Electric vehicles (EVs) have recently been at the forefront of the news. With the rise in popularity of brands like Tesla and Rivian, and a commitment from many auto manufacturers to change from traditional vehicle platforms to EVs, your facility will likely need to accommodate these new vehicles soon. While a move to EVs may reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, electrical infrastructure improvements may become necessary. So, is your facility ready for the coming EV wave?
Facility Considerations
A few questions a facility manager may want to consider to prepare their facility for onsite charging are:
- Can our current electrical distribution system support my future EV charging needs?
- Do we want to offer EV charging for free or at a cost to those who park at our facility?
- Will EVs be implemented as a fleet solution or only for employee parking/charging?
- Can on-site EV charging offset some of the costs of a traditional vehicle fleet program?
Many commercial buildings have sufficient electrical capacity for EV charging, but others may already be operating near their limits. Before installing charging stations, it’s a good idea to perform an electrical load study to determine whether your existing system can support the additional demand. If upgrades are needed, options may include expanding electrical capacity, improving energy efficiency through lighting upgrades, or incorporating solar power to help offset increased energy use. Installing sub-metering can also help track electricity consumption and better understand the operating costs associated with EV charging.
If your facility is in a high-traffic area or offers public parking, installing EV chargers may be a way to open your doors to new customers. EV charging can be provided as a free service or generate revenue for your facility, with many charging stations offering payment processing options for users.
Fleet EVs have recently come into focus as the future of commercial vehicles. With operation costs much lower, fleet EVs can offer an appealing option.
When planning for a fleet EV charging system, charging durations, eventual fleet size, and charging frequency should all be considerations.
Where to Start?
If EVs are in your company’s future, now may be the time to start planning for charging installations. A facility electrical load assessment and equipment survey can help determine if service upgrades are required. Additionally, state and federal tax incentives may be available to help offset the cost of new chargers and electrical wiring. With an entire team of solutions engineers, account managers, and electricians, ColonialWebb can help you determine costs, benefits, and return on investment for upgrading your facility to accommodate electric vehicles.
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