Wrong pricing for multifamily EV charging can lose you money

We recently chatted with a property manager who planned to add a flat monthly EV charging fee to all parking spots equipped with an EV charger. Here's why that's a bad idea.

The problem with flat-fee charging

Unfair cost distribution: You'll be charging the folks that use $50 of energy every month the same amount as the Uber driver that uses over $500 per month.

No usage controls: There's nothing to stop unauthorized users from using these "free" chargers when the rightful owner is gone.

Hidden losses: Your property may actually be netting a consistent monthly loss on EV charging, and you might not even know. One of our customers was charging a flat $50/month per spot, but some residents were consuming over $200/month in electricity. The property was losing thousands annually without realizing it.

No demand management: Without usage-based pricing, there's no incentive for drivers to charge during off-peak hours, which can drive up demand charges on the property's utility bill.

A better approach

With Flipturn, properties can implement per-kWh billing that ensures drivers pay for what they actually use, access controls that prevent unauthorized charging, real-time cost tracking that gives property managers clear visibility into their charging economics, automated billing that eliminates manual accounting headaches, and time-of-use rate options that incentivize off-peak charging.

We've seen properties switch from flat-fee to usage-based pricing and immediately turn EV charging from a cost center into a revenue-positive amenity.

The bottom line

EV charging should be a revenue-positive amenity for your property, not a money pit. The right pricing model makes all the difference — and it starts with understanding actual usage patterns rather than applying a one-size-fits-all flat fee.

About Flipturn

Flipturn is a leading EV charging management platform, helping organizations maximize charger uptime, process charging payments, and scale operations efficiently. Backed by leading investors including CRV and Accel, Flipturn serves Fortune 500 companies, commercial property owners, and major fleet operators across North America.