EV charging contracts are long-term commitments. Most run 5 to 15 years, and some include exclusivity clauses that prevent the property from working with other providers for the duration. Signing the wrong contract can lock a property into terms that get worse as the market evolves.
The vendor sales process is designed to move quickly. The questions below slow it down enough to make sure the contract actually serves the property. For background on how the two main deal structures compare, the guide to revenue share versus ownership for EV charging lays out the tradeoffs.
Term and Exclusivity
How long is the contract, and what are the renewal provisions? Terms of 10 years or more deserve extra scrutiny. The EV charging market is changing fast, and locking in today's terms for a decade carries real risk.
Is the agreement exclusive? An exclusive contract prevents the property from adding chargers from any other provider during the term. This becomes a problem if the original vendor underdelivers or if better options emerge.
Can the contract be assigned if the property is sold? Properties with hold periods shorter than the contract term need clear assignment rights. Without them, the contract can complicate a future sale.
Revenue Calculation
How is revenue calculated, and what is deducted before the split? The headline percentage means nothing without understanding what comes off the top. Payment processing, network fees, and other costs can reduce the base before the property sees its share.
Are there minimum revenue guarantees? Some contracts include floor payments regardless of utilization. Others put all risk on the property. Knowing which applies matters for the financial model.
How are pricing changes handled? Vendors that control pricing can adjust rates without property approval. Properties that want input on pricing need that right written into the contract.
Equipment and Maintenance
Who owns the equipment during the term and at the end of the term? Some contracts transfer ownership to the property at termination. Others require the vendor to remove the equipment and restore the site.
Who pays for maintenance and repairs, and what is the response time for outages? Chargers that stay broken for weeks generate no revenue. Strong contracts include specific response time commitments and clear maintenance responsibilities.
Who handles equipment upgrades during the term? Charging technology is improving quickly. Contracts that lock in current-generation equipment for 10 years may leave the property with obsolete hardware while competitors upgrade.
Site Responsibilities
What does the vendor need from the property? Electrical capacity, parking spaces, signage rights, and access for maintenance all need to be defined. Vague language creates conflicts.
Who handles permitting and utility coordination? Strong vendors handle these as part of the deployment. Weaker vendors push the work to the property and the timeline suffers. The hidden costs of EV charging installation are a useful reference for the line items that can fall on whichever party is less prepared.
Exit and Termination
Under what conditions can the property terminate early? Termination rights tied to vendor performance, ownership changes, or property repurposing protect the property's flexibility.
Are there termination penalties? Some contracts include large fees for early termination. Knowing the cost upfront matters for any future decisions about the property.
What happens to existing equipment if the contract ends? Properties that want to continue charging operations after a contract ends need clarity on whether they can keep the equipment, replace it, or face removal.
Get a Second Set of Eyes
EV charging contracts are written by vendors and their lawyers. They protect the vendor's interests by default. A vendor-neutral review surfaces the terms that deserve negotiation before signing rather than after.