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CASE STUDY | MURBs - Rentals

Scaling EV Infrastructure Through Federal Funding, Operational Resilience, and Long-Term Partnership

Overview

Plugzio’s partnership with Hollyburn Properties Limited began in July 2020, initially focusing on funding access, pilot installations, and site evaluations.

 

Over five years, the relationship evolved into a long-term collaboration involving NRC Canada funding, EV infrastructure deployment across 23 properties, and hands-on technical and operational support.
 

Despite transitions, staffing changes, and municipal permitting challenges, Plugzio maintained a consistent service model, ensuring long-term viability and revenue generation across Hollyburn’s EV assets.

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Problem

Objectives

  • Deploy cost-effective EV charging across Hollyburn’s multifamily sites

  • Access Canadian funding to reduce capital costs

  • Maintain reliable uptime with minimal resident disruption

  • Enable branded, user-friendly infrastructure

  • Prepare for long-term operational support across multiple POCs

Hollyburn Properties needed:

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  • High infrastructure costs without external funding

  • Limited city compliance guidance (e.g., Burnaby & Vancouver)

  • Installation inconsistencies across sites

  • Branding needs and communication between departments

  • Future-proofing the EV platform amid ownership transitions

Recommendations

  • Pursue NRC Canada funding to reduce project costs

  • Start with Level 1 installations and scale as demand increases

  • Use Plugzio Universal to maintain hardware flexibility

  • Standardize user engagement through auto-activation and branded signage

Key findings

  • Funding-Driven Launch: NRC Canada funding enabled early infrastructure deployment.

  • Operational Maturity: By 2022, Plugzio had established a self-sustaining EV charging system across 22 locations.

  • Resilient Continuity: Plugzio maintained stable collaboration through management transitions and contract handovers.

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Solutions

  • Secured partial funding through NRC Canada

  • Delivered 44 devices across 23 buildings

  • Conducted branded pilot installations and custom signage

  • Replaced faulty or incomplete installs to maintain uptime

  • Enabled monthly revenue generation and user management tools

Impact

  • Timespan: Sept 2020 - Mar 2025

  • Total Properties: 23 unique sites

  • Total Projects: 27 (includes 4 replacement projects at existing properties)

  • Total Devices: 44

  • Total Unique Users: 89

  • Total Sessions: 16,123

  • Total Power: 170,639 kWh

  • Total Duration: 134,136hrs 38mins 18s

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Key Learnings & Implications

  • Funding first, scale second is a proven rollout model

  • A branded, user-friendly EV experience drives adoption in multifamily settings

  • Long-term projects benefit from consistent technical leadership across handoffs

  • Revenue-generating EV systems offset costs and incentivize expansion

Conclusion

Plugzio’s five-year collaboration with Hollyburn Properties demonstrates the long-term success of incentive-driven, phased EV infrastructure. By combining upfront funding, resident-first design, and a flexible operations model, Plugzio enabled Hollyburn to future-proof its buildings while generating ongoing revenue.

 

Despite staff transitions, vendor rotations, and municipal permitting hurdles, Plugzio maintained system performance, delivered personalized support, and secured meaningful ROI for Hollyburn’s multifamily portfolio.

This partnership proved that EV infrastructure is not a one-time install—it’s an evolving service that needs to be funded, supported, and aligned with building operations.

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