The $30,000 Advantage: How SWTCH Echo Made MOVALA’s 265 Parking Stalls EV-Ready for Less

When Kelowna-based developer Stober set out to build MOVALA, a new residential property with 265 parking stalls, they faced the same question so many developers face: how do you deliver reliable, high-quality EV charging at as low a cost as possible?

In this case, the answer was to find significant savings by adopting SWTCH Echo.

A specialized wireless technology, SWTCH Echo removed the complexity of networking the chargers. MOVALA could become fully EV-ready while saving tens of thousands of dollars, and every stakeholder on the project—from the developer to the electrical contractor to future residents—benefited from a better outcome than a conventional approach could have delivered.

Growing Demand, a Competitive Market, and a Big Decision

MOVALA sits in a Kelowna market where EV adoption is growing, and real estate is competitive. EV charging amenities were becoming a meaningful differentiator for attracting buyers and renters, and Graybar knew it would need to install chargers soon to meet the needs of a growing number of drivers in the city.

The property also serves a destination-travel market — snowbirds from Calgary, seasonal visitors, and owners purchasing units to rent out. All these demographics were seen as increasingly likely to drive electric.

With 265 stalls in the parking facility, the scale of the decision was significant. A conventional hardwired approach would have required extensive conduit runs, networking infrastructure, and labor costs that could quickly escalate and likely put full EV-readiness out of reach.

For Horizon Electric, the Kelowna-based electrical contractor working on the project, a hardwired EV scope presented a challenge. Pricing in significant labor for conduit and networking runs across 265 stalls risked inflating costs to the overall budget of the project .

Finding a Solution in SWTCH Echo’s Advanced Wireless Technology

Horizon Electric had worked with SWTCH on previous projects and, seeing a good opportunity, brought the SWTCH Echo solution to the table. SWTCH Echo is an advanced mesh networking system that enables full parkade coverage at a dramatically lower cost than running network cabling throughout the facility.

For MOVALA, one of the biggest advantages of SWTCH Echo devices was that they operate on just 10 watts, meaning they can be powered directly from existing lighting circuits. That single capability eliminated one of the most labor-intensive components of a traditional EV charging installation — no dedicated conduit and wiring runs across the full parkade for networking purposes.

“When we saw that the Echo devices could run off existing lighting circuits, it changed our whole approach to the install,” said Troy Pasitney, Director at Horizon Electric. “Instead of installing conduit runs to 265 stalls, we were connecting just a few devices to circuits that were already there. It was a huge efficiency win.”

The Value of Pre-Installation Planning

The design phase involved all three parties — Stober, Horizon Electric, and SWTCH — working through the technical details together, covering access, capabilities, cost structures, and resident experience.

“The planning took time, but that’s where we found the savings. By the time we got to the installation, the layout had been optimized, everyone was aligned, and we were ready to go,” said Troy.

That collaborative process even led to optimizations that improved the final outcome. Working with SWTCH’s team, Horizon Electric reconfigured the setup to achieve full-parkade coverage from fewer devices than originally planned.

The Result: Reliable Networking and Even More Savings Than Expected

Thanks to this collaboration, the EV readiness effort at MOVALA wound up saving even more money than was initially anticipated, without compromising on coverage or the quality of the charging experience.

Highlights include:

• Bypassed $30,000+ in conventional wiring labor and materials: By utilizing the existing lighting circuits mentioned above, the team bypassed the need to run networking conduit and POE lines, saving an estimated $30,000 to $35,000 when compared to a traditional hardwired setup.
• Further optimization: Through collaborative design, the team reduced the networking hardware footprint from an initial estimate of ~$25,000 (40 devices) down to just ~$9,000 (14 devices) while maintaining complete parkade Wi-Fi coverage.
• Initial setup: Seven level 2 chargers operational at occupancy, with infrastructure in place for rapid expansion.
• Future-proofing: All 265 stalls EV-ready — any resident can add a charger later with minimal additional work.

The cost reduction was driven by fewer devices, optimized placement, and the labor savings inherent in the wireless approach.

For Horizon Electric, the impact was substantial. “SWTCH Echo changed the way we looked at the entire installation, resulting in savings for the client.” said Dillon Pisak, Project Manager at Horizon Electric.

“The developer invested in the engagement process — the time to really draw out and design the system — and it paid off in both cost and coverage,” said Steve Bell-Irving, Senior Business Development Manager at SWTCH Energy. “When the developer is an active participant in discussing the scope and implementation, and the electrician is upfront about what they can and can’t do, that’s when you get the best results.”

Key Takeaways for Developers

Stober’s experience at MOVALA offers a useful playbook for developers weighing their EV charging options, and particularly those managing large parkades where traditional hardwired costs can escalate quickly.

Invest in the Design Phase

With MOVALA, the planning and engineering work was where much of the value was created. Stober and Horizon Electric’s willingness to engage deeply on technical details — not just review a proposal on paper — led to an optimized layout, lower costs, and a better resident experience.

Approach EV Charging as Building-Wide Infrastructure

By treating EV readiness as a whole-building decision rather than a stall-by-stall installation, Stober created a property where every parking space can support a charger whenever needed. The incremental cost to add chargers later is minimal.

Look at the Impact Across the Full Project Team

At MOVALA, the decision around which EV charging solution to adopt not only reduced costs but structurally improved the contractor’s ability to provide an installation at a lower cost to the project. Unique solutions like SWTCH Echo can create advantages that don’t show up in a line-item comparison of charging hardware alone.

Looking Ahead: A Competitive Advantage For Years to Come

With seven chargers operational and full parkade coverage in place, MOVALA is ready to move quickly to accommodate incoming EV drivers who need a place to plug in. Current projections call for approximately 10 additional chargers in 2026 — a straightforward addition given the infrastructure already installed.

And with Kelowna’s EV market trending in a clear direction, MOVALA is now among the best-positioned properties to benefit, able to offer the charging EV drivers crave without hassle or big expense. For Horizon Electric, the project has become a proof point for future bids involving large parkades.

See What SWTCH Echo Can Do for Your EV Charging Project

With SWTCH Echo, properties of any size can deliver comprehensive EV charging coverage at a steep discount over solutions reliant on wired networking.

Contact SWTCH to learn what impact it can have for your property!