Now is the time to start thinking about installing commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at your facility. Putting EV charging stations on your property will not only boost your public image, but your company will reap the numerous financial and environmental benefits that come with owning commercial EV charging stations.
You may also want to consider adding a commercial electric vehicle fleet to expand on those benefits, which include increasing vehicle efficiency and slashing your vehicle maintenance and fuel costs.
If you wait to install commercial EV charging solutions, you’ll be playing catch-up, instead of being a forward-thinking, memorable business that was one of the first.
Electric vehicle ownership is no longer a novelty. In fact, it has come a long way from that with virtually every car in the EV space having a long waiting list. Electric vehicle adoption rates are on the rise and industry experts say there will be more EV cars on the road than conventional cars in the near future. Investment banking company UBS forecasts an EV share of 20% of the global new car sales in 2025, a 50% share in 2030, and 100% by 2040.
EV charging is the action of plugging an electric vehicle into an EV charging station to recharge the car. An electric vehicle charging station supplies electric energy from the grid to the car. An electric vehicle stores electricity in rechargeable batteries that provide power to an electric motor that moves the wheels.
Commercial EV and EV business charging stations are installed at commercial and industrial locations. Commercial EV charging stations are used by employees and customers, as well as for fleet charging (more on this below).
There are three levels of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 or DC fast chargers. Each charging level identifies how fast an EV charger can replenish the battery of an electric car.
Level 1 EV chargers come standard with every electric vehicle purchase. The Level 1 plug is for a common household 120-volt outlet. Level 1 charging is extremely slow and charges 3 to 5 miles per hour.
A Level 2 can charge up to fifteen times faster than a Level 1 charger. They can charge 13-75 miles per hour.
Level 2 EV chargers require either a 208- or 240-volt dedicated circuit and need to be professionally installed by an electrician.
Level 3 EV chargers or DC fast chargers can charge 80% of an EV’s battery in as quickly as 10 minutes. A DC fast charger requires at least 480-volts and significant electrical infrastructure improvements.
Both Level 2 and DC fast chargers are eligible for incentives and rebates.
Level 1 and Level 2 chargers supply alternating current (AC) from the grid, which has to be converted by the electric vehicle’s battery to direct current (DC) since EV batteries can only accept DC current. This conversion is what makes Level 1 and Level 2 chargers so much slower than DC fast chargers.
There are currently three types of DC fast charging: Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO (“CHArge de MOve”), and Tesla Supercharger. CCS allows AC/DC charging through the same port, cars with CHAdeMO have a separate port for AC charging. According to the Department of Energy, the U.S. has over 2,600 charging stations equipped with CHAdeMO and nearly 2,400 stations with CCS.
Tesla Superchargers only work with Tesla vehicles but can charge other EVs through an adaptor. Not every EV can charge with DC fast chargers.
All EVs use the same standard plugs, or connectors, for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. DC fast charging standards vary by manufacturer.
Level 3 plugs include the Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO (“CHArge de MOve”), and Tesla Supercharger. The CCS plug is a five-pin plug, CHAdeMO has a 10-pin plug, and the Tesla Supercharger has a proprietary plug that has two pins that are not traditional pins like the other plugs.
When it comes to connectors, the SAE J1772 connector is the industry standard for EVs. The SAE J1772 connector is used for Level 1 or Level 2 charging. The CHAdeMO and CCS connectors are similar, the difference is the CCS connectors make AC and DC charging possible on the same port, while vehicles with CHAdeMO connectors need an additional J1722 connector cord to execute Level 1 or Level 2 charging.
There are two types of EV charging stations when it comes to connectivity: non-networked and networked EV charging stations.
Non-networked EV chargers are not connected to the internet and therefore cannot provide advanced communications capabilities. They are stand-alone units. You cannot monitor non-networked EV chargers and you cannot charge a fee for use – any driver that plugs in can start charging. Furthermore, charging begins instantly, unless there is onboard control in the vehicle preventing it from charging during peak hours.
Networked EV charging stations are connected to the internet. They are not stand-alone units but are remotely connected to a larger system of connected chargers. Networked charging stations have access to online management tools through the ESVE network. Connection to the ESVE network allows the owner to control the stations. You can change fees for charging as you see fit and collect data on the stations. This information helps you track and monitor how often the chargers are used, data on each charging session, at what time of the day they are used, electricity costs, and revenue, among other important information.
