How to Minimize the Cost of Installing EV Chargers in Your Parking

Posted 10/23/2024

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that “by 2030 there will be 33 million EVs on the road and 28 million EV charging ports will be needed to support them.” An estimated 2.1 million of these charging ports will be needed at multifamily, workplace, and public parking. As of October 1, there were only over 71,000 charging locations with nearly 200,000 charging ports across the United States with Level 2 (L2) and Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFCs), which presents an opportunity for forward-thinking businesses to fill in the gap. Parking lots, parking garages, valet parking, and other parking facilities can and should make EV charging their next parking technology upgrade. Here is what you need to know about budgeting for your parking facility's EV charging station installation.

Which Site Work Is Needed for EV Charging?

While some parking facilities may already offer EV make-ready infrastructure, which can reduce the cost of installing EV charging stations, most will require some electrical upgrades. Here are a few of the budgetary items to consider.

Electrical infrastructure

Powering your charging stations requires a reliable source of electricity and sufficient electrical capacity. Each EV charging station requires a dedicated circuit, which may require panel or transformer upgrades depending on current utilization.

Note that newer buildings with EV Make Ready infrastructure may already have circuitry installed for EV charging stations, which can significantly reduce your costs.

Trenching and conduits

When you run wiring from your electrical panel to your parking lot, your electrical contractor must install a conduit to protect the wires. The further your parking structure is from the electrical panel, the more expensive your conduits will be.

Mountings and bollards

Depending on your parking design, you may prefer to mount your charging stations on pedestals, walls, or columns. Some hosts place their pedestal chargers on a poured concrete base and/or behind bollards and wheel stops to prevent damage from vehicles.

Note that when installing EV charging stations at accessible parking spaces, you may be subject to ADA requirements for site design, including:

Not installing a wall-mounted charger too high off the ground
Placing bollards a certain distance from the charger hardware, or
Installing stations on the ground-level rather than on a curb.

Parking lot striping

Many parking managers want to designate the EV charging parking spots as EV Parking Only, or find that they must paint new striping.

Note that ADA-accessible charging station parking spaces may require more clear space than standard parking spaces to allow wheelchair users to access charging ports located at the front, side, or back of the vehicle. Please refer to the US Access Board’s documentation when planning ADA-accessible charging sites.

Signage

Signage is essential at any location that offers charging amenities. Whether you prefer to add a general sign with an electric vehicle icon, a sign stating “Electric Vehicle Charging Only,” or a sign with information about pricing, your customers will appreciate clear signage. Similarly, if your facility tows vehicles that block a charger, additional signage on towing restrictions helps your drivers.

Connectivity

Most commercial EV charging stations require a smart network that enables pricing and analytics. That means that your site needs wifi, cell signal, or data cables that reach your charging stations. Cellular connections are mostly preferred for their easy setup, and installing a cellular repeater (or cellular booster) can ensure full connectivity and increase safety in garages or remote locations.

The Blink Network

The Blink Network allows you to see and control all of your charging stations from your exclusive dashboard. Parking managers can set prices, manage access, or view usage and environmental reports on the station or location.

Other installation expenses

After preparing your parking lot or garage for EV charging, it’s time to schedule your installation with your contractors.

In addition to the charging stations themselves, your installation budget may include:

Labor
Permitting
Utility connection fees
Applicable taxes

Charging Station Maintenance

Many EV charging stations are installed outside and exposed to the elements. While Blink recommends installing charging stations near an electrical panel, some businesses install their stations in remote or less-busy locations on the other side of the parking lot. EV charging stations may be “out of sight, out of mind” for these hosts who may forget to inspect or clean their stations frequently. Preventative maintenance for EV charging stations – including cleaning, inspecting for damages from a vehicle, and testing the cell signal – is recommended to improve station reliability.

How to Lower EV Charger Installation Costs

There are many reasons to install EV charging stations at a parking lot or parking garage. Some of these include: attracting more customers, keeping up with evolving markets, staying competitive with other businesses, and bringing in more revenue.

Blink recommends beginning your project by performing an EV charging site assessment with your facilities manager and electrical contractor. Because every site is different, your electrical contractor can provide an estimate and suggest some ways to potentially save on your project.

Here are some of Blink’s recommendations for minimizing costs when installing EV charging infrastructure.

Place charging stations close to power sources

Because many electricians bill conduits and wiring by the foot, installing your charging stations close to their power sources can minimize the cost of your installation. If possible, try to locate stations close to the electrical room.

Utilize local load management features

EV charging load management is a software feature that allows multiple charging stations to share a single electrical circuit and/or split electricity. This feature can help facilities managers who want to share power between multiple stations, thereby reducing the amount of electrical upgrades required for your project.

Please note that while Blink Load Management enables power sharing, local code may require the installation of one dedicated circuit per charging port. We recommend that you consult with your electrician and inspector before installing multiple chargers on the same circuit.

Prepare for the future by adding make-ready parking spaces

Installation is the most expensive part of an EV charging station project. In 2019, the International Council on Transportation found that the average installation cost of a single Level 2 commercial EV charger was $2,836, excluding hardware costs. With labor and materials costs ever-increasing, many forward-thinking property owners and managers choose to install Make Ready EV infrastructure when performing other site work.

Here are the three types of Make Ready Infrastructure:

EV Capable- Location has electrical capacity at the transformer and panel-level.

EV Ready- Location has electrical capacity at the transformer and panel, and it has added conduits/raceways beginning at the panel and ending in a junction box.

EV Installed- Location has electrical capacity, raceways, and charging stations installed.

Adding EV Ready infrastructure means that if your parking garage is starting with four EV chargers in 2024, you also add conduits for the next 10 while your groundwork is in progress. This reduces your future materials and labor costs, so your future electrical installers can quickly and easily "plug" a new EV charging station into an existing junction box.

Selecting the right charging stations

The type of charging stations also significantly impacts the total project cost. Level 2 charging stations like the Blink Series 8 are less expensive than DC fast charging stations (DCFC). In addition to equipment costs, DCFC require additional materials, higher power consumption, and more permitting. While a DC fast charging station charges more quickly than a Level 2, its ongoing costs are cost-prohibitive for many businesses.

For this reason, L2 charging stations are usually the best option for parking lots and garages where vehicles park for an hour or longer. DCFC are preferred for parking facilities that serve travelers and fleets, such as near highways, fleet corridors, and rideshare hubs.

Procuring incentives

Government incentives, like the $100,000 Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit, can also help you save on your installation.

Visit Blink’s Commercial Incentives Finder to search by zip code for applicable state or municipal funding.

Conclusion

As you prepare next year’s capital expense budget, consider ways to lower installation costs for EV charging stations. Each site is different and has unique needs, but Blink’s experts help you plan your project and make the most of your budget. Ready to electrify your parking? Contact Blink Charging today to get started with a quote.

Learn more about Blink's parking solutions.