Electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to skyrocket, with over 2.3 million EVs sold around the globe in the first quarter of 2023 – a 25% increase over the same period last year. The United States government is making the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs even easier for drivers, with comprehensive tax incentives for personal electric vehicles and even tax breaks for used and commercial EVs. Fortunately for any dealership that has not yet begun electrification, the process is simple with Blink Charging. We have helped hundreds of auto dealerships install electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) with our step-by-step electrification process. Here’s what you need to know about adding EV charging to your dealership.
Blink’s Customer Centric Three-Phase Approach for Electrifying Automotive Dealerships
Blink has fine-tuned the process to make automotive dealer electrification as fast and efficient as possible while still maintaining the highest level of safety. Let’s take a look at Blink Charging’s three-phase process for electrifying your dealership operations.
Phase 1: Strategy, Electrical Analysis, & On-Site Planning
The first phase of your EV charging project is all about information gathering and putting a plan in place for the work that needs to be done. Your Blink sales manager and site general manager will begin with a discussion about your OEM requirements and goals. For example, some dealerships want to provide charging for the general public where drivers pay fees for usage, while others just provide charging to their own customers at no additional cost. Many OEMs also require chargers for your fleet, your own inventory, and vehicles that you are servicing for customers.
Blink then conducts a site assessment of your dealership so we can provide you with the most accurate quote possible. Once you have agreed to the quote, we can get started. Our team will share with you the best practices for electrifying a dealership (i.e. where you will most likely need chargers and the type they should be).
Together, we will draw up a preliminary plan with you that suits your electrification needs. This will include planning the number of chargers needed, where those chargers should be placed to reduce costs, local load management to minimize installation costs, and the most convenient mounting options for your chargers. This first phase contains crucial steps including:
Proper site evaluation
Preliminary planning
Permitting requirements
Determination of additional utility upgrades
Current Load Utilization
In order to plan for the future, we start by looking at how much electricity your dealership currently uses. This gives us a baseline to work with when we determine how much extra electricity you will require for your EVSE.
Capacity
Blink will determine the electrical capacity you will require to cover your current and future electrical needs after your EVSE is installed. While your dealership may only require a few chargers in your initial installation, your electrical needs can be expected to increase as your vehicle fleet transitions from gas vehicles to electric vehicles. It is more economical to prepare parking spots with make-ready infrastructure now (like installing wiring and conduits) rather than waiting to do it later.
