Are you an electrician or electrical contractor looking for ways to grow your business? Look no further than electrical vehicle (EV) charging. EV adoption is growing rapidly and the demand for EV charger installations has skyrocketed.
There is currently a lack of electricians verified in installing EV charging stations and that is why you should take advantage of this opportunity now. But how do you become a verified EV charger installer and what type of electric vehicle charging training is available? Read on to learn more and get ready to see a boost in your profits!
Why you should become an EV charger installer
The U.S. has a goal of a 50% EV sales share by 2030. Many states have banned the sales of new gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles in the future, such as California, which has a ban year of 2035.
Electric vehicle adoption is, without question, skyrocketing. Leading transportation analysts predict U.S. EV sales will surge from about 845,000 in 2022 to around 4.7 million in 2030. When it comes to the number of EVs in operation on U.S. roads, experts predict there will be a jump from nearly 3 million in 2022 to about 25.1 million in 2030.
Businesses and homeowners are all interested in owning EVs because there are many benefits including not having to deal with rising gasoline costs, lower maintenance costs, lower carbon footprint, and perks like being able to drive in the carpool/high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.
The U.S. EV infrastructure needs to accelerate at a much faster rate than it has been to keep up with the projected demand. EV owners need places to charge their cars and electrical contractors can play a major role in the expansion and growth of EV ownership and the nation’s electric vehicle infrastructure.
What is needed to install an electric car charger?
An EV charging station installation requires a single electrician up to a team of electricians depending on what type of EV charging project it is.
There are two types of electric vehicle charging stations that would require a verified and licensed electrician’s expertise: Level 2 and Level 3 or DC Fast Charging stations. Residential customers need Level 2 charging station installs, while commercial customers want both Level 2 and DC Fast EV chargers depending on what their charging demands are.
The reason why homeowners need to enlist electricians for their home charger installations is due to the fact most of them require upgrades to a homeowner’s electrical panel. Level 2 EV chargers require either a 208- or 240-volt dedicated circuit. At a minimum, a dedicated 40, 50, or 60A circuit will need to be installed for the EV charging station. When it comes to a commercial charging equipment installation you will be installing a dedicated circuit for each charger that will be installed.
For commercial applications of Level 2 chargers the installation process may include panel work, trenching and or boring, and repaving of the parking lot. Keep in mind that each EV charging station will need to be connected to an existing electrical service. For that reason, electrical infrastructure upgrades may be necessary if the property doesn’t have a robust enough electrical capacity for the EV equipment installation.
A DC fast charger requires significant electrical infrastructure improvements. DC fast charging installations are in some ways like Level 2 commercial installations but with much more electrical upgrades involved. You can expect to need a whole team of electricians to get the job done. DC fast charging installations will more than likely require transformer upgrades, electrical panel upgrades or replacements, extensive trenching, and new grid connections.
Can a normal electrician install an EV charger?
No, a normal electrician should not install an EV charging station.
Installation of EV charging equipment is not the same as typical electrical work. In most cases, the electric vehicle charger installer will be working with higher currents and will likely need to have a deeper understanding of earthing and bonding.
There are also specific National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements regarding the electrical installation of an EV charging point that an installer should be familiar with. The electric vehicle charging section of the NEC code covers issues such as wiring regulations, ventilation requirements, and cord requirements for EV charging systems. Failure to follow the code requirements may result in disaster further down the road, such as a fire.
Even the most experienced electricians may not be aware of the technical, code, or electrical requirements associated with EV chargers.
How to become an EV charger installer?
The best way to become an EV charger installer is to get verified! Once you are verified you can bid for EV charging jobs and start watching your profits soar.
WattLogic provides a free electrical vehicle charging training course to its installers. The training covers everything you need to know to safely and correctly install and maintain EV charging stations. Through our training, electricians on your team will learn the NEC for Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment or EVSE (the technical term for EV charging stations), how to properly conduct a site assessment or the initial verification process for an EV charger installation, the most trusted ways of testing EVSE, and how to accurately troubleshoot EV chargers, among other pertinent information.
Members of the WattLogic Verified Installer program receive comprehensive EV charging training for all employees that may need it. You will receive the EV charging qualification you need to start earning EV charging jobs without spending a dime.
Not only that, we provide our installers with the customer pipeline they need. We will send you pre-qualified leads, homeowners, and commercial customers who are highly interested in EV charging installations. This means you won’t have to worry about how to market or sell your services. Our program’s goal is to offer you the opportunity to do what you do best and we are available to provide support and expert guidance.
The WattLogic Verified Installer program is free to join. All it takes to join is a quick pre-approval process and you’re on your way to receiving bids for residential and commercial EV charging jobs.
To find out more about the program and how to grow your electrical contractor business with EV charging, sign-up for our free webinar or if you’re ready to join (it’s a win-win) sign-up here!
