Charging stations for electric vehicles are popping up everywhere, including at AMC theaters, Macy’s, Costco, and Target, as well as gas stations, groceries, and gas stations.
According to a report from American Express, as of December 2023 there are more than 64,000 public EV charging stations across the U.S. Fast commercial EV charging station installations have increased by 70% in three years as a result of Teslas and similar electric cars taking to the roads.
There is a need for this surge of interest because many car manufacturers are investing massive amounts of money in developing electric vehicles. It is also good news for solar installers and commercial properties. A commercial electric vehicle charging station can offer a variety of incentives and rebates to businesses.
However, EV charging stations are different from solar panels in that they are not installed by the same person. Getting a good understanding of your options, the costs of your commercial EV charging station, the incentives for your charger, and your challenges is the first step towards success in any venture.
It’s for this reason that we created this guide on how to install electric car charging stations.
Ideal Locations for EV Charging Station Installations
In 2022, electric vehicles will account for 14% of new car sales, so installing commercial EV charging stations is attractive to many businesses looking to increase property value, employee satisfaction, and customer numbers.
EV charging stations have the following commercial prospects:
Workplaces
EV drivers are more likely to be attracted to a company if they provide a charging station since they park at work more often than anywhere else. The U.S. Department of Energy found that 80% of employers with EV charging stations report that they are able to attract and retain more employees as a result. Thus, commercial electric vehicles improve both business targets and sustainability for companies.
Business Districts And Shopping Centers
It is common for Americans not to be at home or at work to go shopping and eat. This includes individuals who own electric vehicles, who naturally want to park where they can charge their vehicles when they’re enjoying themselves.
The installation of EV charging stations in parking lots, business districts, shopping centers, restaurants, and malls can attract visitors like these. As they wait for their EV to charge, they will be more likely to spend more time there (and buy more).
Service Locations
Installation of an EV charging station can earn LEED credits for public buildings, hospitals, and universities that are working toward sustainability goals. With this environmentally friendly option, they can attract more talent to their prospects, as mentioned above, since they often have a large employee workforce.
Multifamily Housing
It is true that not all electric car owners live in their own house – or are interested in doing so. However, a place without an electric car charging station is unsuitable for their charging needs, driving them away even from otherwise perfect places to live.
The solution to this problem is to install electric vehicle charging stations on apartment buildings, condominium buildings, and any other multifamily buildings. This will increase the value of those properties as well as attract prospective residents with electric vehicles.
Many areas are seeing the adoption of commercial EV charging stations accelerate due to new state and city regulations. Miami, Seattle, and Chicago, for example, now require that commercial properties over a certain size offer electric vehicle charging. This will result in a rapid increase in the number of leads for installers operating in these areas.
What Kind Of Commercial EV Charging Station Do Clients Need?
There are a variety of EV charger options based on charging speed.
Level I Charging Stations
While the cheapest and most cost-effective option, it’s also the slowest – cars will only add 3 – 5 miles of travel per hour. There are not enough public charging stations available at this time, so Level I chargers may be adequate for workplaces that allow employees to charge their cars up to 8 hours at a time. However, Level II chargers are often too slow for public charging stations.
Level II EV Charging Stations – Most Common For Commercial Sites
It’s one of the more popular options: it’s the standard for commercial parking spaces. Level II stations charge cars four to five times faster than their counterparts at Level I, adding 12-40 miles per hour. They use 208/240V and 30 amp electricity.
Level III Charging Stations – DC Fast Chargers
EV charging at this level is the fastest: 80 – 400+ miles per hour for DC Fast Chargers (DCFC). There are also some electric vehicles that can’t be charged with Level II chargers because they are the most expensive and incompatible with some electric vehicles. This speed increase will usually only be noticed by high-volume commercial EV charging station customers, such as car dealerships, commercial charging stations, and rest stops.
It is important to note that Tesla Superchargers dominate the DC fast charging landscape in the US. In fact, when considering the next three largest DC fast charging networks (Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint), the top four networks collectively comprise the majority of DC fast charging stations in the country.
Commercial EV Charging Station Incentives And Rebates
There are several incentives and rebates available in your area if you or a client are interested in installing an electric vehicle charging station, but balk at the initial costs (from $1,000 – $10,000 per station).
Federal Tax Credit for Commercial EV Chargers
A 30% federal tax credit is available for the installation of commercial electric car charging stations. The tax credit can be worth up to $100,000 per unit, and the tax credit applies for both equipment and installation costs.
