Why smart EV charging outlets might not work for your condo building

What is a smart outlet?

Smart outlets are different from your typical Level 2 EV charger. A smart outlet is a networked 240V electrical outlet — think of a standard NEMA 14-50 plug, but with a connected meter and software behind it. Residents bring their own charging cord, plug it in, and the outlet tracks energy usage, authenticates the user, and bills them per kilowatt-hour.

The argument for smart outlets

On paper, smart outlets may look like a good fit for multifamily EV charging. The hardware is cheaper than full Level 2 chargers, and they still let you charge residents for usage. The math pencils out, until you look at actual resident behavior and attitude.

One 1,000-unit property ran the experiment for us. They installed a mix of dedicated Level 2 chargers and smart outlets where residents could plug in their own cord. Over an entire year, the Level 2 chargers saw heavy use. The smart outlets? Zero charging sessions. Not low. Not underwhelming. Zero.

Why residents didn't bite

Two complaints came up over and over about the smart outlets:

1. Needing to pull out a $150 cord to charge. Residents hated the inconvenience of pulling a cord out of the trunk to charge, and didn't want to spend $150 out of pocket to buy a charging cord to begin with.
2. The pricing felt unfair. Smart outlet users were being charged the same per-kWh rate as residents plugging into the dedicated Level 2 chargers — despite having to supply their own hardware and deal with the hassle.

The price gap has closed

The cost argument for smart outlets has mostly evaporated. Level 2 charger hardware now runs under $1000 regularly, only about $100-$200 more than a comparable smart outlet setup. For that marginal cost, you get a dedicated, frictionless charging experience that residents will actually use and pay for. EV charging can pay for itself through usage fees, but only if residents actually plug in.

That 1,000-unit property's smart outlet program generated no revenue and delivered minimal savings. That's a stranded asset.

What this means for your building

If you're planning EV infrastructure for a multifamily property, don't optimize for the lowest hardware line item. Optimize for what residents will actually use. The friction of 'bring your own cord' is enough to kill adoption entirely. When adoption is zero, nothing else about the economics matters.

Spend the extra $200. Install the Level 2 charger. Let the amenity do its job.