Commercial EV Charging Solution
Discussion
Hi,
We are looking to install 1 or 2 EV chargers at our business premises - we have private off street parking. This will be for employee and customer use. Business is in Swanley.
Looking for solutions where either the cost of electricity and install is covered by users or if possible, a company takes ownership of install and maintenance and we split costs/profits so we get a small amount back for use of our parking.
Has anyone done this or can point me to companies they've dealt with that do this?
So far contacted pod point as its the only name I recognise from a Google search.
We are looking to install 1 or 2 EV chargers at our business premises - we have private off street parking. This will be for employee and customer use. Business is in Swanley.
Looking for solutions where either the cost of electricity and install is covered by users or if possible, a company takes ownership of install and maintenance and we split costs/profits so we get a small amount back for use of our parking.
Has anyone done this or can point me to companies they've dealt with that do this?
So far contacted pod point as its the only name I recognise from a Google search.
I don't know if you've heard, but running an EV is incredibly cheap, so in order to profit from offering charging you need to offer some kind of additional incentive or incredibly fast rates of charge (50+kW).
Does your business premises have 3-phase electricity supply? This will permit up to 22kW charging. Less than this and you're stuck with a 7kW charger (same as a domestic home "wallbox"). If that's all you can muster, forget trying to charge for use, nobody will bother to use it and to benefit from it you'd need to be plugged in for multiple hours.
Will the chargers be for use of your employees or customers? Many 22kW chargers come equipped with RFID chips and the ability to set a fee by either time or kW usage.
Note that many supermarkets offer 7, 11 or 22kW charging for free. Therefore incentive either needs to be that you're in a remote location (doesn't sound like it) and that those needing a charge have secure parking for 2+ hours or the speed / rate of charge is greater than 22kW.
Cost of installation varies massively depending on incoming supply, number of charge points and practicality of installation.
Does your business premises have 3-phase electricity supply? This will permit up to 22kW charging. Less than this and you're stuck with a 7kW charger (same as a domestic home "wallbox"). If that's all you can muster, forget trying to charge for use, nobody will bother to use it and to benefit from it you'd need to be plugged in for multiple hours.
Will the chargers be for use of your employees or customers? Many 22kW chargers come equipped with RFID chips and the ability to set a fee by either time or kW usage.
Note that many supermarkets offer 7, 11 or 22kW charging for free. Therefore incentive either needs to be that you're in a remote location (doesn't sound like it) and that those needing a charge have secure parking for 2+ hours or the speed / rate of charge is greater than 22kW.
Cost of installation varies massively depending on incoming supply, number of charge points and practicality of installation.
Edited by C.A.R. on Thursday 4th August 23:09
Free (7kW) charging for employees was a great benefit I had at the last place I worked. My ID badge for building and carpark entry was also used to enable the charger through RFID, so visitors couldn’t use them for free, and the massive solar array on the buildings roof provided most of the electricity used by the 6 chargers for free on sunny days.
Meant I always had a full battery when leaving work, which was nice, and due to the fact I’d be there for 8 hours, the 7kW speed wasn’t an issue.
My previous, previous employer had a similar system you had to pay for use of (ironically a much larger and richer employer), almost no-one bothered to use it as I could charge cheaper at home on Octopus Go.
Meant I always had a full battery when leaving work, which was nice, and due to the fact I’d be there for 8 hours, the 7kW speed wasn’t an issue.
My previous, previous employer had a similar system you had to pay for use of (ironically a much larger and richer employer), almost no-one bothered to use it as I could charge cheaper at home on Octopus Go.
Phunk said:
PodPoint do commercial solutions.
I wouldn’t offer it for free, you’ll get loads of ‘freeloaders’ using them and those who actually need a charge to make it home may struggle to get one.
I don't see a problem with offering free to employees (some sort of fair usage policy perhaps) and then making it available at a charge to the public - although as others have said it would need to be a minimum of 22kw for it to be worth using for the public. Given it's a commercial premises it probably has the required three phase supply.I wouldn’t offer it for free, you’ll get loads of ‘freeloaders’ using them and those who actually need a charge to make it home may struggle to get one.
Dead easy to check, if it's three phase there will be five tails going into the breaker box/consumer unit. Assuming it is three phase and the guy didn't even know it's highly likely there will be capacity.
xerawh said:
Hi,
We are looking to install 1 or 2 EV chargers at our business premises - we have private off street parking. This will be for employee and customer use. Business is in Swanley.
Looking for solutions where either the cost of electricity and install is covered by users or if possible, a company takes ownership of install and maintenance and we split costs/profits so we get a small amount back for use of our parking.