EV charging network companies include:
When it comes to the best EV charging network, that depends on what type of EV fleet vehicles, light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty, you have (more on this below) and the number of chargers you are looking to install, among other factors. Contact us today to find out the best EV charging station for your facility’s or business’ needs.
Commercial EV charging is known as workplace charging when it doesn’t involve fleet vehicles, but employees’ personal EVs. Workplace charging helps support EV drivers and makes a long commute less stressful since employees won’t have to worry about having enough battery life to make it back home.
On the other hand, home charging involves charging at home with a wall unit. Home charging is currently how the majority of electric vehicle owners charge their cars. Electric vehicle infrastructure needs to expand in areas like workplace charging to support EV adoption growth.
Workplace charging is extremely beneficial for your company and your employees. Here are the benefits of workplace charging:
To have a successful workplace charging operation, an individual or group should be designated to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the charging stations. The management of workplace charging stations includes determining charging access and security of the charging stations. For example, the manager of the charging stations may restrict them to employee-only charging during the day and then open them up to public charging at night when employees have left for the day.
Multi-unit dwelling (MUD) EV charging applies to EV chargers installed at apartment complexes, condominiums, duplexes, townhomes, and other real estate developments that house a large number of people.
Level 2 charging stations at multifamily properties can be set up so charging is complimentary for tenants but other members of the public can charge for a fee. If a MUD owner or manager decides to charge their tenants or other EV owners to plug in, this can help to offset the costs of the chargers and installation.
Level 1 chargers are not a good choice for multi-unit dwellings. Not only are Level 1 chargers too slow, but they are also impractical for MUDs. The EV driver will have to figure out how to safely get the charging cord that is plugged into their EV in the parking lot all the way to an electricity source, which would presumably be an electrical outlet in their unit.
Level 2 chargers are the best options for multifamily properties. Level 2 chargers can charge up to 15 times faster than a Level 1 charger but are sufficient for a lunchtime recharge or an overnight charge situation as would be expected at a multi-unit dwelling.
Level 3 DC fast chargers provide a much quicker charge but are costly to install and require large demands of electricity and electrical infrastructure upgrades. Most multifamily units do not have the electrical capacity to install DC fast chargers.
EV fleet refers to a group of electric vehicles that are operating together under the same ownership. Usually, EV fleet cars are the same color and have the same exterior design, which tends to be the commercial or industrial company’s logo. For example, an EV fleet can be used to identify a trucking company’s electric freight trucks or a distribution center’s electric delivery cars.
Why should you consider an EV fleet? While the most obvious answer is being eco-friendly, there are other reasons why adopting an EV fleet is a good move for your business.
EV fleet charging is the act of using a plug-in electric vehicle charger to recharge an EV fleet car.
EV fleet management is the supervision of EV fleet operations, including the condition of the EV fleet vehicles, the charging needs of the EVs, and the EV charging infrastructure itself.
To successfully manage your commercial electric vehicle fleet, you’ll have to consider the number of vehicles in the fleet and the total number of miles the vehicles will be traveling. You’ll have to consider where the EV fleet drivers will have to charge to complete their jobs – work-base fleet charging stations, on the road at public charging points, or at home. More than likely, it will be a combination of at least two.
If you have an especially large EV fleet or plan to overhaul your fleet completely to EVs in the future, installing commercial EV charging stations at multiple strategic locations for your drivers to charge is an excellent way to ensure your operations run smoothly and on time.
If you are considering an EV fleet without pairing it with commercial charging stations on your site, your EV fleet operations may fail. Just like your internal combustion engine, or conventional car, needs gasoline to operate, an electric vehicle needs to have enough electricity throughout its journey. You need a home-based option to properly electrify your fleet.
The options for fleet charging solutions can be tailored to what you need for your fleet.
Do you need an electric vehicle fleet charging station in the middle of nowhere, which happens to fit perfectly with your fleet’s route? Which level of chargers is the best fit for your fleet? Is your fleet made of light-, medium-, or heavy-duty EVs?
You can have an EV fleet charging station installed almost anywhere depending on the number of EV chargers and the electrical capacity of the location. EV chargers need access to the grid to be able to electrify your EV fleet.
As you can imagine, Level 1 chargers are the cheapest, while DC fast chargers are the most expensive. As mentioned above, Level 1 chargers are also the slowest and make up the majority of home chargers.
