantly in our video comments and forum discussions: people want an EV, but if they live in an apartment, overnight charging feels nearly impossible.
The smartest aspect of this deal is how it addresses property managers. Most landlords don't want to become charging network operators. They don't want to manage electrical infrastructure upgrades, deal with broken cables, or handle tenant customer support at 10 PM. By bringing in OBE Power as an owner-operator with ChargePoint hardware, property owners get a high-value amenity that attracts tenants without touching their capital budget or adding to their daily workload.
Charging at home isn't just cheaper than stopping at a fast charger—it completely changes how you interact with your car. Instead of spending 30 to 45 minutes sitting at a commercial charging plaza every week, you plug in when you get home, eat dinner, sleep, and wake up with a full battery. As millions of used EVs hit the market over the next few years, bringing Level 2 charging to apartments and condos is essential to keep adoption moving forward.
If you live in a multi-family building or manage a property, you can get the ball rolling by visiting ChargePoint's website and clicking "Connect with an Expert." They will route property requests directly into this turn-key program.
