Most Colorado apartment owners and managers who are seriously evaluating EV charging end up comparing the same two categories: buying or leasing hardware from a national network operator like Blink or ChargePoint, or entering a managed partnership where a company installs and operates everything at no cost to the property.
Both approaches can work. The question is which one actually fits your property's situation — your budget, your tolerance for ongoing management, and what you want EV charging to be for your community long-term.
This article compares the vendor hardware model honestly against the managed partnership model. We'll be transparent about where each approach has real advantages, and where each one has real costs that don't always show up in the initial pitch.
The vendor model: Blink, ChargePoint, and similar operators
Blink and ChargePoint are the two largest EV charging network operators in the United States. Both offer programs for multifamily properties, though the details vary considerably between them and by contract.
In the typical vendor model, the property either purchases hardware outright or enters a lease agreement. The vendor provides the network software, basic monitoring, and a resident-facing app. The property is responsible for the electrical infrastructure — or pays the vendor to manage it — and ongoing maintenance is either handled by the vendor under a service contract or by the property directly.
ChargePoint focuses more heavily on property-owned hardware, where the property buys the chargers and pays for access to ChargePoint's network software. Blink has historically offered a revenue-share arrangement in some markets, though contract terms and local availability vary.
What the vendor model costs
For a property going through a national vendor, typical costs include:
- Hardware: $1,500–$4,000+ per Level 2 charging unit, purchased or leased
- Installation and electrical: Separate cost — the vendor quotes hardware; electrical work is usually a separate contractor bid. For a 10-port installation, electrical can run $15,000–$50,000 depending on panel capacity and site conditions.
- Network/software fee: Monthly per-port fee for network access, typically $15–$30 per port per month
- Maintenance: Either a service contract (additional cost) or pay-per-incident — charger hardware issues can be expensive to diagnose and repair without a contract
- Support: Residents contact the network's support line — which varies significantly in responsiveness depending on the vendor
For a 10-port installation under a vendor model, total year-one costs including hardware, electrical, and network fees typically range from $60,000 to $120,000+, before any incentive programs are applied.
Where the vendor model works well
The vendor model makes the most sense for properties that:
- Want to own the hardware outright and keep all charging revenue
- Have in-house property management teams with technical capacity to oversee vendor relationships
- Have strong electrical infrastructure already in place
- Are large institutional owners where the EV charging capital outlay is a manageable line item
The managed partnership model
In a managed partnership, a company like Enertech installs, owns, and operates EV charging at the property at zero cost to the property. The property earns a revenue share from charging sessions. The operator handles everything: hardware, electrical work, permits, maintenance, monitoring, and resident support.
The economic logic is straightforward: the operator earns revenue from charging sessions, uses that revenue to fund hardware and operations, and shares a portion with the property. Colorado incentive programs — Xcel Energy rebates, Charge Ahead Colorado grants — further offset installation costs on the operator side.
What the managed partnership model costs
For a Colorado property partnering with Enertech: $0. Hardware, installation, electrical infrastructure, permits, ongoing maintenance, remote monitoring, resident support — all covered by Enertech. The property pays nothing upfront and nothing ongoing.
Where the managed partnership model works well
The managed model is the right fit for properties that:
- Don't have capital budget for EV charging infrastructure
- Want zero ongoing management burden — no vendor calls, no charger complaints from the office
- Are in Xcel Energy's territory (most of Colorado's Front Range) and can benefit from incentive programs handled by the operator
- Would rather earn passive revenue from the program than own the equipment
- Have existing broken or underperforming chargers they want to replace without capital outlay
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Vendor (Blink / ChargePoint) | Managed Partnership (Enertech) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $60,000–$120,000+ for hardware and electrical | $0 — Enertech covers everything |
| Ongoing fees | Network fees ($15–$30/port/month) + maintenance | $0 — no fees to the property |
| Revenue | Property keeps all session revenue (after fees) | Property earns monthly revenue share |
| Who owns the hardware | Property (typically) | Enertech |
| Maintenance responsibility | Property (or paid service contract) | Enertech — fully managed |
| Resident support | Vendor's support line (quality varies) | Enertech 24/7 line — property office not involved |
| Colorado incentive navigation | Property handles applications independently | Enertech handles Xcel, Charge Ahead, and permitting |
| Local presence | National operator — remote management | Colorado-based, local technicians |
| Replacement if hardware fails | Property cost (or warranty coverage, time-limited) | Enertech replaces hardware at end of life, at no cost |
The question Colorado property managers should ask themselves
The honest framing: the vendor model gives you ownership and all the revenue — but you absorb all the cost, management, and risk. The managed partnership gives you revenue share and zero management burden — but you don't own the equipment.
For most Colorado multifamily properties, the managed partnership model comes out ahead on a net basis. The upfront cost difference alone — zero vs. $60,000–$120,000+ — is significant. Add in the ongoing maintenance costs, software fees, and staff time spent managing vendor relationships, and the revenue advantage of full ownership rarely overcomes the cost disadvantage.
That said, large institutional owners with the budget, in-house expertise, and desire to own assets directly may find the vendor model better suited to their structure. If that's you, the free assessment will tell you that — we'd rather help you make the right decision than close a deal that doesn't fit.
If your current EV charging program is generating maintenance calls, tenant complaints, or ongoing costs that outweigh the revenue — you have options. Enertech has replaced other operators' equipment at Colorado properties before, at zero cost to the property. The transition is simpler than most managers expect.
A free assessment will give you an honest comparison: your current costs vs. what the Enertech model would look like for your specific property.
Get a free assessment of your current setupNo obligation. We'll tell you honestly if a switch makes sense.
What Colorado-specific means in this comparison
There's one dimension of this comparison that national vendors consistently underperform on: Colorado's EV incentive landscape.
Xcel Energy's multifamily EV rebate programs require a pre-project application and active coordination with the utility. Charge Ahead Colorado's grant eligibility involves income qualification, application windows, and documentation requirements. Neither Blink nor ChargePoint has teams dedicated to navigating these programs on behalf of Colorado properties — they're national companies managing programs across dozens of states.
Enertech is a Colorado company. We have active working relationships with Xcel Energy and deep familiarity with Charge Ahead Colorado's requirements. We handle incentive applications on behalf of every property we partner with — and we know how to get them approved. That expertise is part of what makes the zero-cost model work financially, and it's a genuine advantage that national operators can't replicate from a national office.
If you're evaluating EV charging options for a Colorado Front Range property, the comparison starts and ends with the specifics of your property. A free assessment covers everything: what the Enertech model would look like for your community, what you'd earn, and whether it makes more sense than owning the equipment directly.