Thinking about installing an EV charging station at your business? Now might be the best time to do so!
Currently, 1.6 million electric vehicles (EVs) travel the American roads, and their popularity is expected to explode in the next ten years. According to the Edison Electric Institute, more than 18 million EVs will be on the roads by 2030; and those vehicles will need approximately 9.6 million charging ports. This poses an incredible opportunity for commercial real estate owners to get ahead of the projected EV surge and install fast-charging EV stations.
Where Can You Install An EV Commercial Charging Station?
As EVs make up approximately 3% of the current car market, installing commercial EV charging stations are attractive businesses that want to increase their property value, employee satisfaction, and customer retention.
Ideal commercial locations include:
● Workplaces. Nearly 80% of EV charging occurs at home or work, and offering a charging station can help attract and retain EV drivers as employees. As a result, commercial EV stations improve a company's sustainability, business targets, and bottom line. It's also perfect for commercial fleet vehicles that need charging.
● Shopping Centers/Business Districts. When not at home or work, people often run errands, shop, or eat out - including EV owners. Imagine being able to park your EV at a restaurant or shopping center and enjoy yourself as your car charges. And, as a bonus for business owners, consumers may linger longer (and potentially buy more) as their vehicle charges!
● Service Locations. Government buildings, hospitals, and universities usually have sustainability initiatives and can receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits for installing EV charging stations. As mentioned earlier, this eco-friendly option can help attract and retain more talents.
● Shared Living Spaces. Not all EV drivers own their homes. Apartment complexes, condominiums, and other multi-unit building owners can benefit from installing EV charging stations. It increases property value and attracts potential residents with EVs.
What Are The Types Of EV Commercial Charging Stations?
In our previous blog, we mentioned the following Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging stations for commercial use:
● Level 2 EVSE. The standard for commercial parking spaces, Level 2 chargers have two ports running on 220-volt outlets. A Level 2 charging system can fully charge a battery in 6-8 hours and cost about $7,200 to install.
● Level 3 EVSE. Designed for fast charging at commercial locations, these robust charging stations use 480-volt DC (direct current) power and can fully charge a vehicle in an hour. Equipment costs and infrastructure upgrades come in at about $50,000. Level 3 stations are great for high-volume customers such as business districts, rest stops, and car dealerships.
Things to Consider When Installing an EV Charging Station
Installing a single charging station likely won’t overload your property’s general power source. However, suppose you decide to install multiple chargers. In that case, it requires an engineering analysis and close coordination with facility managers and/or contractors to ensure you have the necessary power capacity, select a proper location for the charging station, and understand national electric codes and requirements.
Here are some things to consider:
● Site Analysis. Installing a commercial EV charging station is more than selecting the ideal location on your property. The electrical infrastructure and utility needs must be assessed to ensure that the existing electrical system is adequate or if additional power is needed.
● Environmental Integration. In addition to choosing the type of EV charger for your commercial property, the charging location must be located in a safe, well-lit area where drivers feel comfortable charging their vehicles.
● Infrastructure Planning. Before any installation, electrical engineering needs to be performed in order to detail the electrical distribution for the site. At this time, facility managers and/or contractors will need to review any other infrastructure requirements, such as trenching or pouring concrete, necessary to create the charging station.
● Utility Assessment. As part of the engineering review, you may find that the electrical service needs to be upgraded or modified. EV chargers are considered continuous loads and must have electrical systems designed to support the entire system running at 100%.
● Budget Process. As with any project undertaking, it is important to lay out a project budget. To help with the hard costs of the infrastructure The Commonwealth of Virginia offers tax breaks, state and local credits, utility company rebates, and other incentives to cover the costs of installing an EV charging station.
Choose Unity Power Services For EV Charger Installation
If you're interested in installing an EV charging station at your office complex or commercial site but aren't sure where to start, look no further than Unity Power Services. Our team of licensed master electricians is experienced in EV charger installation and maintenance. We'll work with you to obtain the correct charging station for your needs and budget and provide training to keep your charger running efficiently.
To learn more or set up an appointment, call 571-577-0688 or visit our website today!
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Sources
https://www.greenlancer.com/post/guide-commercial-electric-vehicle-charging-stations
https://futureenergy.com/installing-a-commercial-ev-charging-station/
https://smartchargeamerica.com/install/commercial-ev-charging-stations/