Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Is it time to implement them into your community?

Electric vehicle charging stations are a great incentive for reducing your carbon footprint as a community – carbon emissions can be cut in half just through this transportation solution alone. And with EV sales up by 108% in 2021, this year is as good a time as ever to present this option to your residents. But before you get EV-happy, ask yourself this:

Does it fit the needs of your community?

It’s not just about who is already driving electric – it’s important to consider who’s interested in doing so in the near future, as this may give more cause to become an EV-friendly building. Also, is this something your prospective residents would find appealing? All these factors will not only determine whether or not you should add some charging stations to your community but how many and what kind. We’ve listed some sample questions below to help you gauge the demand for charging stations in your community:

• Does anyone in your household own an electric vehicle (EV) that plugs in to charge?
• In the next 6-12 months, do you foresee leasing or purchasing an EV?
• Would at-home EV charging access make you more likely to lease or purchase one?
• Would you prefer to pay for your own personal charging spot or share costs for a community charger?

Make a plan.

From the results of your survey, you should now have enough insight to make a game plan and begin exploring your options. If personal charging won the majority, it may be best to install a dedicated electrical panel for EV charging, paid for by the community. A panel like this can support multiple drivers, thus making it a more affordable option to pay for their own chargers and energy usage. If there isn’t much interest at all, a single community charger may be your best choice. After a few months, you can reevaluate its worth depending on how much it’s used. With the help and guidance of a trusted EV Charging Station vendor, you can come up with the perfect solution that best suits the needs of your community. And if expense is a concern, you’re in luck. Either ask your residents to help fund the project or explore any potential state and local incentives like grants and rebates that can help fund EV charging installation.