Plugzio x Hollyburn Properties Limited

Scaling EV Infrastructure with Long-Term Partnership, Funding Alignment & Operational Resilience

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 ownership 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.

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.

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 2th 2020 - Mar 26th 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 38mis 18s
Total Revenue: $37,493.34

Background

Hollyburn Properties Limited engaged Plugzio in July 2020, beginning with a call to discuss EV adoption and infrastructure needs. Plugzio quickly helped secure NRC Canada support, rolled out EV hardware across key properties, and coordinated site visits, brand-aligned signage, and touchless payment setup.

The early phase focused on deployment readiness, while later phases emphasized system reliability, resident engagement, and property-level contract adjustments.

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

Problem

Hollyburn Properties needed:

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

Analysis

Research methods

CRM tracking from 2020–2025
Field installation feedback and on-site photos
Resident requests, city permit reviews, PO/contract data

Approaches used

Initial emphasis on speed: 2 installs/week during 2020 pilot
Frequent site visits to assess location feasibility
Engaged third-party partners (Signmaster, Wespac)
Maintained clear escalation process (Mohammad → Douglas → Ali → Pedro)
Enabled direct Plugzio-branded or white-label branding based on site
Allowed cost deduction directly from Plugzio revenue streams (2024 model)

Relevant facts and information

44 devices active across 23 sites
4 replacement projects in existing buildings
Ongoing monthly and quarterly revenue to Hollyburn
Auto-activation feature introduced in 2021
City of Vancouver and Burnaby compliance reviewed per site
Touchless signage and Universal model chosen for most installations
Operational ownership changes in 2023 did not disrupt Plugzio continuity

Conclusion

Summary of findings

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.

Implications of the study

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

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.