With the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EV), comes the need for infrastructure – primarily charging stations at businesses. Installing EV Charging at work is not only beneficial for your employees, but it demonstrates the company​’s commitment to the environment. This guide will cover everything you need to know about having workplace EV chargers; we will discuss the benefits of adding workplace EV chargers and how to add them into your organization. In addition, we will answer common questions regarding smart EV charging. This information will be useful whether you are an employer or an employee.

Why You Should Offer EV Charging As Part Of Your Workplace Benefits

Adding EV charging to the workplace is an added bonus for employees, but it is also an investment into the future. Here are some great reasons for doing so:

• Attract & Retain Talent: Many employees are looking for eco-friendly employers. By providing EV chargers, you will appeal to more top-tier candidates and fill job openings sooner.
• Support Sustainability Goals: When you allow your employees to charge their EVs at work, you have helped to reduce the overall carbon footprint of your organization, which can contribute to achieving green initiatives, as well as your corporate social responsibility goals.
• Increase Property Value: For property management or landlord companies, having an EV charger present at their property can help to increase the commercial value of that property.
• Increase Employee Productivity: With workplace EV chargers, your employees won’t have to leave early in search of a public charger which means they will be able to complete their work without interruption.

How To Implement Workplace EV Charging

Implementing a workplace EV charging program may seem like a daunting task, but with careful planning, the process can be surprisingly simple. Here’s how to plan your program:

Step 1: Survey Your Employees

Your first step is to survey your employees. Know your EV workforce and future plans. Understanding which employees have EVs and who is considering getting EVs will allow you to properly assess how many chargers you’ll need and what types of chargers will meet your workplace requirements.

Step 2: Choose the Correct EV Charging Stations

EV chargers come in different types and levels – Level 1 (120V) chargers are inexpensive but slow, while Level 2 (240V) chargers are fast enough for businesses. Make sure to check out chargers that offer smart technology for better handling of energy consumption and ease of use by employees.

Step 3: Prepare to Install EV Chargers

Work with an authorized electrical contractor or provider of EV charging services to evaluate the electrical system (or infrastructure) at your workplace to determine if existing wiring will work with the new chargers. Include costs associated with installing EV chargers, obtaining electrical permits, and any necessary upgrades to existing electrical services in your estimates of the total costs for installation.

Step 4: Determine Employee Access to EV Chargers and Payment Options

Decide if employees will be able to charge their vehicles free or if a fee will be assessed. Also, decide if customers or other visitors can use the chargers. Some companies have also established a system to reserve chargers in order to avoid having too many EVs trying to charge at once.

Step 5: Promote Your EV Charging Program

After you’ve completed the installation of EV chargers, tell everyone about your new chargers! Inform all employees through email about your new chargers, post information about your chargers in the breakroom or other public areas at your workplace, and/or send out a flyer or newsletter about your new chargers. EV charging stations constitute a great opportunity for positive public relations, and can help promote your company’s efforts to go green!

The Costs of Having EV Chargers at Your Workplace

Although purchasing and installing electric vehicle chargers may initially have a high price tag, in the long run, the costs are outweighed by the many benefits you will receive. Costs include:

• Charger unit (approximately $500-$2,500 for Level 2 chargers).
• Installation/build-out costs (range of $1,000-$5,000).
• Monthly electric usage charges (costs may be covered by employer, or employee may pay as expense).

It is also wise to research what government incentives and/or rebates/tax credits exist to offset some of the initial costs of EV chargers.

What is Smart Charging for EVs?

Smart charging for electric vehicles refers to technology that optimizes charging based on various factors (including demand, cost, and availability), thus helping you manage when and how often EVs will be charged. A smart charger will have many features/designed capabilities including:

• Monitoring the amount of electricity used to charge the vehicle(s).
• Load/managing to avoid grid overload.
• Remote-access/remote control via mobile applications.

By utilizing smart charging solutions, the effectiveness and functionality of your charging infrastructure for your workplace can be doubled, and the amount you spend on electricity can be reduced.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the standard timeframe for the installation of workplace EV chargers?

On average, it takes between one to three months from when the add-up charger is required, including all planning, permitting, and construction.

2. How many EV chargers should we install for our workplace?

The number of chargers to install will depend on the number of electric vehicle operators (employees) and their percentage in the workplace. A good general guideline for installations is to provide one charger per five EV-driving employees, but leave yourself flexibility for additional growth in the future as people start to adopt electric vehicles.

3. Are there any Government Incentives for Workplace EV Charging Stations?

Yes! Depending on your state and municipality, many government entities offer rebates, tax credits, and/or grants for workplace EV charging infrastructure (check your state/federal government programs).

4. Will EV chargers charge during a power failure?

The majority of electric vehicle chargers require electricity to function; however, there are some systems (most typically advanced systems) with battery backup and/or solar panel integrations that can work during an outage.

Installing an EV Charging Station at your workplace is a smart business move toward going green, and demonstrates your strong commitment to supporting sustainable transportation. Providing EV charging as a workplace benefit can increase employee satisfaction, help meet your corporate sustainability goals, and keep your company well-positioned in an ever-increasingly electrifying world. Take time to review the available options, plan your installations, and take advantage of the incentives to ensure a value-added, seamless, and cost-effective implementation.