5 Things to Know About Your EV Charging Station Installation
Installing charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) has many benefits for property owners, including attracting tenants to your commercial property or multifamily unit , and even providing a source of revenue. A study from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), states that to become profitable, charging stations require just one paid session per day, at a rate as low as $0.08 per kilowatt hour. Indirect benefits, such as consumers spending more time in retail locations while their EVs charge in the parking lot, can increase profitability by at least 7% and as much as 250%, the report says.
Once you’ve determined that an EV charging station installation is the right step for your commercial property, whether you’re offering it as a profit center or a service to guests, you may be wondering where to begin. From determining the scope of your project to commissioning the system, the folks at EV Connect can guide you through the process of EV charging station installation to deliver the most value for your money.
1. Determining the Project Scope
As with most products today, you have choices when it comes to EV charging station installation. Level 2 chargers are the most common for commercial properties, as they provide reasonably fast charging capabilities at an affordable price. On the other hand, DC-based fast chargers may work best for fleet vehicles and for locations such as conventional gas stations, where you may not want drivers to linger. These powerful chargers can charge a battery from nearly empty to full in under an hour.
The number of chargers you install should be balanced between your budget and your needs. It’s always smart to install more chargers than you need currently, as EV adoption is only continuing to grow. UBS says 50% of new cars globally will be fully electric by 2030. It’s much easier to future-proof your installation now than to add infrastructure for more chargers later.
2. Guiding the Development Phase of Your EV Charging Station Installation
With your needs determined, you enter the development phase of your EV charging station installation project. EV Connect project managers calculate whether you have the electrical infrastructure and parking space to meet your charging needs, and figure out what upgrades may be required. We work with utility providers to ensure that Open Automated Demand Response means you won’t experience a spike in your electric bills if your customers charge at peak usage times.
We will help you map out the locations of your chargers to ensure accessibility compliance and convenience for your customers. We can also help with the permitting process and applications for tax credits, rebates and incentives to help you further reduce costs.
3. Installing Your EV Chargers
EV Connect has certified a variety of manufacturing and installation partners to deliver OCPP-verified, which stand for Open Charge Point Protocol, charging stations that integrate seamlessly with our EV Connect software for a turnkey experience. We remain your primary contact for service and support, to keep it simple for you — and for the customers who will ultimately hook up to your charging stations.
4. Offering a Reliable Digital Platform
Once the EV charging stations are installed, we offer the training and support you need to get started. EV charging consultations can offer support and training for our proprietary EV Connect app for property managers and for EV drivers. We can also help design a custom app or integrate with an existing app so you can offer the best experience for drivers.
With our management portal, you can also manage and track usage and performance, set pricing and control access. Meanwhile, your customers can pay through the EV Connect driver app, find the nearest charging station and receive notifications when their vehicle has a full battery.
5. Commissioning and Maintaining the System
Our white-glove approach doesn’t stop once the chargers are turned on. We provide ongoing service and support, including maintenance and remote monitoring. If you prefer a hands off approach, we even provide comprehensive consultation and guidance through our Optimize plan. You provide the property and we do the rest, while you reap the rewards of your successful EV charging offering.
The EV charging station installation process doesn’t have to take a lot of your time, and it can quickly become a source of passive revenue for your property or business. Connect with us to learn more about our systems, engineered with your needs in mind.
Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer and content marketing specialist who has written about sustainability and solar for 20-plus years. She frequently covers Tesla and Elon Musk for GoBankingRates and Geek Travel Guide.