SWTCH Energy and Greystar to Bring Smart, Equitable EV Charging to Multifamily Communities Across California with Support from $3.8M CEC Grant
SWTCH and Greystar to deploy 306 smart EV chargers across 34 multifamily properties, prioritizing disadvantaged communities and establishing a new model for scalable electric vehicle infrastructure.
SWTCH Energy and announced today that they have been awarded a $3.8 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) under the Reliable, Equitable, and Accessible Charging for Multi-family Housing (REACH) 3.0 program. The funding will support the deployment of SWTCH’s smart EV charging infrastructure solution across 34 Greystar multifamily properties throughout California, with 90% of installations targeting disadvantaged and low-income communities. The project will represent one of the largest and most equity-focused deployments of EV infrastructure in California’s multifamily housing sector.
Dubbed the “DRIVE MFH” project (Deploying Reliable Infrastructure for Vehicle Electrification in Multifamily Housing), the partnership will result in the installation of 306 charging ports across 34 properties, serving more than 11,000 residential units.
“As EV adoption accelerates, providing accessible and reliable charging infrastructure is becoming essential to meeting our residents’ evolving needs,” said James Pearson, Innovation Manager at Greystar. “This collaboration with SWTCH and the California Energy Commission allows us to enhance our communities with future-ready amenities while supporting California’s ambitious climate goals and making meaningful progress on transportation equity.”
Technical Innovation Enables Scalability
The deployment will leverage the SWTCH Cortex™ platform’s advanced energy management to maximize the usability of existing electrical infrastructure. This will greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for expensive electrical upgrades – a critical innovation for older buildings and properties with limited electrical capacity.
The project maintains open-standard compatibility for hardware flexibility, making the solution more cost-effective and scalable across diverse property types.
“This project represents the perfect intersection of SWTCH’s core commitments – open standards, intelligent energy management, and equitable access to clean transportation,” said Carter Li, CEO of SWTCH Energy. “By leveraging SWTCH Cortex across Greystar’s diverse portfolio, we’re demonstrating how smart technology can make EV charging accessible in any community, including those historically left behind in the transition to electrified transportation.”
Environmental Impact and Model for Scaling
The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 32.3 million kilograms of CO₂ over six years. Beyond the environmental impact, the initiative creates a replicable model for scaling EV infrastructure in the challenging multifamily housing sector, which has traditionally lagged behind single-family homes in charging availability.
Implementation will begin in July 2025, with installation expected to be completed by June 2027 and full operations launching by September 2027. The project footprint spans urban and suburban communities throughout California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Oakland, and surrounding areas.
SWTCH plans to collaborate closely with regional utilities including PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and LADWP, to ensure optimal grid integration and demand response capabilities.
About SWTCH Energy
SWTCH is pioneering EV charging solutions for multifamily, commercial, and workplace properties across North America. SWTCH leverages the latest technology available to help building owners and operators deploy EV charging by tapping into their existing grid infrastructure. Through constant innovation and an extensive partnership network, SWTCH provides the most profitable and unique business model for multi-tenant buildings to stay competitive. For more information, visit www.swtchenergy.com.
About Greystar
Greystar is a leading, fully integrated global real estate company offering expertise in property management, investment management, development, and construction services in institutional-quality rental housing. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Greystar manages and operates approximately $320 billion of real estate in nearly 250 markets globally with offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Greystar is the largest operator of apartments in the United States, manages over 1,000,000 units/beds globally, and has a robust institutional investment management platform comprised of over $79 billion of assets under management, including $36 billion of development assets. Greystar was founded by Bob Faith in 1993 to become a provider of world-class service in the rental residential real estate business. To learn more, visit www.greystar.com.
