Lemberg Blog

Installing an Electric Car Charging Station at Your Business | Lemberg

Written by E.V. Thompson | Aug 30, 2022

As electric cars become more popular, people are looking for places to charge them. Despite much improvement, electric cars still have a limited range and a charging time considerably longer than it takes to fill up at traditional gasoline or diesel pump. While the number of charging stations on the grid continues to grow, the number of vehicles on the road may outpace them. 

To fill the gap and to support sustainable and green practices, many businesses are installing electrical vehicle charging stations, also known as EV chargers. As a business owner, what should you consider when installing an EV charging station? And what steps should you take get started?

Benefits of Installing Car Charging Stations

For many businesses where customers spend extended amounts of time, such as retail, restaurants, and hotels, installing EV chargers can be well worth the cost. They can attract new business, support green living, and provide convenience for your community. Here are several benefits for business owners installing electric charging stations.

  1. It demonstrates that your business is committed to sustainability and modernization. This can attract employees as well as customers.
  2. Installing an EV charging system to support your fleet of electrical or hybrid vehicles can not only save you money on fuel, it can potentially give you a tax advantage of a utility rebate.
  3. Installing a car charging station increases customer "dwell time." While customers are waiting for their car to charge, they will have the down time to take in more of your products and services. Adding the convenience of onsite EV chargers can be a great customer service strategy.
  4. New or potential customers searching the map for a car charging station may discover your business in the process.
  5. Installing a car charging station helps your community by lowering emissions and improving air quality.

Things to Know Before Installing Charging Stations

Installing an EV charging station has an upfront cost. Curbside charging stations cost about $5,000 to $6,000, which can be a struggle for smaller businesses to afford.

The installation location you choose will determine whether you offer a wall mounted or free standing, pedestal unit, which all have different price ranges. EV chargers also draw a fair amount of electricity and often require specifically dedicated circuits. There may be additional costs associated with the electrical wiring needed to meet that demand.

You'll also need to consider how you offer the charger to your community.

  1. As the owner of an electric car charging station, you decide how to charge customers and whether to offer discounts to patrons over people who are simply looking for a place to charge.
  2. Some utilities may charge you behind-the-meter, which you then have to pass on to customers whether through charges for the station or through prices in general.
  3. Consider connecting your charger to popular maps apps so that your customers and potential customers can find it and find you.
  4. Consider the signage needed to keep the spaces reserved for EVs and avoid potential conflict that may arise when somebody in a gas-powered vehicle parks in front of the charger.
  5. Be sure to comply with ADA requirements for disabled drivers that need access to charging stations.

When it comes to providing the most convenience for customers, employees or community, many businesses simply ask about their charging stations needs and what apps they use to find charging stations.

What is Involved in Car Charging Station Setup?

Some EV charger providers look for opportunities to lease property for the chargers, allowing you to provide the convenience to your customers and earn the income from the lease. In these cases, maintenance costs and control over amenity charges are absorbed by the provider, however, customer service will fall on you.

Alternatively, you can install and set up your own EV chargers. Your installation company can help you through the installation and setup. Using a contractor that has the right electrical expertise is key to a properly installed unit. Lemberg has EVITP certified electricians especially trained for installing electrical vehicle supply equipment, with over 90 years of experience in electrical construction, energy management, and electrical service.

Lemberg’s Car Charging Station Installation Steps

Electric Car Charging Station Design and Planning

Lemberg's electrical service team recommends you consider several things before getting started. What brand or type of EV charger will you install? How many do you need? Where is the most convenient place to install them? Should the closest spots to your business contain chargers? What type of features and functionality do you need? Do you need freestanding units or wall mounted? How much electrical and contractor work will you need?

Begin with the EV chargers, the brand, features, type and number. Two-port chargers are often a good option as they can be placed between two spaces and cover both, which can be more cost-effective than one charger per space. This is particularly the case with free-standing pedestals. Pedestals can also hold multiple units, so depending on the design of your lot, one pedestal could easily cover four spaces. Lemberg can construct these kinds of pedestals with a multi-service line so you only have to deal with one contractor.

You'll need to decide whether you will make the chargers open to the public for a cost or keep them restricted to your customers for a lower price. You might also want to set up access controls that allow employees who drive EVs access to the charger as a perk. This can easily be done with most networked chargers.

Having chargers open to the public carries the advantage of attracting new customers looking for a place to charge. However, networked chargers which can be found using an app, are more expensive. Once the charging units are installed they can be activated and, if desired, connected to a network.

Considerations for Car Charging Station Installation

Electric car charging station installation can vary in complexity and cost based on the following and more:

  • The availability of dedicated circuits for each charging point, which may be required to avoid overload.
  • How far the chargers are from existing power sources.
  • Whether you are locating units in a garage on a floor which does not have electrical service.
  • Costs to run external conduit along the wall or ceiling.
  • Costs associated with trenching or boring services needed to place conduit under a surface.
  • Costs of re-striping parking areas.
  • Depending on the location, you might also need to protect the chargers with wheel stops or a bollard.

If you have a shared lot, consider coordinating with other businesses to save on costs and inconvenience. Also consider future-proofing installations by adding conduit to areas you may decide to add units to if demand increases.

Lemberg can handle the complete process for choosing and installing an electrical vehicle charging station, including digging trenches, laying the conduit, and installing the extra electrical circuit needed. Our well-rounded list of services sets us apart from most other contractors, who can only handle part of your car charging station installation. Our team can take care of the entire process from design to activation.

Contact Lemberg today to find out about cost-effective, quality EV charger installation.