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
A state may receive funding through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) NEVI Formula Program. The goal of this initiative is to promote the strategic deployment of electric vehicle charging stations, thereby improving data collection, accessibility, and reliability by connecting them to an interconnected network. Up to 80% of the costs of eligible projects can be covered by funding.
The National Conference of State Legislature’s interactive map of state and utility policies for promoting electric vehicles may provide you with information about commercial EV station incentives that may be relevant to you or your prospects.
Commercial EV Charging Station Installation Costs
An electric vehicle charger at Level II usually costs between $2,000 and $6,000 to install. Multiply this cost by five, ten, or twenty, and a commercial charging station may cost between $30,000 and $120,000.
The property owner will almost certainly not be required to pay the full price for the EV charging station, however, thanks to numerous incentives across the country. Up to $30,000 of these costs have been covered by the federal EV tax credit, and additional incentives have been provided by local governments.
As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, installations completed after 2022 will be eligible for up to $100,000 in credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credits.
In the same way solar installations are priced based on several factors, EV charging station pricing depends on three main factors:
Infrastructure for Commercial EV Charging Stations
There are many challenges associated with setting up a new electric vehicle charging station, and each site requires an approach suited specifically to its needs.
There are several expenses involved in preparing an EV charger site for commercial use, including:
- Infrastructure for powering the charging stations
- A conduit and connector for wires
- A new batch of concrete is poured
- Restriping of parking lots
- The EV station is marked with signs that guide visitors
All activities and materials needed to prepare the installation location should be included in an EV charging system quote.
EV Charging Station Installation
When all the necessary changes have been made to the site, it is time to get the chargers there. Just as with solar installations, the cost of this depends on a variety of factors.
- Electrical service
- Number of chargers
- Location
- Material quantity and type
- Labor
- Required permits
- Associated taxes
- Applicable state and local initiatives
Networked EV Charging Stations
If you want to offer most electric car charging station incentives, you’ll likely need Wi-Fi-enabled chargers. Network connectivity allows electric car owners to:
- Depending on your needs (such as residents of an apartment building), limit access to certain people.
- Electricity consumption should be charged to users
- Keep an eye on the performance of the station
- Keep a record of usage
In some cases, it is possible to reduce expenses with a good contractor by using a charging station with a network instead of a non-networked one. While charging station materials, infrastructure, and installation can add up, they are often possible to minimize. In addition to using existing electrical infrastructure (if available), applying for all applicable rebates and tax breaks, and sharing station responsibilities with adjacent businesses, there are several options.
Can Commercial EV Charging Stations Be Used By the General Public?
In most cases, charging stations at commercial facilities provide convenient charging access for electric vehicle owners. They are often situated at retail centers, parking lots, hotels, or along major highways. The majority of commercial charging stations offer a variety of payment options and configurations, including pay-per-use with a credit or debit card, access cards, key fobs, and mobile apps. There may also be a membership program for discounted rates offered by some charging networks.
Commercial EV Charging Station Connector Compatibility
A commercial charging station is usually equipped with standardized connectors, so different models of electric vehicle can charge at the same time. These chargers are designed to be accessible and compatible with a range of vehicles. Here are a few more details on the different connectors types that are commonly used:
- Type 1 (J1772) Connector: In level 2 charging, the Type 1 connector is often used, also called the J1772 connector. This connector features a smaller, rectangular shape with five or seven pins, depending on the charging capabilities of the vehicle. North American and Japanese electric vehicles commonly use this connector.
- Type 2 (Mennekes) Connector: Europeans commonly use Type 2 connectors, commonly known as Mennekes connectors, and many regions have adopted them as their standard for Level 2 charging. The Type 2 connector provides a higher level of charging power and is compatible with most European electric car models. It features a larger, round connector with either seven or nine pins, depending on the vehicle’s charging capabilities.
- CCS (Combined Charging System) Connector: As well as providing AC charging, the CCS connector has a set of high-power DC pins for fast charging. A CCS connector is characterized by two extra DC pins below its Type 2 connector. In addition to Level 2 AC charging, CCS connectors are also capable of DC fast charging, so they are versatile enough for a wide range of electric vehicles. In Europe and North America, many vehicle manufacturers make use of CCS connectors.
- CHAdeMO Connector: There are many reasons why CHAdeMO connectors are used for DC fast charging. They have a unique, large, round connector with multiple pins and are most commonly found in electric vehicle models from Japanese manufacturers, including Nissan and Mitsubishi. It’s worth noting, however, that some newer electric vehicles have dual connectors, making them capable of charging both with CCS and CHAdeMO.
