Types of charging stations for EV (Electric Vehicle)

When installing an EV station for commercial purposes, the first thing you need to consider is the capability of the charging station. You can discuss with experts about the DC chargers that can charge a vehicle in one or two hours. When installing a commercial EV charger, you will first need appropriate permission from the local authorities to set up the charging station. As you draw the electricity from a central board, you will need permission to ensure no issues with the charging stations. Once you get the license, you can set up the EV charging station.

Installing a Level 2 EV charging station

One of the best commercial EV charging points is a Level 2 charging station. You will see most of these charging points across North America. If you plan to install one such charging point, you first must select a suitable location for the charging station. In most cases, Level 2 charging stations are installed in parking lots. It is better to install one such charging point in a parking lot as you can park your car and get it charged while you get other work done. For instance, if you have a parking lot attached to a grocery store, installing a Level 2 charging point in such a location is a good idea. You will find that your customers can easily connect their EVs or hybrid vehicles to the charging point while grocery shopping and save time in charging their vehicles. Moreover, in a Level 2 charging point, you will find that the battery of your EV is completely charged in one to two hours. This makes it one of the best commercial charging points for electric vehicles.

Installing a DC charging point

Another type of EV station you can think of installing a DC charging point. When it comes to a commercial EV charging point, ensuring that the vehicles get charged quickly is essential. Consider a scenario where your customer has taken his electric vehicle on a long drive, and it begins to lose charge on the highway. Here you need to have a charging point strategically placed on the highway where he can charge his vehicle within an hour or so. This is essential so that he can continue his journey without any glitches. Remember, you can install EV charging points on parking lots and near gas stations on a highway. When you are doing so, you need to keep in mind that the charging point should dissipate the charge in such a way that the batteries get fully charged within an hour. This is where a DC charging point can prove to be quite efficient. For example, you can easily set up a DC charging point in a public location. You can charge nearly 80% of your car’s battery with a DC charging point within 20 minutes. You will also find that a DC charging point has a commercial-grade three-phase connection. This makes the charging process more manageable, and you will find that your vehicle gets charged faster. Thus, when installing an EV charging point that recharges car quickly, you can consider installing a DC one.

Among the several EV charging stations in the market, you will find that Level 2 and DC charging points are the most common ones in commercial centers. The primary difference between the two is that in the case of the Level 2 charger, you have AC, and in the DC charger, you have direct current. Between the two, you will find that the Level 2 charger will recharge your EV slightly slower than a DC charger.

In the case of long-distance vehicles and bigger EVs, you will find that the drivers prefer the DC chargers as the charge dissipation is faster. The primary reason for this is that the energy is stored in your vehicle’s battery in the form of direct current. When using an AC charger, the power must be converted into DC before storing. But with a DC charger, the energy is directly stored in the battery, and conversion is unnecessary. This makes it easier to recharge the battery. As a result, the battery gets charged faster; hence, the drivers of the bigger EVs, such as buses and trailers, prefer the DC charging stations.

Can the Level 1 charging stations be used for commercial purposes?

When discussing your options with an EV charging station installer, you will also find the option of installing a Level 1 charging station. Contrary to popular opinion, you can use this to charge electric vehicles, which can also be used for commercial centers. Here is what you need to know about the Level 1 charger and how you can use these for commercial purposes:

• The Level 1 charger uses a 120V electrical outlet, which sometimes makes it incompatible with commercial usage because it takes longer to charge the vehicles.
• However, you can change this notion and use a Level 1 charger for commercial purposes by selecting a suitable location for the charging point. For instance, if you install the chargers in an office parking area, you will find this location excellent for a Level 1 charger.
• As mentioned earlier, the youth nowadays prefer to drive hybrid and electric vehicles. Hence, if most of your employees drive EVs, consider installing Level 1 charging points in your office parking area.
• It requires less investment, and you will find that most of your employees are using the charging points to recharge their vehicles. All they need to do is attach the cars to the charging points when they reach the parking area and detach these when they leave in the evening. This is a sufficiently long time to get the batteries of their EVs recharged.

Thus, you can use the Level 1 charging points commercially as well, but you only need to remember to select a suitable location for the charging station. As these charging points take longer to dissipate the charge, you need to ensure that the vehicles can stay connected to the charging station longer without getting disturbed.

What are the expenses involved in installing a commercial charging station for EVs?

When considering EV charging station installation costs, you must consider the return on investment or ROI. For example, if you install an EV charging station in a grocery store’s parking lot, you can be assured that the ROI will be excellent. This is because people tend to connect their vehicles to the charging stations when grocery shopping. Thus, the first thing you need to factor in during the installation cost is the location of the charging station. Here are some of the other factors that you need to consider while calculating the expenses involved in installing an EV charging station:

• Cost of construction and installation: When it comes to installing a commercial EV charger, the primary expense is the installation and construction of the charger. If you plan to install a Level 2 charger, you must keep a budget of $2000 to $10000. The primary reason for keeping such a comprehensive budget is that you must consider the construction work you undertake to install the charger and the price of the charger itself. For instance, you must undertake significant reconstruction work to establish the EV charger. Then you must pay more.

Similarly, if you plan to install a Level 2 charger that dissipates electricity faster than the regular chargers, you must pay more. For example, a Level 2 charger of an Amperage of 80 can cost anywhere between $1800 to $4000. Similarly, a Level 2 charger of Amperage 48 can cost anywhere between $700 to $2000. Hence, depending on the type of EV charger that you choose to install, the cost of construction and installation will change.

• Evaluate the cost of installing an EV charger based on the type of charger: Another factor you must consider when evaluating the EV charging station installation cost is the type of EV charger you want to install. You will find that these are the most expensive EV chargers, as these require specialized charging equipment. If you install a DC charger, you must get the necessary permission. However, if you plan to install a DC charger, you must hire an experienced EV charger installation firm. Such a company can guide you regarding the installation process. The company will help you get the necessary permission, and after that, you can begin the installation process. When you install a DC charger, you will draw more electricity from the central board, and hence, you need to acquire the requisite permission. The equipment will also differ from a Level 2 charger, so the investment will also be more. In the case of a DC charger, the minimum investment begins from $30000, and depending on the same charger and the location, your investment can increase. Another reason for the high investment necessary for a DC charger is that it charges the vehicle swiftly. You will have to pay more for the efficiency of the charger. DC chargers cost more because these require more installation charges. You will have to pay more in lieu of labour charges for the reconstruction that you have to do to install the charger. You must consider all of these when you calculate the installation charges for a DC charger.
• The cost of an EV charger will depend on the Amperage: When investing in an EV charger, it is essential to check the Amperage as it is directly responsible for its efficiency. The higher the Amperage, the faster you can charge your vehicle. For example, a Level 2 EV charger with an Amperage of 80 will charge an EV in 2 to 5 hours. Compare this to a DC charger of Amperage 200 that charges an EV in thirty to sixty minutes. Naturally, the DC charger with higher Amperage is more efficient than the Level 2 charger with lower Amperage. This will mean the cost of the DC charger with higher Amperage will be more than the Level 2 charger. Thus, while evaluating the cost of EV chargers, you must consider the Amperages and ensure that you select one that is within your budget and is reasonably efficient.

When purchasing and installing an EV charger, you must ensure that it is installed at a location where you can get a good return on your investment. This means there is a good use of EV charging points. You also need to discuss with the company that you get a suitable location to set up the EV chargers. You will also need permission to set up the charging points in public areas from the local authorities. Considering all of these, the installation charges and investment would be best. When you can recover these and get good returns, you can be assured that it is a suitable location for setting up an EV charging point.