In recent years, sales of electric vehicles have been at an all-time high. This makes it essential to have more charging stations in order to keep up with the rising number of electric vehicles.
Electric vehicle charging stations supply electric energy to re-charge electric vehicles of all types. Some of these vehicles come with converters that take electricity from a standard outlet and convert the electricity to suit their needs. Others tend to opt for a charging station which is much faster.
When thinking of setting up an electric vehicle changing station, there are certain factors that you should have in mind first. One of the main ones is the fact that the installation needs to be done by a certified and experienced electrician. This end up costing you more but it assures you of safety and longevity.
The cost you are likely to incur also play a big part in this. Like mentioned previously, letting an experienced electrician install the station for you is bound to cost a lot more. This is an investment in its own right thanks to the assurance of safety.
The cost of this installation will solely depend on where in the world you are and the technical requirements of your station. This like the distance from between the power outlet and where the actual charging will be taking place can influence costs.
This means that having the installer come by just to check out the area is important. Some countries offer incentives to individuals who are looking to install charging stations. This can mean having up to 90% of your initial costs reimbursed depending on where you live.
Location of the station is very important. The commercial nature of your station, it cannot be set up at home. Most public charging stations are located close on to the highway in order to make access easier for drivers. This also makes them highly visible since there is no need to search for them. Other popular areas are restaurants and rest stops.
This is thanks to the fact that most people tend to stop around this places hence making it very convenient. Another perfect location for your station would be at a traditional gas station. This means that you get the visibility that already comes with the filling station.
Versatility
One charger can’t cater to the needs of all electric vehicles since they have different systems. A Nissan Leaf for example, can take as little as 30 minutes to charge using a DC Fast Charger while a Chevrolet Bolt can take about one hour 20 minutes to charge. Tesla electric vehicles on the other hand require a specific supercharger that is exclusive to them. This means that prior to setting up a charging station, you should be aware of the electric vehicles that are likely to need you services.
Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charger
This type of charger is best known for being more suited for homes and other residential areas. This charging station only requires plugging into a standard outlet. No other additional equipment is required here. They usually take longer to charge, delivering around two to five miles for every hour spent charging. These chargers are the cheapest but they also take the longest to charge. They work best in homes since they can easily charge cars overnight.
Level 2
These chargers are used both in homes and in businesses. They use 240V and 208V plugs for homes and business areas respectively. They differ from level 1 chargers, thanks to the fact that they can’t just be plugged into a standard power outlet.
A professional electrician is usually responsible for the installation. It is possible to install this charger into your solar panel. This charger delivers about ten to sixty miles for every hour of charging. They can fully charge a car within two hours which makes them perfect for residential use and for businesses as well.
Level 3
These chargers are also called DC Fast Chargers. True to their name, they can give up to sixty to a hundred miles for just 20 minutes of charging. This level of efficiency requires high powered equipment which can be expensive to install and maintain. This is the reason why they are likely to be found in commercial and industrial areas. This type of charger however, does not cater to all electric vehicles since most don’t have the charging capability. Two examples of vehicles that can be charged with it are the Nissan leaf and The Mitsubishi “I”.
Battery Swapping
This is another part of electric vehicle charging that should be incorporated into commercial stations. It involves swapping a battery that is out of charge with one that is fully charged. This helps reduce the waiting time involved with waiting for an electric vehicle to charge, which ranges from minutes to hours depending on the charger.
This is a very good service for a business to offer because it comes with certain advantages. Aside from a reduction of the time spent charging, drivers also getting a longer driving range where battery switch services are available. Another perk of this service is the convenience of the driver not even having to leave his car while the switch is happening.
There are a lot of advantages that come with having commercial electric vehicle charging stations. Offering charging services increases visibility for other businesses in the areas. This can be through tenant attraction by landlords who offer charging services. A station can be the perfect place to advertise other products since the drivers could be potential customers.
This is the perfect business opportunity because there is a clear mismatch when it comes to the number of electric vehicles as compared to the charging stations. This leads to higher charges especially if there are fewer charging stations in an area. For example, it would cost you $20 to charge a tesla in Washington which is very little compared to $22 in Hawaii for the same service.
Sam is Automole’s editor-in-chief and classic car enthusiast. Sam is studying mechanical engineering at Cockrell School of Engineering, Austin. He also writes for many top automotive publications and appears on the Collecting Cars Podcast.