Has anyone done this or can point me to companies they've dealt with that do this?
So far contacted pod point as its the only name I recognise from a Google search.
A friend of mine has a company that does something like this.We are looking to install 1 or 2 EV chargers at our business premises - we have private off street parking. This will be for employee and customer use. Business is in Swanley.
Looking for solutions where either the cost of electricity and install is covered by users or if possible, a company takes ownership of install and maintenance and we split costs/profits so we get a small amount back for use of our parking.
Has anyone done this or can point me to companies they've dealt with that do this?
So far contacted pod point as its the only name I recognise from a Google search.
PM me if you want me to put you in touch.
xerawh said:
Looking for solutions where either the cost of electricity and install is covered by users or if possible, a company takes ownership of install and maintenance and we split costs/profits so we get a small amount back for use of our parking.
First off, you won't make any money from installing a charger for the public to use.We had a 22kW unit put in at the office around 8 months ago and the cost was around £1100+VAT.
This was a very easy instal with the main building distro on the wall near the charger.
Say you are charging 50p per kW and it's costing you 28p you will make 22p per kW sold, to pay back just the charger that would be 5000 kW of charging, at 6 hours a day for 119 days.
Then add on the hassle factor, the billing system and maintenance it really is a dead end.
That said, if it's a benefit for your staff and you, go for it, it is very handy having a charger at work.
Edit for maths fail.
Edited by TheRainMaker on Sunday 7th August 13:05
Chargers have software with them. This costs a small amount per month (around £10 plus a payment processing fee). You set up the software to charge users, for example 50p per kW/h and you are paying 25p per kW/h.
They download an App, register themselves and put in their debit card details. They go up to the charger, plug in and use the phone's RFID/contactless to activate the charger.
When they finish they are charged for what they have used. This is the same system we use in hotel and companies where employees pay for their charging.
More recently we've upgraded the software so that people do not need an App, they just scan a QR code and their phone selects a payment method and that's it.
They download an App, register themselves and put in their debit card details. They go up to the charger, plug in and use the phone's RFID/contactless to activate the charger.
When they finish they are charged for what they have used. This is the same system we use in hotel and companies where employees pay for their charging.
More recently we've upgraded the software so that people do not need an App, they just scan a QR code and their phone selects a payment method and that's it.
C.A.R. said:
Does your business premises have 3-phase electricity supply? This will permit up to 22kW charging. Less than this and you're stuck with a 7kW charger (same as a domestic home "wallbox"). If that's all you can muster, forget trying to charge for use, nobody will bother to use it and to benefit from it you'd need to be plugged in for multiple hours.
Will the chargers be for use of your employees or customers? Many 22kW chargers come equipped with RFID chips and the ability to set a fee by either time or kW usage.
Which EVs on the market today can physically charge at 22kW AC, except the Renault Zoe?Will the chargers be for use of your employees or customers? Many 22kW chargers come equipped with RFID chips and the ability to set a fee by either time or kW usage.
I have 3-phase electricity at both my Swiss (the norm for private residences) and French (old farm with agricultural supply) houses. But like most onboard chargers in the majority of today's EVs, with a Telsa Model 3 I am limited to 11kW (16A/400v 3-phase). This is not too shabby in terms of charge rate, and I'd be happy if it were provided free by my employer; although my commute is only 15km each way, so it would be full again in a very short time, even at 11kW.
Michael_B said:
C.A.R. said:
Does your business premises have 3-phase electricity supply? This will permit up to 22kW charging. Less than this and you're stuck with a 7kW charger (same as a domestic home "wallbox"). If that's all you can muster, forget trying to charge for use, nobody will bother to use it and to benefit from it you'd need to be plugged in for multiple hours.
Will the chargers be for use of your employees or customers? Many 22kW chargers come equipped with RFID chips and the ability to set a fee by either time or kW usage.
Which EVs on the market today can physically charge at 22kW AC, except the Renault Zoe?Will the chargers be for use of your employees or customers? Many 22kW chargers come equipped with RFID chips and the ability to set a fee by either time or kW usage.
I have 3-phase electricity at both my Swiss (the norm for private residences) and French (old farm with agricultural supply) houses. But like most onboard chargers in the majority of today's EVs, with a Telsa Model 3 I am limited to 11kW (16A/400v 3-phase). This is not too shabby in terms of charge rate, and I'd be happy if it were provided free by my employer; although my commute is only 15km each way, so it would be full again in a very short time, even at 11kW.
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