The number of electric vehicles on the road is expected to reach 18.7 million by the year 2030. As electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles have become increasingly popular there has been a huge increase in demand for EV charging stations. EV stations offer a multitude of benefits that can increase the value of your property by generating more income and satisfy employees. EV stations attract drivers by offering them a convenient way to charge their vehicles while shopping or visiting your facility and create a unique benefit for employees who own EVs. In this blog, we give a brief overview of EV stations for commercial locations and how you can take the first steps to install them at your facility!
Types of EV Stations
There are three main types (levels) of electric vehicle charging stations. Each level produces a faster charge than the level below, but each vehicle has different limits and requirements when it comes to charging. The first level (1) uses a standard wall outlet (120V) that you would find in your home. These chargers are commonly used in residential applications and have very slow charge times. The second level (2) uses a higher voltage source (240V) which offers significantly faster charge times compared to level 1 chargers. On average, a level 2 charger can charge a 124-mile capacity battery in about 5 hours. These chargers are the most common and found in many public spaces such as offices and shopping malls. The final and most powerful EV station is level 3 also known as DC Fast Chargers. These stations are extremely powerful utilizing direct current to charge the batteries. Compared to a level 2 charger, a level 3 charger can charge a 124-mile battery fully within 30 minutes. Not all vehicles are compatible with these chargers and they should be used sparingly because they do wear your battery quicker than other charging options.
The most common station and level we install here at Integra LED is level 2 EV stations. Level 2 stations offer great charging speed while being affordable and compatible with most EV and PHEV vehicles. These stations produce a fast-enough charge that allows shoppers making short stops to receive a charge and full-time employees to leave work with a mostly charged vehicle depending on the model. Moreover, level 2 stations are more cost-friendly than level 3 EV stations making them a great entry into EV charging.
Incentives + Benefits
Many utility companies such as National Grid offer programs to help businesses install EV stations at their facilities. The most impactful part of these programs is that they help with the cost by funding approved projects. National Grid’s Upstate NY program will fund up to 100% of the electrical infrastructure and charging station costs. This makes installing EV stations extremely affordable and accessible for any business interested in becoming more sustainable. Furthermore, by partnering with a Project Expediter like Integra LED, we can complete the entire process from start to finish including securing incentives and installation of the stations.
EV stations offer many benefits for a variety of users ranging from retail customers to full-time employees. As stated above, these stations offer a huge benefit to employees who own EVs which can increase retention rates and employee satisfaction. Additionally, EV stations will make your business an environmental sustainability leader in your community by incentivizing customers and employees to reduce emissions.
Overall, electric vehicles are the future and they will continue to grow in popularity as different manufacturers begin to develop new models. Integra LED wants to help businesses like yours be on the leading edge of sustainability by offering turnkey EV station installations including securing incentives for your business.