Most commercial facilities that have EV chargers for customer or employee EVs or light- or medium-duty fleet vehicles opt for Level 2 chargers at their sites, since they are more affordable and have a sufficient charging speed. Other commercial facilities with heavy-duty EVs (and sometimes medium-duty) choose DC fast chargers because their operations demand fleet vehicles move in and out quickly so deadlines can be met.
Level 1 chargers are not a good option for commercial facilities, not only because they are too slow, but they can overload the electrical circuits at a facility. Level 1 chargers were not designed for commercial use, but residential use and that is why they can cause electrical issues when used for a large operation.
Businesses located off of highways or other major roads may choose Level 3, or DC fast chargers because they want to be able to attract customers that need to make a quick pit stop and don’t have the time to wait for a Level 2 charger to finish charging. Tesla charging stations are some of the most popular commercial EV charging stations due to the popularity of Tesla vehicles.
Fleet charging options also vary depending on the type of landscaping and lighting you prefer for the commercial charging stations. If the chargers are located at the workplace the aesthetics will be much more important than if they’re being installed at the manufacturing facility or the distribution center. Lighting, on the other hand, is crucial no matter what EV fleet charging solution you are looking for. You’ll want lights that are bright enough for drivers to be able to see everything clearly at night as well as feel comfortable and safe while waiting for their vehicles to charge.
EV charging station installation requires knowledge of the best fleet charging solution for your particular site and layout, understanding EV infrastructure requirements, figuring out how to communicate with your utility company to supply enough power to your chargers, and navigating commercial EV charging station rebates and incentives to reduce costs and make them affordable. Not to mention…applying for permits or finding the best contractor or electrician to safely install your EV charging station.
It is usually easiest to partner with an EV charging company, like WattLogic, which offers turnkey EV fleet charging solutions. This means if you work with us to install a commercial EV charging station on your site, we will take care of the site audit, product recommendation, infrastructure planning, incentive and rebate management, permitting, and labor and installation.
Not all companies that install electric car charging stations are created equal. You’ll want to work with an EV charging company that is focused on your goals and has the knowledge to execute the job.
Electrifying your fleet or starting up a workplace charging system can quickly become complicated, especially when it comes to the EV infrastructure.
WattLogic has experience with utility coordination, vehicle-to-grid integration, communication network design, and construction phasing. We provide cost-effective solutions for all levels of chargers and all different types of chargers. If you partner with us for your commercial EV charging station installation, you will have peace of mind knowing your project will go smoothly and the results will be exactly what you had envisioned. If you don’t have a vision yet, we can help guide you through your options so you can create a commercial EV charging plan.
The cost to install a commercial charging station can vary depending on dozens of factors, but you can expect to spend $5,000 to $50,000 per station installed. This figure will ultimately be much lower due to the rebates and incentives available for EV installation. You may save even more if you have existing electrical infrastructure that can be retrofitted for EV charging stations.
To figure out how much commercial EV charging stations cost for your facility, you’ll have to consider infrastructure and installation costs.
Infrastructure expenses will be the most expensive and will depend on:
Installation expenses depend on factors such as:
Turnkey installation – Everything is covered for you. An EV charging company that offers this option should provide design, product selection, permitting, rebate and incentive management, and installation. With this option, you don’t have to worry about anything but figuring out how to alert everyone about the new EV charging stations!
Fleet charging as a service or workplace charging as a service – You pay a monthly subscription fee and avoid paying all upfront costs. With this subscription fee, you receive everything as you would have had you purchased it outright.
If you choose WattLogic as your EV charging company, with our fleet charging as a service package you will also receive revenue from people charging, which could cover the cost of your subscription fee. Depending on how robust your EV charging station system is you could even see positive cash flow!
Shared Revenue – The EV charging contractor will install your stations for you and take on the cost, then collect the revenue your stations receive from drivers charging their EVs. A variation of this option would be the EV charging installer splitting both the cost and revenue with you.
Charging at home with a Level 2 charging station is the ideal way to charge an EV. The EV driver gets to charge in the comfort and safety of their own home at a rate up to 15 times faster than with the slow charger that came with the purchase of the EV. They’ll get to take advantage of the convenience of charging at home rather than having to search for a public charging station and they will never have to fill up at a gas station again. An EV driver will also be able to alleviate any range anxiety (the fear that one will run out of battery in their EV and become stranded) they may have with a home EV charger.
A Level 2 home EV charger requires a dedicated 208-/240-volt circuit, which should only be installed by a licensed electrician.
A residential Level 2 charging station costs between $450 to $2,000, with the labor costing $400 or more.
