Electrifying your business premises is a great step towards making your business more sustainable. However, if you are considering installing EV Charging Stations at your premises there are a few things to consider.
1. Book a site survey
We would recommend booking a site survey with a reputable charge point provider such as eStation before you make any decisions on installing EV charging stations at your business premises. We will be able to:
- Provide you with a quote for installation
- Advise on the appropriate charger speeds and hardware to suit your specific needs
- Identify the most suitable charge locations
- Advise if any groundworks are required before installation
- Advise if any electrical infrastructure upgrades are required
- Give you a quote for the supply and installation of charging stations
It is important to note that installing charging points as part of a large development or construction project, the costs of ground works may be marginal however, excavating foundations and trenches can become quite costly so it is important to ensure that this is minimised.
2. Charge points for employees and visitors
If your EV charging points will be used by employees, visitors, and customers it may be difficult to figure out what EV model types you need. In this instance you may need to focus on estimating the usage with the information that you know such as the number of employees that have electric vehicles, and an idea of how many visitors to the premises use electric vehicles.
Our eStation operator will be able to advise on the most suitable speed of chargers to suit most EV models, however, we would recommend testing a few EV chargers and assessing usage before you continue to expand. This way you will have a better idea of costs etc., going forward.
Installing charging points back-to-back can reduce installation costs by allowing charging points to share ducting and a foundation base. This can work particularly well for vehicles parked back-to-back in a centre aisle. Please ensure that this does not affect maintenance access to the charging point.
3. Selecting the right EV charging hardware for your premises
For us to advise on the most suitable charging hardware for your premises you will need to answer the following questions:
- Will you be installing your chargers in a sheltered car park or outdoors?
- Will you need the EV chargers wall mounted or pole mounted?
- Will you require your EV chargers to be untethered (without a cable) or tethered (with a cable) like a petrol pump?
The type of cable you will need will depend on the EV inlet port and charger type as EV chargers and cables are not universal, do not worry we will be able to advise on this.
4. The electrical capacity of your premises
Our operator would need to assess your site’s space capacity and maximum electrical capacity to review if your site needs a load balancer to support the additional electrical load. The more power your site requires, the greater Maximum Import Capacity (MIC) required. This information is reflected in the standing charges on the bill provided by your electricity provider.
There are some charging solutions that provide energy management functions that will allow you to control the peaks in power demand. This will allow you to keep the overall demand below the Maximum Import Capacity level and in turn avoid any penalties.
5. Choosing your EV charging unit speed
When choosing your EV charging unit speed this will be determined by the type and number of charge points needed. Depending on power levels your business will be able to install fast chargers or rapid chargers, which will mean a quicker charge time but an increase in electrical load. We will be able to advise you further on this.
And there you have it – eStation’s guide to installing EV charging points. We know there’s a lot to take in, which is why our team of EV experts are always on hand and ready to help. Whether you’re a contractor, developer, or site owner, eStation provides the support you need.
You’re just a click (or a phone call) away from starting your journey towards a more sustainable future. Get in touch with us today to get the ball rolling.