How do you choose the optimum site for an EV charging station? A complex set of factors can impact your decision.
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It’s Not Just “If You Build It, They Will Come”
Rather, it’s location, location, location.
Although you and your company might be enthusiastic about the potential of electric vehicles, some of the communities around you might not be. Unless you have enough cash to build stations that stand idle until your ideal customer arrives, we suggest that you choose a site in an area with a high EV adoption rate.
As xMap’s Abdullah Rafaqat points out, market potential is a critical factor in choosing a location.
Paying a small sum for a research firm to discover how many EVs there are near any potential site can pay off in spades in years to come. The types of electric vehicles in your area should also factor into your decision.
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For example, if most of the area’s EVs are Teslas, it would be prudent to install North American Charging Standard (NACS) chargers. All Teslas can use these chargers — and now, other brands can as well, provided they have an adapter.
Choosing a site that already attracts potential customers is also prudent. As Rafaqat advises, areas near office buildings, shopping centers, recreational facilities, and nature reserves can all be excellent locations.
If your business already has a built-in customer base, you might want to install EV charging stations in your parking lot. Gas stations, apartment buildings, and shopping centers all fall into this category. That way, you need not purchase extra real estate.
Locations near high-traffic areas, too, can be a prudent use of your investment money. Building stations just off freeways, near high-usage intersections, or on popular two-lane highways are all excellent choices.
Research Customer Interest Near Potential Sites
Although there might be a high rate of EV adoption near a potential site, it pays to see how many of those owners have at least Level 2 chargers in their homes. If most of them only have Level 1 chargers or none at all, they might need the convenience of a DC fast charger nearby to ensure they get where they’re going and back home again.
Again, spending a little more money and time on research before choosing your station’s optimum site can save you a lot of grief in the long run.
Analyze Existing EV Charging Stations in the Area
If a glut of EV charging stations already dot the landscape near a potential site, you might want to choose another location for your station. However, if reviews indicate that these stations aren’t dependable, you could still succeed there.
If you choose to compete with other stations, be sure to do some heavy marketing before your station opens. From TV and radio to internet pop-ups and flyers at car dealerships that sell EVs, you need to scoop your competitors with information about how much more dependable your stations are than your competitors’ stations.
Then, make sure your chargers perform as you promised. There’s nothing like a bad reputation to ruin your grand opening.
Select a Site with Optimum Geographical Features
If you can, find a relatively flat place to install your EV charging stations. Since you’ll need to lay down concrete or asphalt in your parking lot, a flat area will require far less preparation than a hillside.
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Also, if you’re planning to install solar panels to power your stations’ backup batteries, make sure that no overhanging structures or trees block the sun from getting through.
Make Sure the Site Has Adequate Infrastructure Support
Unless you plan to use only renewable energy to power your station, you’ll need to partner with your local utility to ensure they can power your EV charging stations without depriving local customers of electricity. As the US Department of Energy advises, consult with utility leadership early in the process.
Ask them if they can optimize energy production effectively through smart charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) programs, and remote-control protocols to manage usage.
You’ll also need to partner with a network infrastructure provider. Make sure that your chosen EV charging network provider offers all the features you need to provide 24/7 customer support, a variety of payment options, and dependable connectivity.
Look Out for Regulatory Red Tape
The more permits you have to navigate, the more time you’ll waste getting your stations up and running. Time is money, after all.
Be sure to meet with local, state, and federal regulatory bodies early in the planning process. As Rafaqat puts it, “Your plans will need to meet local demand without causing significant disruption to the community or the environment.”
Therefore, you’ll need to ask them what you’ll need to prove that you’ll benefit the community. Look into what permits you’ll need — and how long and tangled the process is. You might even interview local business owners to determine how easy it is to get a business off the ground in each potential area.
Finally, Gauge the Site’s Potential for Future Development
Assess the site’s potential for development before your first day in business to plan for growth. If you build on a site crowded between two established brick-and-mortar businesses, you’ll likely not have much room to expand your inventory of chargers.
Do you plan to offer amenities to entertain and refresh your customers as they wait for their car to charge? If so, you’ll need to factor your amenities’ growth potential into your plans as well.
For example, you might start by offering only snacks, beverage machines, and restrooms, but you might want to expand into fast food or restaurant offerings. Or if you have a retail store parking lot where you want to install your chargers, you’ll want to put them in a location where you can expand charger availability without much expense.
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Optimize Your EV Charging Success at the EV Charging Summit
These tips are only the start. At the EV Charging Summit, we’ve dedicated a whole section of our program to site selection and other challenges you’ll face along your EV charging business journey.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to optimize your charging site and your success. Register for our next Summit today!