The cost of a Level 2 EV charging station ranges in price depending on the type of features the customer wants, if it’s installed indoors or outdoors, and if it’s a plug-in or hardwired unit. The labor costs depend on the complexity of the installation. For example, the further away the outlet for the EV charger is from the panel, the more it will cost. The final labor costs depend on the total amount of electrical work it requires to get the EV charger up and running.
A residential or commercial electric vehicle charging station is likely more affordable than you think. If you take advantage of the many rebates and incentives available to you, you could offset a good majority of the costs associated with the project, including the equipment costs, infrastructure expenses, and installation costs.
Incentives and rebates are offered by utility companies, state governments, and the federal government.
Most of these programs have deadlines and termination dates. Many of them are based on a first-come, first-served basis until a specific amount of allotted funds runs out. The best way to ensure you can take advantage of EV charging rebates and incentives is to act quickly.
In some cases, a rebate or incentive program may be able to cover a good portion of your EV charging station project costs, while some may even cover 100% of the project’s costs. For example, Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Program offers rebates up to 100% of project costs.
As you will see below, you can oftentimes combine rebates from different sources and receive even more cashback on your commercial EV charging station project.
Check out our EV rebates page for more information.
Dozens of utilities across the U.S. offer rebates for EV charging equipment and installation. Every utility company is different and some offer larger rebates than others.
For example, in Alameda, California, Alameda Municipal Power commercial customers can receive up to $5,000 for each EV charging station installed.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) commercial customers can also receive up to $5,000 per single-port electric vehicle charging station and up to $5,750 per dual-port charging station.
In Austin, Texas, Austin Energy offers commercial customers an incentive of up to $4,000 or 50% of workplace EV charging stations.
In North Carolina, Greenville Utilities commercial customers can receive a rebate of up to $1,500 for EV charging stations.
In Tucson, Arizona, Tucson Electric Power offers rebates for EV charging projects at the workplace, multi-family, and nonprofit locations through their Smart EV Charging Program. Standard workplace EV charging projects can receive a rebate of $4,500 per port, up to 75% of the project cost. Businesses located in lower-income areas can receive $6,000 per port, up to 75% of the project cost.
Southern California Edison (SCE) offers electric vehicle incentives and EV charging incentives for its residential and commercial customers.
On the residential side, you can receive a $1,000 rebate for a pre-owned EV or $1,500 for a lease or purchase of a new EV through the California Clean Fuel Reward. The instant reward is available to anyone who buys or leases a new EV with a battery capacity of greater than 5 kWh in California. The California Clean Fuel Reward is offered on a sliding scale that depends on the EV’s battery size.
When it comes to electric vehicles for business, SCE offers incentives to commercial, multi-family, and public sector facilities through their Charge Ready Program. SCE does offer the design-build and installation of EV infrastructure through their program, but if you opt to install the customer-side (not the utility-side) of the EV infrastructure through a partner like WattLogic, you could qualify for a rebate of up to 80% of what SCE estimates the construction to cost.
SCE also offers rebates for Level 1 and Level 2 charging station purchase and installation.
The above examples of EV charging rebates from utilities above are just a shortlist. Reach out to one of our incentive specialists at (800) 834-8737 to find out more about utility rebates for commercial EV charging stations in your area.
Dozens of states offer grants, incentives, rebates, and tax incentives for EV charging. The incentives included in the list below aren’t necessarily provided by the state government, but by state or local agencies as well. Find out the best and worst states to own electric cars by checking out this data study at Bumper.com.
This list is meant to show you the EV charging rebates & incentives that are available to you for EV charging outside of those offered by utilities and the federal government.
Most of the EV charging rebates come from utilities, but there are several state-specific incentive programs: The Electric Vehicle Charging Station Financing Program (Program), part of the California Capital Access Program (CalCAP), provides loans for the design, development, purchase, and installation of electric vehicle charging stations at small business locations in California. Small businesses are eligible for a rebate of 50% of the loan loss reserve amount after the small business repays the loan in full or meets monthly payment deadlines over a 48-month period. The maximum loan amount is $500,000 per qualified small business and can be insured for up to four years.
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) provides grants for the installation of EV charging infrastructure located in Santa Barbara County. Grants may cover 80% of project cost, up to $150,000. Eligible projects can receive a rebate of up to $250,000. The amount given cannot exceed 80% of the total eligible project costs.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District administers the Charge Up! Program, which provides funding for public agencies and businesses for the purchase and installation of new, publicly accessible EV chargers. Rebates are available for up to $5,000 per single-port Level 2 charger, $6,000 per dual-port Level 2 charger, and $25,000 per direct current fast charger.
