Key takeaways
- Level 2 charging suits workplaces, customers who stay a while, and fleets that park overnight. DC fast charging suits quick turnarounds.
- A load study comes first. It shows how many chargers the existing service can carry.
- Managed charging shares power between chargers so more can be installed without a larger service.
- Running conduit for future chargers now costs far less than trenching again later.
EV charging for businesses comes in three kinds: chargers for employees, chargers for customers, and chargers for a fleet. Each has a different pattern of use, and that pattern decides what kind of charger to install, how many, and how much power the site needs.
Level 2 or DC fast charging
Level 2 chargers add range over a few hours. They suit employees parked for a shift, customers who stay a while, and fleet vehicles that park overnight. DC fast chargers add range in well under an hour, but they need far more power and cost much more to install. Most businesses need Level 2, and fleets with tight turnarounds sometimes need both.
The load study comes first
Before anyone picks a charger, the site's electrical service has to be measured against the new load. The study shows how many chargers the existing service can carry, whether the panel has room, and when a service upgrade or utility work is needed. That is the step that keeps a project from stalling halfway.
Managed charging
Managed charging lets several chargers share the power available, so a site can install more chargers than its service could run all at full power at once. For fleets that charge overnight, it is often the difference between a simple install and a new service.
Plan for the chargers you will add later
Most businesses add chargers over time. Trenching and running conduit once, with room for more circuits, costs far less than digging up the parking lot again in two years. It is worth deciding the long-term number of spaces before the first charger goes in.
Our EV and fleet charging service covers how we run these projects from the load study through commissioning, and our commercial electrical services page covers the rest of the work we do for businesses.
Charging at home follows the same principles on a smaller scale. Our EV charger installation service explains the home side.