TOP 3 EV CHARGING BRANDS FAVOURABLE FOR HOUSING COMPANIES

A Smarter Way to Power Up Your Housing Company

Choosing the right EV charging brands for housing companies is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s fast becoming an operational necessity. But from an operator’s point of view, the best EV chargers aren’t just about speed or appearance. They need to be reliable, adaptable, and futureproof, especially in multi-unit residential settings.

In this article, we break down the top 3 EV chargers most wanted for housing companies, based on years of hands-on experience with real installations and day-to-day operations. All three chargers are supported by KotiCharge—a Finnish charging operator offering seamless spot-price billing, smart charging and power payment support. 

Before we delve into the main part of top 3 EV chargers, let’s take a look at the following factors which are considered as very crucial to the EV charging solution 

Key Factors to Consider When Selecting an EV Charging Solution

In housing associations, there are 4 main factors for selecting ev charging solutions:

Built-in MID metering: 

Built-in MID metering means the EV charger has an integrated energy meter certified under the EU’s Measuring Instruments Directive (MID). This ensures accurate electricity measurement for billing purposes, making it legally compliant for commercial use without needing an external meter. This is a mandatory requirement from TRAFI for chargers installed at housing associations.

Native OCPP communication:

 OCPP is a standard open protocol for EV charging, supported by charging operators. This means that any charger providing this protocol is compatible with most of the operators in the market. This guarantees that the charger is not bound to a particular service provider and users can freely switch to any operator they wish. Many EV charging brands nowadays support this protocol.

Local load-balancing

Load-balancing is the logic to balance the load when multiple chargers are active at the same time, to make sure that the power line is not overloaded and safe. Local load balancing means the logic works locally among the chargers and doesn’t rely on the manufacturer’s cloud connection. This ensures that there is no recurring costs or operational risk if a cloud service fails. In the worst case when the manufacturer ceases operation, the load-balancing and the chargers still work.

Reliability

The reliability of an EV charger is critical, especially in high-traffic or commercial environments. A low failure rate ensures consistent performance and maximum uptime, minimizing disruptions for users. Unreliable chargers can lead to long replacement or repair wait times—sometimes taking weeks—resulting in user frustration, lost revenue, and reduced trust in the service. Choosing a proven, well-supported solution with high-quality components and a strong service network helps ensure dependable operation over time.

After a thorough assessment of the key factors involved in selecting an EV charging solution, housing company decision-makers can confidently consider the top three chargers that stand out for their performance, reliability, and user satisfaction. These solutions not only elevate the daily convenience and sustainability of residential living but also enhance the overall appeal and market competitiveness of the property. By integrating high-quality EV charging infrastructure, housing companies can future-proof their developments, increase property value, and demonstrate a clear commitment to green mobility. The following three chargers come highly recommended based on the proven experience and trusted track record of KotiCharge:

1. DEFA Power S (MID) – The Operator’s Favourite

If you’re looking for one of the most advanced EV chargers on the market, the DEFA Power S (MID) is a clear standout. Rated highest by KotiCharge, it offers powerful features and reliable performance that make it a top choice.

Why operators love it and why many housing companies are gradually switching to it:

• OCPP 2.0.1 compliance: Unlike older chargers using 1.6, this model runs on the latest OCPP version, offering richer communication features—like visibility into battery levels, enabling smarter charging schedules. Chargers using the OCPP 1.6 protocol do not provide information about the vehicle’s current battery level. As a result, the system cannot determine in advance how much energy is needed or how long it will take to fully charge the car—charging is done blindly until the battery is full. With the latest OCPP version, however, KotiCharge can access real-time battery status, allowing it to schedule charging more accurately. This enables smarter energy use and can lead to significant cost savings for users. 
• Local, cloud-free load balancing: Load balancing is implemented locally among the chargers and doesn’t rely on manufacturer’s cloud services, giving you more operational control and reduced long-term costs.
• Big and user-friendly display: It provides clear, real-time information on energy usage and pricing, making it easy for residents to monitor and understand their charging activity.
• Built-in charging cable: the charger has a charging cable connected so charging every day is a lot simpler for users, no need to take their own cable in and out. 
• Built-in MID metering: Certified for accurate billing.

DEFA supports a maximum of two levels of load management. If your property has a more complex electrical hierarchy with multiple fuse levels, DEFA may not be suitable. In such cases, consider alternatives like Garo or Zapec, which support more advanced load management structures. That said, two levels are typically sufficient for most housing companies in Finland. For detailed guidance based on your setup, please consult your electrician.

