An Open Letter to Multifamily Property Owners and Residents - From Aaron Li, Founder and CEO of Pando Electric

The Problem

There’s no denying that electric vehicles are the future, and EV charging will play a crucial role in that future. However, it often leaves people confused as to why so many EV charging companies are struggling, despite the rapid growth in EV sales.

The bigger question is: “What will be the ultimate solution for EV charging, especially when so many companies offer similar features?”

I feel deeply for the recent challenges faced by companies like Juicebox and EVBox—not for the companies themselves, but for the EV drivers and property owners who placed their trust in them. These people, who care about a sustainable future, are now caught in an industry-wide crisis that they didn’t deserve. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Solution

When I founded Pando Electric, I started with “why?” 

For example, I believe that the lack of robust EV charging infrastructure is the “why?” behind low EV adoption in the U.S. compared to China or Europe. I also believe that having widespread home charging infrastructure is the “why?” for delivering a premium EV ownership experience. 

Most importantly, the absence of a simple, scalable solution for multifamily properties is the very “why?” for Pando Electric’s existence.

I want to share my perspective on why so many EV charging companies are failing and why multifamily property owners and EV drivers deserve a solution that is simple, durable, and scalable for the future. As the market for multifamily EV charging grows, the industry is simply not ready. We see three main types of companies attempting to address the problem:

1. Repurposing Commercial Solutions:Some companies apply commercial and single-family home solutions to multifamily properties. These often seem cost-effective at first, thanks to rebates and incentive programs, but over time, the high maintenance and operational costs turn them into a painful and expensive long-term burden.

2. White-Labeling Cheap Hardware:Others try to cut costs by using cheap, white-labeled hardware from Asia paired with custom often complicated software. However, a disjointed hardware-software approach fails to solve the real challenges of multifamily charging, such as real-time load sharing without internet access and high costs of GFCI circuit breakers and labor.

3. Visionary Efforts with Cordless Solutions:A third group recognized the need for a no-compromise solution. They've learned from international markets, like Europe, where socket-based, cordless chargers have drastically reduced costs associated with EV charging. At Pando, we lead the North American Cordless EV-Charging Alliance (NACCA), adapting Europe’s success to the U.S. with the NEMA 14-50 standard.

The Innovation

At Pando Electric, we set out not just to offer another solution but to deliver the ultimate solution for multifamily EV charging. Our approach is based on a few core principles:

1. Purpose-Built Hardware:We design our hardware in-house, specifically tailored for multifamily garages—compact and simple.

2. Seamless Communication:Our integrated hardware-software system eliminates the need for complex IT infrastructure. No WiFi? No cellular? No problem.

3. Durability and Quality:Our charging stations are built to last, offering 100% uptime and a lifespan exceeding 40 years—what we like to call “Apple-quality” design.

4. Scalable for the Future:Our solution is future-proof, with load-sharing capabilities that make adding new charging stations seamless.

5. Open and Interoperable Ecosystem:We embrace open standards, such as OCPP and OCPI, promoting interoperability across platforms.

6. Safety First:Our chargers come with built-in GFCI and 100% hardware-based protections, ensuring safety is always the top priority.

I’ll stop here, as these six principles are the foundation of what makes Pando unique. Anything more would only drive unnecessary costs for customers, which is exactly what we see happening today.

Today, I’m excited to announce Pando Electric EV Charging 2.0, the largest feature update in our company’s history. This update addresses every pain point we’ve identified for multifamily property managers and EV drivers.

Those who care about a sustainable future should never feel punished. Pando is here with you, delivering a solution you can trust.

Sincerely,

Aaron Li

Founder & CEO, Pando Electric