This article appears as published in the May 2022 Edition of The Enterprise
As the number of electric vehicles (EV) on the road increases, customers and employees will demand more on-site vehicle charging stations. Fortunately, you don’t have to know a lot about electric vehicle charger installation to make your employees and customers happy, you just need to choose the right installation partner.
The Future of Vehicles Is Electric
State governments are setting requirements for electric vehicles and the major automobile manufacturers are following their lead by announcing plans for phasing out internal combustion engines and producing only zero-emission vehicles. These trends combined with the growing societal concerns about reducing the tailpipe emissions that harm the environment are increasing the demand for electric vehicles and the chargers that power them.
Different Businesses Have Different Charging Needs
Installing EV chargers is a wise decision for many types of businesses. The number and type of EV chargers you install depend on whose vehicles you are charging and how they are being used. Different types of businesses have different requirements. Here are some factors for businesses to consider.
Commercial and Industrial – Office workers and industrial employees leave their vehicles available for charging for at least eight hours per day. This allows businesses to save money by running multiple chargers off one circuit. Spreading increased electrical demand over the same amount of electrical infrastructure will require a longer charging time, but the full charge can easily be completed during the vehicle owner’s workday.
Retail and Restaurant – Customers stopping to shop or for a bite to eat only have a short time for charging, so fast-charging stations are the best fit for their needs. Fast chargers require enhanced electrical infrastructure and transformers to support them.
Company Fleets – Because fleet vehicles are available for charging overnight, owners can afford to connect a larger number of chargers to the same electrical infrastructure. This increases the charging time required, but because fleet vehicles remain unused overnight, there is plenty of time for charging.
Multi-Family Housing – As this market is changing, so are the expectations of your tenants when it comes to sustainable solutions. More and more tenants will want their own EV charger. It is a massive undertaking to supply power to so many individual EV charging stations. Depending on the number of charging stations, meeting the needs of a large housing complex will require major infrastructure work to support all the EV chargers.
Municipal Services – Your EV charging needs vary depending on who you serve. Providing charging to citizens will most likely require fast chargers supported by significant electrical infrastructure upgrades. Charging municipal fleets can be achieved with less expensive chargers and fewer infrastructure upgrades.
No matter what type of business you have, you can still qualify for EV charger installation incentives to offset costs. Rocky Mountain Power offers incentives that cover a portion of the cost for purchasing EV chargers or for installing the infrastructure to support them. Your EV charger installation partner can help you navigate the application process and choose the best incentive for you and your business.
Benefits of Installing EV Charging Stations
Supporting the growth of electric vehicles by installing EV charging stations on your new and existing site brings several benefits to your project, company, and building.
Customer Goodwill – Drivers who are passionate about reducing carbon emissions can become customers who are passionate about your business when you support their electric vehicles by installing EV chargers. EV chargers not only attract potential customers to your business, but they also keep customers on-site during charging to increase the chance they will buy from you.
Enhanced Reputation – Installing EV chargers sends the message that you support the vital causes of reducing pollution and protecting the environment that your customers and employees hold dear. Aligning your business and project with these positive environmental causes can improve the way your company is perceived and enhance your brand.
Become an Employer of Choice – More employees say that environmental responsibility is one of the reasons they choose to work for an employer. Providing sustainable amenities like EV chargers makes your company and project more attractive to younger, tech-savvy employees who increasingly value environmental conscientiousness.
How to Overcome the Challenges of Installing EV Chargers
The benefits of installing EV chargers on-site come with their share of challenges, but you can overcome them with the right kind of help.
Navigating the Bureaucracy of Installation – Utility companies and state agencies have a host of requirements and regulations that must be met to obtain a permit. Choose an EV installation partner who has established relationships with utilities and experience meeting regulatory requirements to handle all permitting. A good partner will not let paperwork interfere with your electric vehicle charger installation.
Ensuring a Sufficient Power Supply – Adding EV chargers to your facility increases the electrical load. Installing more than two or three chargers may require enhancing the infrastructure’s electrical capacity, increasing it to meet current and future demand. This expansion may require installing underground power. A qualified contractor will coordinate with quality infrastructure teams to equip you with the electrical capacity to meet your EV charger needs.
The Expense of Installation – The upfront cost of EV chargers can be a barrier to installing them. Your EV installation partner can maximize the available incentives and rebates to offset some of the cost of installation to make it more affordable for you.
Engineering Service – Sometimes the complexity of the electrical system needed to support EV chargers will require electrical engineers to design the system. An EV installer with their own in-house engineering team can design the system quickly and customize it to meet your needs.
How a Qualified Installer Can Help
When seeking an EV charger installation partner, experience matters. Look for an installer with years of experience dedicated to providing the best charging solutions to meet their clients’ needs. Their breadth of services also matters. A partner with their own in-house engineering and infrastructure divisions can tackle any issues you have with a single phone call. Finally, look for a partner who has established strong relationships with local government and utilities to help you maximize the dollar amount of incentives you qualify for and who is able to obtain all required permits.
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