As the most advanced charger in KotiCharge’s portfolio, DEFA Power can be considered as a great choice for housing companies. It offers flexibility and transparency, with no vendor lock-in, ensuring that if your needs change down the road, your infrastructure can adapt.

For more information about why many housing companies are switching to DEFA, read more from our explanation here 

2. Zaptec Pro – Market-Leading Reliability

Coming in second is the Zaptec Pro, a well-known name in the EV charging world—especially appreciated for its Scandinavian design and solid reliability.

Why operators appreciate it:

• Exceptional reliability: Very low failure rate, even in tough Nordic conditions. 
• Easy management: The online portal is intuitive and efficient—perfect for housing companies with large resident bases. Changing of load-balancing settings and operators can be done effortlessly remotely via the portal. 
• Future Proofing underway: While the charger currently uses a cloud-based OCPP 1.6 solution (which means reliance on their cloud), a new native OCPP interface is on its way.
• Built-in MID metering: Certified for accurate billing. 

Zaptec charger currently uses a cloud-based OCPP 1.6 protocol. The charger itself isn’t an OCPP-native device just yet. This means that the charger’s communication and load-management rely on their cloud platform. This may incur cost in the future. 

However, they will soon release a new native OCPP interface for the charger. In the long run, if Zaptec were to disappear as a company, the charger could still function using the incoming native OCPP interface—but would depend on operator-provided load balancing, which not every operator may offer.

For many, the trade-off is worth it—especially for its reliability and when paired with a flexible platform like KotiCharge, which supports Zaptec hardware with smart billing and energy optimization tools.

3. Garo Entity Pro – Local Simplicity, Global Standards

The Garo Entity Pro rounds out the top three. It’s a rock-solid device that excels in environments where network stability might be an issue, and its key strength is simplicity without sacrificing standards.

What Garo Entity Pro benefits us:

• OCPP 1.6 native: Open communication protocol means you’re not locked into one system and it is possible to switch to any operator. Garo provides both proxy and direct OCPP communication. 
• Local, cloud-free load-balancing: Load balancing is done locally among the chargers and doesn’t rely on manufacturer’s cloud services, giving you more operational control and reduced long-term costs. 
• Easy management: Easily switch to a different backend or operator remotely via a mobile app. 
• Built-in MID metering: Certified for accurate billing.

Garo Entity Pro depends on a stable Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. If your housing property has unreliable connectivity, you may encounter occasional performance issues.

Garo charger has a higher failure rate compared to other chargers in the top 3 list from our experience.

Still, for many operators, this model offers excellent value and operational freedom—especially when integrated with KotiCharge’s smart billing and energy optimization platform.

Why KotiCharge Supports All Three—and What Sets One Apart

At KotiCharge, we support a wide range of hardware, including all three models mentioned here. Each charger brings unique strengths to the table—whether it’s Zaptec Pro’s exceptional reliability, Garo Entity Pro’s straightforward local control, or Defa’s expanded features enabled by newer OCPP protocols.

That said, in real-world housing company deployments, some EV chargers tend to make everyday operations smoother.

Factors like built-in charging cable, expanded smart-charging capabilities, and clear resident-facing information displays often play a quiet but powerful role in shaping long-term satisfaction—for both operators and residents. When a charger manages to check those boxes, it tends to stand out just a little more in daily use.

Conclusion

The landscape of EV charging is evolving quickly, and housing companies are increasingly expected to provide infrastructure that’s not only reliable but adaptable. While all three of the EV chargers most wanted by housing companies—Zaptec Pro, Garo Entity Pro, and DEFA Power S—offer valuable strengths, the real difference often lies in the way these devices are managed and integrated into daily operations.

That’s where KotiCharge plays a crucial role. As an independent EV charging operator, KotiCharge provides:

• Accurate billing based on real-time electricity spot prices.
• Support for power-payment.
• Smart charging feature which saves 30% of electricity cost.
• Automatic scheduling feature which schedules charging automatically when plugging in the cable. No action is needed from the user, no need to open the app. 
• Compatible with both OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1 and most of the popular EV charging brands.
• User-friendly usage tracking and reporting. Reporting for company cars is supported. 
• Incoming feature to integrate with battery and solar panel system, possible to save more energy for users.

Curious to know more?
Read our post on 5 reasons why EV owners should choose KotiCharge as your EV charging operator to see how we can support your property’s shift to smarter, more efficient charging.