The California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) offers businesses that install publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations a rebate of up to 75% of the equipment and installation costs. Property owners can receive incentives of up to $7,500 per Level 2 charger and up to $80,000 for DC fast chargers. The rebates depend on what area of the state your business is located: Central Coast, Inland Counties, Northern California, Peninsula-Silicon Valley, Sacramento County, San Diego County, San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, and the Sonoma Coast.
The MassEVIP Public Access Charging Program offers commercial entities grants of up to 80% of the cost of Level 2 chargers and installation, with a maximum rebate of $50,000 per project. Qualified EV charging stations must be available to the public for at least 12 hours per day.
The MassEVIP Workplace & Fleet Charging Program offers grants for 60% of the cost of Level 1 or Level 2 EV chargers, with a maximum rebate of $50,000 per street address. Eligible projects include commercial workplace and fleet EV charging stations with 15 or more employees on site.
The MassEVIP DC Fast Charging Program offers rebates of up to 80% of the cost of DC fast charging EV charging equipment and installation, with a maximum incentive of $50,000 per street address. Qualified EV charging stations at public locations must be available to the public 24 hours per day.
The MassEVIP MUD Charging and Educational Campus Charging Program grants offers rebates of up to 60% of the cost of Level 1 or Level 2 electric vehicle chargers installed at multi-unit dwellings and educational campuses, with a maximum incentive of $50,000 per street address. Eligible properties include multi-family dwellings with five or more residential units.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Charge Ready NY program offers rebates for public and private entities toward the purchase and installation of Level 2 EVSE at public parking facilities, workplaces, and multi-unit dwellings. Rebates are available for $4,000 per port.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) ChargeOK program offers grants for public electric vehicle charging stations. Eligible projects include direct current (DC) fast chargers located along designated plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) transportation corridors and DC fast chargers or Level 2 EVSE located at destination locations or community charging hubs. DEQ will award competitive grants for up to 80% of eligible project costs.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers rebates for the acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of Level 2 EV charging stations. Eligible projects must be on publicly accessible government-owned or non-government-owned property, at workplaces, or at multi-unit dwellings that are not publicly accessible. The maximum reimbursement is $4,500 per plug or up to 90% of project costs. The DEP will award direct current EV charging projects a maximum reimbursement of 70% of project costs with a maximum per award of $250,000.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnerships (ZEVIP) offers competitive grants to strengthen and expand the West Coast Electric Highway network by deploying electric vehicle supply equipment with Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast chargers along highway corridors in Washington. Eligible project costs include equipment purchases, electrical upgrades, installation, operations, and maintenance.
The list of states below do not offer state-specific EV charging rebates and incentives right now:
If your state is included in the list above, that doesn’t mean your facility cannot offset the costs of your EV equipment, infrastructure, or installation costs! There are dozens of more incentives and rebates offered by utilities as well as other agencies looking to support EV adoption. Please reach out to us so we can help you find rebates in your area for commercial EV charging station projects.
EV charging hardware and installation were eligible for a federal tax credit known as the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit. The tax credit expired on December 31, 2021.
This is a good example of why you cannot wait to install your EV charging stations. You could have received a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of EV charging equipment and installation. Residential installations were eligible for a credit of up to $1,000, while commercial EV infrastructure could have received a tax credit of up to $30,000.
Connect with a trusted and reputable EV charging company that can offer you a turnkey solution that covers everything for you – design, EV charger selection, permitting, rebate and incentives management, and construction and installation.
Since EV charging technology is relatively new in the commercial energy-efficiency solutions industry, a turnkey EV charging solution provides you with a worry-free method of reaping the benefits of commercial electric vehicle charging stations or fleet charging stations.
WattLogic is an EV charging company you can trust. We offer turnkey EV charging solutions and have a database of certified and licensed electrical contractors across the country that can install your residential or commercial EV charging station safely and accurately.
EV adoption is surging and the demand for an EV fleet and commercial charging station to support it is unavoidable. Be a forward-thinking and innovative facility – start your electric vehicle project before rebates run out and reach your sustainability goals for years to come.
Alternatively, speak to an EV charging expert at WattLogic. We’ll answer any questions you may have about setting up EV workplace charging. Call us: (800) 834-8737.
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