With the quick rise of Electric Vehicles especially in California it is essential for your multifamily property to be equipped with chargers to serve your residents, Having adequate space and equipment will also help you attract and retain residents. We are here to provide you with the guidance and resources you will need to install electric vehicle charging stations on your property. Start with our step-by-step guide, then here we will break down the costs of installing EV charging stations.
What will it cost you?
Buying the EVSE – First, you have to buy the charging equipment, also known as the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). Like most technologies these days, there are a lot of products to choose from with different features. You can find basic ones, or you can get ones that include billing management, user scheduling, and even energy efficiency management to help reduce peak demand chargers. Of course, the cost of them will depend on the features you are looking for and can range from less than $1,000 to over $6,000. Other cost factors to keep in mind when choosing a unit are to see if it requires any network activation fees, licensing fees, or monthly network access fees.
Levels of Chargers
There are 3 levels of chargers you can purchase and we can service and install all 3. Let’s talk a little bit about each one now:
Level 1 Chargers: These are 120-volt chargers that can be used with standard household wall outlets. It is the cheapest one and the simplest to use, but it is also the slowest option. They deliver a charge rate of about 3.5-6.5 miles or 1.9 kilowatts of range per hour.
Cost: About $300-600 for parts – before labor
Level 2 Chargers: These require a unit of 208 volts in commercial properties, and they allow for a wide range of charging speeds. These chargers provide up to 80 amps of power to charge giving up to 45 miles of range per hour of charging time.
Cost: About $500-700 for parts – before labor
DC Level 3 Chargers: These chargers require a 480-volt unit and can provide 80% charge in about 30 mins. That is almost 250 miles per hour of charging. This level of chargers is not compatible with every electric vehicle.
Cost: About $20,000-$50,000 for parts – before labor
Costs of Permits – Each region has its own permitting fees. GreenTech Electric will provide you with the permitting cost breakdown for your area. We will also apply for the required permits and coordinate the inspections required before installation.
Electricity Metering Costs and approaches
Your property’s infrastructure design and the cost recovery method you selected can affect the costs of the electricity metering. Costs vary and depend on a lot of factors. Often utilities even offer residential off-peak rates to encourage users to charge when electricity is cheaper.
Adequate Building Wiring and Electrical Capacity
A major factor before starting such a big project is to make sure that your commercial or multifamily property has the electrical capacity required to install such chargers. Some properties may not even have the necessary panel size and/or breaker space to supply EVSE units. It is still a fairly new thing, so the original plans for properties did not meet the requirements for EV charger installations.
If this is the case, there are a few options. One is to of course look at how we can increase the electrical capacity of the property. That is that we would install a second panel in parallel to the primary one. Another option is to look at Level 1AC chargers which are 120volt chargers for Electric Vehicles.
Distance Matters
Another factor that affects costs is the distance between the electricity access point and the charger. The greater that distance is, the more it’ll cost you. Other adjustments including building trenches will increase the cost – where you build the trenches will also affect it (asphalt vs. green space). If you are installing a charger in a parking garage, then surface-mounting conduit is also an option. If the costs are getting too high, you can opt for an AC Level 1 charger instead of an AC Level 2.
Can your Transformer Handle it?
When we come to your property, we will first check if your transformer has the capacity to handle such an installation. If it needs an upgrade, we can work with you to figure out how to get it done in the most timely and cost-effective manner while working with regulations made by the California Public Utilities Commission.
INCENTIVES!
Did you know that some organizations provide incentive opportunities for Multifamilies who install EV charging stations on their properties? One we found is Silicon Valley Clean Energy, if you get at least four units installed, you are eligible to apply.
So now that we have done the installation, how much will it cost to operate and maintain it?
