Building Owners / Managers
EV charging as a value-added service
As a building owner / manager you are constantly looking for ways to provide good value for your existing customers and to attract new ones. Electric vehicle charging services are a great way to support both of these efforts. Now is the time to learn more about this emerging area and get ready to provide these services when your customers start to ask for them.
The most challenging aspects of multi-housing charging are managing a process involving several parties and finding solutions that provide the greatest cost-benefit ratios and convenience for the home owner association, members, or tenants who use the system.
We believe that these challenges can be solved with simple and cost-effective solutions, but they have to be designed to meet the needs of the parties. Every multi-dwelling complex will have its own advantages and limitations. Therefore, there is not a “one size fits all” solution, and instead every infrastructure project will have to be designed based on the case at hand.
Benefits for Building Owners / Managers
- A new service product
EV charging is a new service for your clients that they will appreciate. This can be set up very cost effectively by planning ahead, offering the options, and making material investments only after there is a need and commitment from your clients.
- Client attraction and retention
By simply offering EV charging at your facilities, you will send the message that you are interested in providing solutions for both present and future needs of your clients. It is the most forward thinking and proactive people that are moving to electric transportation. These are the kind of clients that you want to attract and retain.
- Build brand-new revenue streams
Offering charging services to your clients will give you new revenue opportunities. You can charge for the service and potentially even add paid parking spots to your lot.
- LEED points
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certifications assign value for the availability of charging infrastructure at buildings. Your facility can receive extra points for offering this service to your clients.
- Publicity
Looking for good publicity and a piece of the spotlight? Offering charging options will set you up as a leader and your facilities as places to go. The best part of the story is that this all can be done with very small upfront investments.
Choosing the right equipment
Every charging infrastructure manufacturer has their own equipment and data systems that they are pushing to potential customers, but in most cases, the solutions provided are more expensive and complicated than needed for multi-housing charging. This is due to the fact that the majority of manufacturers have developed their products for residential or public charging, and they are often not the best match for multi-housing charging. Some of these solutions also carry fairly expensive ongoing usage and connection fees.
We are working with several manufacturers to provide cost-effective and easy-to-use solutions that meet your needs. Every multi-dwelling complex is different so there are no great “one size fits all” systems, but the best solutions are built by choosing the right pieces from a limited number of charging equipment and supporting data management systems. This keeps the installation costs low and the ongoing usage fees under control. We also make sure that your systems are flexible, allowing for easy user and charging level changes and future expansion.
Action items:
- Talk with your clients about workplace charging.
- Do a preliminary plan for the the potential locations for Level 1 (120V) and Level 2 (240V) charging infrastructure on your properties.
- Let us know about your situation by using the contact form. We will get back to you and help you with more concrete planning steps.
- Estimate the short- and long-term need for charging infrastructure at your buildings.
- Estimate the distribution between different charging levels.
- Choose the locations for infrastructure.
- Build a plan for data collection and management.
- Identify the ideal infrastructure for your needs and choose the supplier.
- Conduct a site visit with your electrician/contractor and adjust the plans if necessary.
- Contact your utility company to inform them about your plans.
- Calculate the investment and operating costs.
- Choose the service plans you will be offering to your clients.
- Sign the agreements and order the charging stations.
- Have the installer to obtain the permits and install the units.
- Add appropriate signage.
- Apply for the LEED points.