EV charging is one of the more daunting tasks on the checklist for growing businesses. Retail stores, workplaces, and hospitality operations are just three of many applicable places where commercial EV chargers thrive. This investment in EV adoption unlocks a new revenue stream, increases property value, and attracts people (both customers and talent). Undoubtedly, commercial EV chargers are important yet seemingly complicated to integrate into businesses, but this guide will address each step for a simplified roadmap.
1. Start by assessing EV charging suitability
Knowing if it is possible is essential when beginning an initiative, and charging infrastructure is no exception.
Start by surveying the existing demand from employees, customers, and the client demographic.
Continue with a site assessment to find the power capacity and grid requirements, working with electrical infrastructure experts.
Consider the accessibility of the site location and parking layouts.
New investments need internal buy-in from relevant stakeholders. A survey defends arguments for charging installation, backed by motivations to reach sustainability goals and increase the net operating income (NOI), discussing the return on investment (ROI).
2. Research charging station equipment
Choose EV charging station types based on desired features, as there are many different options in the market (learn more with our resource covering AC vs. DCFC, the two major types of EV chargers). Identify the charging speed with the most demand from people – putting the research in step 1 to use. Listing features and searching for service providers that match the desired characteristics is recommended. EV charger installation service companies should be reliable, preferably backed by years of deployment experience. As connector standards converge in the U.S. market, it’s increasingly important to choose manufacturers whose chargers support both CCS and NACS for greater flexibility and user access.
3. Value for current financing
Planning requires considering expenses for installation, operating, and regulatory compliance. With today’s incentives—tax credits—the lower installation costs are available to all. But in a world with constantly changing policies, it is important to check the most recently updated federal-level and state-level credits that reduce your upfront costs. This will help in the final stages of planning, as the total cost and ROI are projected.
4. Site development
The plan is down, and the real deal begins with construction preparation. Providers work with the business and onsite construction team, creating or improving site plans and submitting incentives. Permitting and additional safety inspections will occur. Site development typically takes 3 to 6 months, depending on factors such as utility coordination and permitting timelines. Infrastructure upgrades may require switchgear installation, detailed load analysis, and transformer procurement—which continues to be a major bottleneck in many states.
5. Maintain and manage
Though construction may be done, the job is not yet done. It is of utmost importance to stay on top of the EV charging infrastructure support, keeping downtime low and uptime high to sustain user satisfaction. As there could be problems down the road, getting technical support from experienced manufacturers is crucial. Monitoring usage data will help your commercial venture be successful. To maximize performance and operational efficiency, it’s highly recommended to implement a Charging Station Management System (CSMS). A robust CSMS enables remote diagnostics, usage monitoring, dynamic pricing, and load balancing—all of which help optimize ROI and enhance the overall user experience.
At viveEV, we are committed to providing reliable and industry-leading uptime chargers, with decades of supplying technical service. If you’re interested in expanding your business, contact viveEV at https://viveev.com/en/contact.