When electric cars first started appearing in JTSFOM Society in Hyderabad, the enthusiasm was high — but so was the confusion. Like many large residential communities, the society had more than 400 flats and a diverse mix of homeowners, tenants, long-term residents, and young families. As EV numbers slowly grew, the society realised something important: owning an EV is exciting, but charging it in an apartment complex can be anything but simple.
Their first attempt at EV charging did not go as planned. A few chargers had been installed earlier through another provider, but they quickly turned into more of a burden than a benefit. Residents were paying higher tariffs, were facing service issue with the uptime of chargers. The RWA couldn’t see who was using the chargers, couldn’t control access, couldn’t adjust tariffs, and couldn’t offer the experience residents expected. The chargers may have been installed “free”, but the society soon realised that they had given up something far more valuable: control.
So they removed the earlier system and decided to start again — this time with a solution that truly matched the way people lived and charged their vehicles.
Understanding what the community really needed
In this case, the goal wasn’t to simply plug in a new charger. It was to understand the rhythm of the community — who owned EVs, who charged when, who lived where, who rented, who owned, and how the society wanted to manage things in a sustainable manner. And this revealed something interesting.
Personal chargers are wonderful — private, convenient, always available — and the perfect choice for homeowners who want full control. But if everyone was to install personal EV charger right now, the society would need a much more stronger power infrastructure which would lead to higher cost and right now which would not be feasible for them at this stage.
In a long term view, when 50-60% of the people living there would own EVs, private chargers will definitely become more effective. But with current number around 5-10% EV owners, a shared setup will result in lower power load on their existing electricity connections, making more sense.
The RWA also realised something more strategic. Just like a gym, a pool, a clubhouse, a garden, or a guest room, EV charging is now becoming an essential residential amenity. And amenities need to be shared, accessible, fair, and easy to manage for everyone — not just for those who can install them individually.
Common charging also fit the community mindset. Visitors could charge, new EV buyers could start using it without investing in wiring, tenants didn’t feel left out, and the RWA had the ability to treat charging as a regulated, fair amenity rather than a scattered setup.
Choosing the right type of chargers
With modern EVs coming with larger battery packs, they needed faster chargers than the chargers which work on normal 16A sockets. But installing DC chargers in a residential society would mean heavy load upgrades and unnecessary cost.
So ZEVpoint recommended 22 kW AC smart chargers, which offered the perfect middle ground — fast enough for overnight and daytime charging, efficient enough for multiple cars, and light enough on infrastructure so the society didn’t need major electrical changes.
Four chargers were installed initially, with the layout planned in a way that more could be added smoothly over time.
A system the RWA could finally control
JTSFOM wanted a professional, well-managed charging experience, not the guesswork they had earlier. With the ZEVpoint system, the society now had a clear, easy way to manage everything.
Residents were given access to the Charging system by the RWA themselves. They could choose who could charge, allow guests when needed, and keep an eye on consumption without getting into complicated paperwork. Tariffs could be adjusted whenever the society decided — whether to offer for free, or increase/decrease tariffs as per their decision. Payments happened digitally, and revenue was settled back to the society at regular intervals. No manual tracking. No uncertainty. No hidden numbers.
It felt less like a “charger placed somewhere in the basement” and more like a well-run community facility.
Recovering the investment faster than expected
One of the most pleasant surprises for the RWA has turned out to be how quickly the investment is on a recovery track. Because many residents had been charging at public stations earlier — where tariffs are typically 30–40% higher — they immediately shifted to the society’s chargers the moment they became available.
That shift alone generated significant monthly utilisation. And when you add the convenience factor, usage naturally increased. With the combined revenue and the savings compared to public charging, the society is on track to recover its entire installation cost within just 7 to 8 months.
After that point, the chargers effectively become an earning asset for the society — while still giving residents the benefit of cheaper charging.
Key learnings
1. EV charging in housing societies must be planned around real community needs
RWAs should assess resident profiles, usage patterns and parking layouts to design a charging system that fits their lifestyle and long-term growth.
2. Common EV charging is now a key residential amenity
Treating EV charging like a gym or clubhouse ensures equal access for homeowners, tenants and visitors while keeping the system manageable for the RWA.
3. 22 kW AC smart chargers are the ideal choice for apartment communities
They offer fast, reliable charging for modern EVs without requiring the heavy power upgrades needed for DC chargers — making them cost-effective for RWAs.
4. RWAs need full control over access, tariffs and usage data
A strong EV charging system lets societies manage user access, set their own tariffs, track consumption, and receive revenue transparently through app-based systems.
5. A well-designed EV charging setup pays for itself quickly
When residents shift from public chargers (which are 30–40% costlier), society chargers achieve high utilisation — allowing RWAs to recover their investment in months.
Why societies choose ZEVpoint
It’s not just about the charger — it’s about understanding how residential communities function. ZEVpoint helps RWAs balance personal and shared charging, plan the layout, manage tariffs, handle revenue, and build a system that works today and grows tomorrow. With 700+ cities served and more than 15,000 chargers deployed, the expertise comes from real-world experience with societies just like JTSFOM.
Your society can build this too
If your RWA is planning EV charging — or trying to fix an existing setup — all it takes is the right strategy. Whether you want personal chargers, common chargers, or a hybrid model, ZEVpoint can help you build a simple, smart, transparent system that supports every resident.
Ready to plan your society’s EV charging?
Let’s build it together.
