3 Things Every City Should Consider When Planning EV Charging Infrastructure

Find all the answers to the main questions cities have when planning and procuring EV Charging infrastructure.

As electric vehicles (EV) rise in popularity, the need for public charging stations grows as well.
Cities want to provide residents, commuters, and tourists with a convenient and accessible solution for sustainable transportation.
 
Providing EV chargers throughout a city can do just that while creating a positive impact on the environment and boosting the economic growth and development of a city. 

To best prepare for the future of EV charging infrastructures, cities need to consider three central aspects of EV chargers: types of EV Chargers, pricing models for chargers on government property, and funding options for potential EV charging projects. 

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What types of EV chargers can cities choose to deploy?

A key differentiating aspect of EV chargers is the speed at which they can charge batteries. Depending on the EV charger type, charging time can range from 20 minutes to over 20 hours. 

Therefore, when choosing which EV charger to deploy, cities must be attentive to this factor.
Level 1 charges have a 120-volt AC outlet and do not require additional charging equipment beyond a cord set. These charging types are used for at-home charges with 4 miles of range per hour.

Level 2 charges have 240-volt outlet electrical service. For at-home use, the Level 2 charger can restore a battery overnight. Level 2 equipment is also used for public charging with lower power results with a full charge in 4 to 8 hours, equaling 25 miles per hour.

DC Fast charges provide the faster charge rate used for commercial locations. A DC fast charge types have a range of 65 miles in 20 minutes of charge with CCS Combo, 67 miles in 30 minutes with CHAdeMO, and 130 miles in 20 minutes with Tesla Superchargers. These chargers equal out to about 200 miles in 1 to 2 hours.

While these are the best charging times available now, the increase in EVs may leave you wondering when will EV charging get faster?

Charging times may not yet be able to compete with gas pumps, but many companies are working on lithium-ion batteries designed to charge in less than 30 minutes within the next 5 to 10 years. 

How much charging infrastructure do electric vehicles need and where can EV chargers be placed?

EV charging infrastructure depends greatly on the size and population of a city along with the available locations willing to place EV chargers.

The current number of EVs used by the population is an important driver, but installing infrastructure to support projected EV adoption sets cities apart.

Other considerations include annual events or tourist seasons, as these can increase the amount and location of EV chargers.

The placement of EV chargers requires input from both technical experts and city planners. Luckily, EV charging can be incorporated almost anywhere within a city.
 
Key areas that can be incorporated into daily life are station parking lots like parking garages, carports, and bus parking lots. Public and government-owned areas like schools, community centers, courthouses, and libraries can also be considered.

Who pays for EV charging? What incentives, rebates, or funding options can be harnessed for potential EV charging projects?

Cities often pay for the construction of charging stations, but there are other ways to earn the funds. 

Funding for EV charging and related infrastructures is available with federal and statewide financing and even grants. The new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will make nearly $5 billion available to help states create a network of EV charging stations.

Partnering companies or businesses can provide services, equipment, and software. Public and private partnerships can also help with the cost, and provide insight into the best practices. 
Some vendors offer EV Charging solutions at no cost to the city. We have seen proposals where a company will install & maintain charging stations (with city approval and direction) in return for the resulting consumer revenue.

Electricity costs are often covered by consumers with three main charging models available.
 
Consumers can pay as they go, with rates based on the time, location, length, electricity cost, and total charge level provided. They can also use public charging rates, which refers to a rate per minute of use, or subscriptions which can be beneficial to many consumers. 

Who is responsible for maintenance and how often is it needed?

Maintenance prevents equipment malfunction and early replacement. Beyond preventing these high-cost outcomes, regular maintenance provides a consistent, high quality consumer experience.

Maintenance for EV chargers includes cleaning the equipment, storing cables, checking parts, and conducting remains. 

Networks can offer maintenance plans for additional fees which are paid annually, or installers and station owners can be responsible for establishing their maintenance and covering the cost.

Is EV charging profitable? 

While the cost for providing, maintaining, and repairing EV chargers can seem high, the charging stations can be profitable. 

Site hosts can charge a fee for the use of their infrastructures. While many current EV charging infrastructures are free of use, some networked infrastructures create member-only access requiring a paid membership to have full access to services and features.

What are common pricing models for chargers on government property?

The main business models for EV charging include loss leader model, cost recovery, profit making, or fully funded. Each offers businesses a way to utilize EV charging in their own way to align with their financial needs and personal business agendas. 

Loss leader models provide free EV charge and rely on attracting and retaining their customers in order to earn a profit through spending on site. 
Cost recovery models require a fee for customers to use their chargers in order to have the application pay for itself.

Profit making models are ideal for businesses wanting to offer a higher fee for charges in order to pay for operational, hardware, and other installations. 

Fully funded models charge a fee to customers which is decided by the infrastructure providers who provide the charge of installation to the host business, working as a mutual benefit between the business and customer.
 
At Marketplace.city, our mission is to simplify the process for local governments to source, validate and procure new technology. Our Market Landscape reports help cities cut procurement time into a fraction of what it is today. Request our EV Charging Stations report and find answers to additional top questions cities have about EV Charging Companies. 

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