What Do You Need to Know Before Installing EV Charging Stations?

Managers and experts in the smart building industry seeking electrification will have electric vehicle (EV) charger installation at the top of their to-do list. Facility managers installing EV tools should be aware that the process is more involved than with other plug-and-play equipment, requiring significant preparation before making a full commitment. These are the steps experts take when implementing workplace EV charging to ensure long-term success.

Conducting Thorough Demand and Usage Analyses

Managers should have a thorough understanding of their workforce and location before installing chargers. They should understand the depth of the demand and if the site can support the buildout. Stakeholders should begin by conducting a survey of employees to understand their EV ownership and charging behaviors. 

There are a few other demographics to consider. It is vital to determine if any staff members are considering purchasing an EV in the near future to anticipate future needs. Additionally, companies seeking to electrify fleets must remember these vehicles, as they may need more intensive charging infrastructure. Finally, guests to the business should also have the option to charge their EV.

Presently, EV sales are slowing down in the U.S., but several external factors could change this in the coming years, such as administrative shifts, material availability for manufacturers, legislation and prices. Examining these market projections can also help workplaces scale effectively.

Assessing Electrical Capacity and Grid Impact

Chargers draw significant power, especially when many cars are being fueled simultaneously. Enterprises may have the assets, but small- and medium-sized businesses should be careful if they assume the current electrical panels and capacity are enough. It may need retrofits and upgrades to meet the determinations of the analyses. Management should contact experts with specialized training, as they prepare workers with knowledge of electrical audits and safe installation practices.

Selecting the Right Level of Charging Hardware

The most common type of workplace EV charging setup will likely be Level 2, as it delivers AC charging at 208V. It has the ability to charge a car from empty within most eight-hour shifts. DC fast chargers (DCFC) are another option, with a capacity of up to 1,000V. Workplaces may have Level 1 available, although it may take up to 50 hours to charge a battery-powered EV from empty (this is more often installed in households).

The Department of Transportation recommends thinking about up-front and ongoing costs alongside voltage requirements before installing equipment, too. It can be easy to focus on voltage, because it determines charging speed, but convenience and power come at a higher cost.

Integrating Smart Charging Software and Network Infrastructure

The chargers must be compatible with the rest of the organization’s tech and software stacks if the central management system is going to oversee them accurately. Ensuring interoperability is key, and stakeholders can ensure success by selecting EV chargers and tools with Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) compliance. 

It standardizes communications from chargers to other technologies even if they are from different vendors. This allows organizations flexibility in their third-party integrations. Connected software makes charging infrastructure adaptable by enabling features such as load balancing and connectivity to building management systems. Managers can also adjust access controls within these systems as often as they want to adjust policies on who can charge on the property.

Planning the Site and Logistics

Surveying the property to determine the best installation location will influence everything from cost to usage frequency. It will also impact user experience. Grouping chargers together is one of the best strategies, as it consolidates connections—such as cables and conduits—into a single space. 

During installation, crews can typically trench one consolidated route for underground power and data rather than multiple runs across a large lot. From the handhole to the pedestal, enclosure durability is critical: most cabinets are built from specially processed steel cut from coil via laser coil blanking or configured blanking and finished with corrosion‑resistant coatings to withstand weather, UV, and road salt. Inside the cabinet, thermal insulation and gasketing manage temperature swings and condensation to protect sensitive electronics.

Stakeholders may want to place them closer to the building’s entrance, allowing for the incorporation of ADA-compliant chargers and peripherals. This may include weather protection and greater clearance between vehicles for additional mobility. If fleet vehicles are to be located in a different area, such as near loading bays, companies should map out the pathways for underground connections to optimize them ahead of time.

Making the Most out of the Investment

Organizations need proof that workplace EV charging is beneficial for both them and their employees, especially in terms of a satisfactory return on investment (ROI). To measure this, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the primary metric. It covers every expense associated with the charger’s life cycle, including installation, trenching, contractor fees, potential upgrades and more. 

Once businesses have an idea of what the TCO looks like, they can maximize ROI by seeking incentives. One example is the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, which provides a 30% tax credit for costs up to $100,000 in qualifying locations. State and local governments may also have more regionally available rebates and grants for organizations undergoing electrification.

Strategizing for Ongoing Operations and Maintenance

The future of EV adoption is uncertain, although it is likely to maintain steady momentum even if it slows down periodically. Workplaces need to anticipate these droughts and surges in EV demand, especially as legislation changes. An act as simple as standardizing charger types could change a company’s plan for charging infrastructure.

Plans must consider the long term and how their infrastructure could change in shape and scope. Budgeting and electrical teams can view this as part of the TCO, as it would fall under ongoing maintenance needs. Additionally, scheduling audits for chargers to ensure safe and effective usage will be integral to increasing scaling potential, ROI, and employees’ charging needs. 

Strategizing for ongoing maintenance and operations requires collaboration between multiple departments, such as procurement for acquiring and stocking replacement parts and IT teams for protecting digital assets. Companies that view EV charger deployment as a comprehensive plan involving everyone in the facility will enhance their viability and usefulness.

Scaling Workplace EV Charging

If management teams incorporate these points into their EV charging plans, then deployment has the potential to unfold without issues. Additionally, considering how the chargers will be used in the future makes workplaces more resilient and scalable, as more households transition to electric vehicles. It prevents unnecessary retrofits while practicing an employee-first approach by adapting to their lifestyles and desires for a more sustainable world.

Next Steps for Owners, FMs, and Tech Integrators

1. Validate demand and use cases (employees, guests, fleet). Run a workforce/visitor survey to quantify current EV ownership, near-term purchase intent, and fleet electrification needs—then translate results into charger counts, port mix, and growth scenarios.
2. Audit electrical capacity and upgrade pathway. Perform a site electrical assessment (service size, panel capacity, spare breaker space, feeder/conduit constraints) and model simultaneous charging loads to determine required retrofits, utility coordination, and grid impact mitigation.
3. Right-size hardware and phasing strategy. Select Level 2 as the default workplace baseline, with DC fast charging only where turnaround time demands it; phase deployment to avoid overspending upfront while preserving expansion capacity.
4. Design the smart stack for interoperability and control. Specify OCPP-compliant chargers and confirm integration requirements (networking, cybersecurity, access control, load balancing, BMS/EMS connectivity, reporting) so you can manage policies, users, and power intelligently.
5. Lock the business case: TCO, incentives, and O&M plan. Build a total cost of ownership model (equipment, trenching, contractors, upgrades, software, maintenance), pursue applicable credits/rebates, and establish an operations playbook (spares, audits, vendor SLAs, IT + procurement + FM responsibilities) to protect uptime and ROI.