Anyone had a rideshare EV model to help with parking and those who do not own cars?

Question

Anyone running a shared EV / car-share as an apartment amenity? Real numbers?

We are thinking a Tesla w/ Self driving, using an app based. Envoy or some other Ridshare APP.

Lease a Tesla for $495 a month- We have EV chargers on site.

We own a 112-unit garden-style community in the Salem, OR area (suburban, not downtown). Thinking about putting one Tesla on site that residents can book through an app — roughly $6/hour or $40/day.

I've talked through a few options:

- Envoy (turnkey — they supply the car, insurance, app, cleaning; property pays a monthly fee and gets a revenue share)

- A Turo co-host/fleet manager running a car we own, with a resident discount

- Doing it ourselves (no thanks — insurance and damage claims look like a nightmare)

My rough math says it won't pay for itself at that price. Even booked every day, $40/day is about $1,200/month, which is about what the car costs all-in. So I'm treating it as a marketing/retention cost, not a profit center.

Questions for anyone who's actually done this:

1. How many hours a month did residents really use it?

2. Did it help leasing or renewals in a way you could measure?

3. What did the operator charge you, and was it worth it?

4. Any damage, insurance or tenant-relations headaches?

5. If you used Envoy, how's service been since the ownership change this summer?

Not selling anything — just trying not to make an expensive mistake. Appreciate any real-world experience.

Lee Futcher · Answer

Hi @Chris Blackburn

I haven't run a car share myself, so I can't give you usage numbers, but I can help with your second question, because it's the one most amenities never get a clear answer to.

I'd decide how you'll measure it before the car arrives. Add one line to your guest cards and your renewal conversations, something like "Did the shared car play any part in your decision?", and track how many bookings come from the same 10 or 15 residents. If a small group is doing most of the booking, you'll know quickly whether it's a retention tool for them or a selling point for the whole community.

I'd also test demand before you commit to the car. A short resident survey asking how many households have one car or none, and whether they'd book at $6 an hour, costs nothing and might tell you most of what you need to know.

Treating it as a marketing cost rather than a profit center sounds right to me. The real question is whether it moves renewals enough to pay for itself that way.

Hope the pilot goes well,Lee

Diana Khan · Answer

@Chris Blackburn, I think treating this as a tenant amenity rather than a profit center makes sense, especially if it helps with leasing and renewals. I haven't personally operated a shared EV program, so I can't speak to the actual usage numbers, but I'd be interested to hear how it works out.

I'm a real estate attorney and broker based in Maryland, and I work with property owners on contracts and rental matters. One thing I'd pay close attention to is the agreement with the vehicle operator, especially who handles insurance claims, damage, and disputes involving residents.

I appreciate you sharing this idea, @Chris Blackburn ! It's interesting to see property owners exploring different ways to add value for tenants. Happy to stay connected!

Anyone had a rideshare EV model to help with parking and those who do not own cars?

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