Maintenance of Commercial EV Charging Stations
The optimal performance, reliability, and safety of a commercial electric vehicle charging station depends on proper maintenance. Maintaining equipment prevents malfunctions, extends its lifespan, and provides users with a positive charging experience. Here’s why maintenance is important, how you can do it, and what you’ll need to do:
Importance of Commercial EV Charging Station Maintenance:
There is a critical issue that can be avoided by avoiding broken or poorly maintained electric car chargers.
- Reliability: Regular maintenance enables issues to be identified and resolved before they become more serious, ensuring that the charging station functions correctly when it is needed.
- Safety: Checking the equipment periodically can detect potential safety hazards, such as exposed wires or damaged components. This helps prevent accidents and ensures the safety of users.
- User Experience: Clean charging stations provide a positive experience for electric vehicle owners, retaining them as customers and enhancing their satisfaction with their electric vehicle.
- Cost Savings: By addressing minor issues while they are still minor, preventative maintenance can reduce the need to resort to costly repairs or replacements.
- Compliance: Depending on where you live, regulations or requirements may exist regarding the maintenance of commercial charging stations in order to ensure their safety and reliability.
Completing EV Charging Station Maintenance and Typical Tasks
You can find out more about some of the critical tasks by reading on.
Visual Inspection: Make sure to visually inspect the charging station for any signs of damage, loose connections, or wear and tear on a regular basis.
Cleaning: Ensure that debris, dirt, and other contaminants are kept away from the charging station in order to maintain performance.
Charger Software Updates: Make sure your charging station has the latest software updates in order to ensure its compatibility and functionality.
Testing: Check that the charging station is operating properly, charging at the right speed, and is connected properly by conducting routine testing.
Functional Checks: To ensure that components such as the display screen or touchscreen, the connectors, cables, and payment systems are working properly, test them.
Charger Maintenance Logs: Keeping detailed records of maintenance activities, inspections, and issues found is essential to ensuring the smooth running of the facility.
It is important to follow the specific maintenance guidelines provided by the charging station manufacturer and to use qualified professionals if any issues arise. Maintenance tasks can vary depending on the type of charging station, manufacturer recommendations, and usage patterns.
Operators of commercial electric vehicle charging stations can ensure that their equipment remains reliable, long-lasting, and safe by prioritizing regular maintenance, ultimately benefiting both the business and its customers.
Installing Commercial EV Chargers: Design & Engineering
Many commercial charging stations are expensive to install, but the benefits often outweigh the costs due to incentives, tax credits, customer fees, higher customer attraction, and better employee satisfaction.
One of the biggest challenges for EV charger installers is securing fast and scalable engineering design and engineering services. In such case mobile ev chargers are another solution which could betake under consideration.
Frequently asked Question
What power is required for a commercial EV charging station?
There is a wide range of power requirements for EV charging stations based on factors such as how many charging points there are, how fast they charge (level of charging), and how many people will be utilizing the station at peak times.
The typical power requirements for commercial fast charging stations range from 20 to 350 kW. The specific power requirements should be determined based on the planned usage and capacity of the charging station.
What is the size of the commercial EV charging market?
There are a number of factors that influence the size of the commercial EV charging market. These factors include government policies, the adoption of electric vehicles among consumers, technological advancements, and the investment in charging infrastructure.
How much does EV car charging installation cost?
It is possible for EV charging installation costs to vary depending on the type of charging station (level 1, level 2, or DC fast charger), the location and accessibility of the site, required electrical infrastructure upgrades, permits, and labor costs.
How to set up a commercial charging station?
There are several steps involved in setting up a commercial charging station, including:
- An evaluation of the market demand, location suitability, and regulatory requirements is conducted in order to assess the feasibility of the project.
- Assuring that local authorities and utility companies provide the necessary permits and approvals.
- By selecting the appropriate charging equipment based on how the device will be used and the amount of power that it will need.
- Establishing the charging station’s layout as well as its infrastructure, including electrical wiring, signage, and parking areas.
- Ensure that safety standards and regulations are adhered to when installing the charging equipment.
- By promoting the charging station to potential users and engaging businesses, manufacturers, and other stakeholders, we hope to encourage the use of it.
- Providing ongoing maintenance and support for the station, including the implementation of a billing and payment system for charging services.
