The future is here, and electric cars are a reality. Also, with the fuel prices hiking day by day, everyone wants a cheaper, cleaner, and long-term alternative. That’s one more reason electric vehicles are taking the automobile industry by storm around the world.
As a conventional car needs fuel to run on, electric cars need electric power. So, with more electric vehicles coming on roads, the need for public charging stations will rise.
Therefore, from a business perspective, investing in an EV charging station seems the most reasonable and safest option.
Don’t know what you might need to install an electric vehicle charging station?
Here’s a complete guide to help you understand how to set up an EV station and how much it may cost.
What Is An Electric Car Charging Station?
Like most electronic gadgets, an electric car also has a battery that operates it. When the battery becomes dead, it won’t run. So, to keep the car running, you need to charge it.
An electric vehicle charging station transforms the power into a form that an EV battery can easily use. These chargers convert 120 V or 240 V AC from the typical power outlet of your home or a public place into a current that your car’s battery system supports.
Generally, home EV charging points are slower than public stations. However, commercial EV stations have much higher installation costs too than home stations.
Types of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The electric car charging points, also known as electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE), are of three types including:
- Level 1 charging station
- Level 2 charging station
- Level 3 charging station
Level 1 Charging Station
The simplest of the three kinds, level 1 charging stations, are ideal for home-usage. The charger that comes with this type of station is also a level 1 generally.
The charger uses a common house alternating current of 120V to charge the car. In addition, these chargers can mostly be plugged into the house wall socket via a three-prong plug.
Although this charging station does not cost much and is simple to use, its higher charging time may sometimes be agonizing. Usually, it charges four to six miles of battery range per hour. Therefore, if your electric vehicle has a range of 200 miles on a full battery, it would take you around 50 long hours to completely recharge it.
Level 2 Charging Station
It is a better power charging station than a level 1 station. A level 2 charging station typically uses a 240 V alternating current.
Conveniently, these stations are portable and require a particular multi-pronged plug and an associated power socket. You can plug them in that home power socket where you usually plug dryers.
However, ideally, you should get a technician’s help to have a 240V circuit installed in your garage for more convenience. However, you may find its installation process a bit costly. Nevertheless, its speedy charging properties are well worth the cost.
The level 2 charging station recharges a car in a quarter of the time that a level 1 charging station usually takes. These types of charging points charge 10-20 miles of range per hour of battery. Meaning thereby you can easily fully recharge your car overnight.
Level 3 Charging Stations
The fastest and best of all, level 3 charging stations have commercial applications. Unlike, other two types of stations, this type of EV station has DC fast charging. Therefore, it charges the vehicle quicker than the rest.
Overall, the station has a charging speed of 60-80 miles of battery range per 20 minutes of charge. It means it can completely recharge an electric car in around an hour from zero.
Since they are typically designed for public use, these EV charging stations cost much more than the other two. Mostly, their overall buying and installation costs can even go up to $50,000.
These charging points are not suitable for home use because the electrical grids in most residential areas don’t support level 3 chargers. Moreover, your local electricity supply authority would also not sanction its installation at home.
Things to Consider Before Installing An EV Charging Station
Installing an EV station requires proper planning about the location, its costs, and other factors.
Here are things you should know before setting up an electric vehicle charging station.
Learn Basics
To begin with, familiarize yourself with the basics of electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging. Know what kind of chargers are required for which variant.
Also, educating yourself about the Japanese and European technology options of EV charging would help get you started.
The Type of Station You Want to Install
The second most important thing is to decide what type of charger you intend to set up. For instance, level 1 chargers are used mostly at home and have the slowest charging speeds.
Level 2 charging stations use 240 V AC and can typically be plugged into a similar power socket that powers a common clothes dryer. Lastly, level 3 DC fast-charging stations particularly are for public use.
Typically, the station type depends on the range or kind of electric vehicles you want to charge. For most electric vehicles, level 2 stations suffice the charging needs.
Location of Station
Ideally, your hosting location should be in or around a crowded place. If you own a cafe, mall, or gym, you should install the station in those places. These places have plenty of traffic, so the station would earn you a handsome profit.
Electric Car Charging Station Costs
You must know the average installation costs of an EV charging station before installing one. Primarily, each type of station has a different installation cost. However, researching the market will help you get a better idea, as costs may also vary based on city or state.
For instance, level 1 chargers will only cost you $180 to $300 on average since they are simple and basic. However, level 2 stations start from $300 and go up to $700. Level 3 charging stations are the most expensive, and they would require you to spend at least $50,000 for their complete installation.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to invest in a secure and futuristic business, there’s nothing better than setting up a public EV charging station. The initial costs may baffle you, but the business will only boom in the long run since the world is gradually shifting to electric vehicles.
However, you may start with hosting a level 2 station at home. Once you know its dynamics, you can finally host a commercial EV station.