How Carshare EV Charging Adds Value to Modern Developments

REITs, developers, property owners, and municipalities have everything to gain by installing charging stations for carshare electric vehicles, from introducing a new stream of revenue to making life better in the community.

In many jurisdictions, dedicated carshare stalls are already expected in new developments, with some municipalities tying permits to the inclusion of carshare parking.

Shared EVs and chargers not only help meet the growing demand for sustainable alternatives to vehicle ownership, they can also transform underutilized areas of new and existing properties into transportation hubs that attract residents and customers on the move.

Carshare clubs offer short-term vehicle rentals by the day, hour, or even the minute. Typically, drivers pay a monthly or annual membership fee plus rental fees, which cover all usage costs, including insurance and maintenance.

It’s a convenient and affordable option for drivers who want to avoid the expenses, responsibilities, and environmental impacts of vehicle ownership or who lack access to private parking and EV charging.

Whether run by a nonprofit cooperative or a for-profit company, carsharing has been shown to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by encouraging drivers to take a multi-modal approach to transportation that combines driving, public transit, walking, and/or cycling.

It’s a model that becomes exponentially more effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions when combined with an electric fleet.

Though the sticker price of an EV can be higher than a gas-powered equivalent, EVs also offer considerable savings in fuel and maintenance costs over the lifetime of the vehicle.

In recent years, the Canadian and United States federal governments offered financial incentives that took a bite out of these upfront costs, accelerating the adoption of EVs for carshare fleets.

About 35% of British Columbia-based Modo Carsharing Co-op vehicles are low-emission, for example, while 25% of the Zipcar global fleet is electric, well above the adoption rate for individual owners.

In 2024, Bosa Properties brought 18 Level 2 Hypercharge EV charging stations to SEAandSKY, an expansive multi-use waterfront community in Squamish, British Columbia.

Bosa has long been committed to achieving its sustainability goals and improving life for residents through EV charging, and previously worked with Hypercharge to install dozens of charging solutions at its University District Development in Surrey, BC.

With more than 1,100+ strata homes, nearly 300 rental homes, and commercial units, SEAandSKY has significant demand for both public charging and its Modo charging stations.

In many BC municipalities, dedicated carshare stalls are an important part of the planning conversation and can be a condition of approval for new developments.

Partnering with a carshare organization gives developers a clear framework for how those stalls are equipped and operated.

The cost of the dedicated carshare charger can be folded into the overall project economics. It also:

• Offers a valuable amenity to residential and commercial tenants
• Increases property value while future-proofing developments by establishing the essential electrical infrastructure for an electrified future
• Supports compliance with zoning bylaws and municipal requirements for EV charging capabilities
• Elevates the development’s brand by positioning it as forward-thinking, eco-friendly and community minded.

In BC’s Lower Mainland, another savvy developer has delivered EV charging to an emerging community that combines family apartments, townhomes, and street-level shopping with convenient public transit options.

Hypercharge worked closely with the developer and Modo to install Level 2 chargers in designated parking stalls that are beautifully integrated into the setting while meeting Modo’s specific requirements for charger output and access.

Dedicated, branded carshare stalls with on-site EV charging help the project meet municipal expectations for carsharing while giving residents and visitors a reliable shared EV option right where they live and shop.

Using Quantev’s sophisticated analytic tools, we were able to swiftly create the following snapshot of a typical Modo charging session in this Metro Vancouver community:

*Estimate based on 4 kms per kW for Tesla Model 3.

This data illustrates how easily charging can be integrated into the carshare experience. With a relatively short session, each vehicle’s charge can be topped up as needed to be made ready for the next user.

As importantly, the seamless integration of Hypercharge’s hardware and Quantev allow for real-time monitoring to ensure frictionless transitions and maximum uptime.