As electric vehicle technology continues to develop, more and more drivers are choosing this class of vehicles. One result of this increasing trend is the proliferation of EV charging stations, with many businesses offering EV amenities for their employees or customers. But how exactly do these charging stations work? We’ll answer this question and provide more information on the subject of EVs in our guide below.
How Do EV Charging Stations Work?
EV charging stations transfer electricity to charge the batteries that power EVs. By connecting to an input that an EV comes equipped with, the charging station powers up the battery so that an EV can keep going for longer. The charging port is often located right where a fuel tank would be on a gas-powered vehicle, giving drivers a familiar experience that isn’t dissimilar to filling up a tank with gas.
Built into an EV is a part called an onboard charger. This component converts AC power that comes from the power source to DC power. This DC power is a form that the vehicle’s battery is able to use.
How Long Does It Take to Charge an EV?
The time it takes to charge an EV varies depending on the strength of the charging station. There are three primary types of charging stations, rated by the amount of power that they provide. Level 1 chargers are the lowest, typically used in residential settings. Level 2 chargers are good for commercial or home use. The most powerful DCFC chargers are typically only found at designated charging stations along major highways.
Your business will likely use a level 2 charging station. These charging stations can charge a battery-powered electric vehicle from empty to full in between four to ten hours, depending on the quality of the equipment. Even if you don’t expect customers or employees to spend that much time at your business, offering the opportunity to add some charge to their battery in the time they spend with you will be greatly beneficial.
What Are The Benefits of Installing a Charging Station?
While home charging stations offer a convenient way for drivers to keep their vehicle’s battery up and running, having infrastructure available to charge vehicles at stores, places of employment, and other public spaces is vital for EV drivers. The availability of charging infrastructure often has an impact on the places that an EV driver chooses to go throughout their daily routine, which in turn influences their spending habits.
Providing a charging station at your business will show employees or potential customers who drive EVs that you’re catering to their needs. Offering this equipment can be another selling point that makes people looking for services your business provides more likely to choose you over a competitor. These services can be provided at a better price point than you might think, making it an easy choice for many business owners.
What Kinds of Businesses Can Benefit From Charging Stations?
A wide variety of different businesses can benefit from offering charging stations to customers or employees. Places where customers spend some time shopping, such as grocery stores, department stores, and shopping malls are some of the more common places to see these utilities. A charging station makes shopping at a particular place more attractive to an EV driver.
Other businesses might consider offering these amenities for their own employees rather than for customers. An office that has a charging station lets employees charge up their vehicles through their working day so that they’re ready to go at the end of their shift. This offers an easy way to increase employee satisfaction.
What Are the Costs of Running a Charging Station?
Typically, the driver of an EV will be paying for the energy from a charging station that they use to power their battery. As a result, you won’t see increases in your electric bill from running a charging station.
Additionally, many utility companies offer rebate programs for commercial customers who have a charging station installed. This can help to offset the initial costs and make the installation project more feasible.
Why More Drivers Are Choosing EVs Than Ever
EVs are increasingly looking like the future of driving, with 16.5 million EVs on the road in 2020 and more since then. But why are drivers turning to this type of vehicle above all others? Here are some of the reasons why drivers make the change to EVs.
Cost-Effective
One of the biggest benefits that drivers see in choosing an EV is the economic advantage these vehicles have over other options on the market. While EVs often come at a steeper price than alternative options, the value that these vehicles provide outweighs that initial cost over time. Tax incentives offered by state and federal government programs make EVs all the more attractive to drivers.
Perhaps the best-known economic benefit of choosing EVs is the money drivers can save that would otherwise be spent at the gas station. Electric power offers a much more cost-effective way for drivers to meet their transportation needs, coming at a fraction of the cost that continuous fuel refills would incur. On top of that, the smooth performance that electric engines offer helps to keep vehicle maintenance and repair costs down as well.
Convenient Reliability
The relatively low level of maintenance that EVs require also adds to the convenience that drivers who choose this class of vehicles enjoy. Drivers will be less likely to need to stop due to issues with their vehicles and will have less downtime for repairs. That leads to a more reliable driving experience that has minimal interruptions.
Expanded ranges on newer EVs have gone a long way toward alleviating the concerns some drivers have about not being able to get where they’re going in an EV. Charging infrastructure is also more widely available than ever before, allowing drivers to keep their batteries up and running no matter where they are. All of these factors make EVs the more convenient choice over their gas-powered counterparts.
Eco-Friendly
These days, many people are looking for ways to live a greener lifestyle and to reduce the impact their choices have on the environment, both in the immediate future and in the long term. Switching from a gas-powered vehicle to an EV is one of the best decisions a person can make towards living a more eco-friendly life, with these vehicles offering a variety of green benefits.
EVs reduce our reliance on fossil fuels that are used to power other types of vehicles. The extraction and consumption of these nonrenewable resources put a huge strain on our environment, but switching to an EV can help to alleviate these issues. EVs also produce less harmful emissions than vehicles powered by a combustion engine, leading to better air quality and slowing the effects of global warming caused by CO2 in our atmosphere.
Satisfying Performance
In the past, drivers may have thought that choosing an EV would give them performance that doesn’t quite live up to what traditional gas-powered vehicles offer. However, recent developments have made this assumption an outdated one. New electric vehicles can easily match or even exceed what their gas-powered counterparts offer, letting them get a more efficient way of traveling without compromising on the exciting driving experience they get.
There are a few perks to the performance that EVs offer that are unique to this class of vehicles. For example, electric engines deliver instant torque that can be felt the moment the accelerator is applied. EVs also run quietly and smoothly, minimizing the background noise that gets in the way of music, conversation, or simple peace and quiet that makes a drive more pleasant.
Charging Station Installation, Repairs, and Maintenance
With the increasing popularity of EVs, offering charging infrastructure at your property is essential. If you think your business could benefit from having a charging station installed, you can trust our experts to get the job done right. We’ll set you up with the most cutting-edge equipment, so you get quality results.
We’re also ready to provide the necessary maintenance required to keep your charging station working properly. If something does go wrong with your charging station, it’s important that you get a professional to help you out. Trying to repair electrical issues without proper training can be a potentially dangerous undertaking. Get one of our professionals to assist you so that you can get safe, effective repairs.
Interested in having an EV charging station installed at your business? Give us a call, and our experts will be glad to go over the options that you have available to you. With 24/7 availability and a focus on building relationships with our customers, there’s no better choice for your commercial electric needs than our team. Contact Legacy Electric today to see what we can do for you!
