Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on fuel costs. As a result, businesses are starting to incorporate EV charging stations to accommodate people who drive electric vehicles. Have you considered adding charging stations to your property? This may be a good time to think about how you could incorporate EV charging infrastructure as part of your next project.
Finding opportunities to install EV charging infrastructure as part of another project will save you time and money in the future. Trench everything in now instead of digging your site up again in the future. Be ready for potential state mandates regarding EV charging stations. Think about power access and the location of your transformer in relation to future charging stations. If you’re planning an addition or making improvements to your parking lot or site, now may be a good time to think about future EV charging stations.
There are many things to consider and figure out when it comes to charging stations. Widseth’s architects and engineers can help you navigate the process and understand code requirements and mandates. Number of stalls, parking lot design, site design, access, curbs, grading, power supply, and charging station locations are all things to consider. Widseth can help with civil and electrical engineering, land surveying, and architecture.
There are three categories for EV charging facilities: EV-Capable, EV-Ready, and EVSE-Installed. We can help you understand what these mean and make recommendations based on your location, power supply, and facility size.
There are also various charging levels, which are determined by your local power company and what’s available at your location. Another thing to consider is whether you’ll offer AC or DC charging, and which types of charging plugs and sockets you’ll need. EV batteries can only store power as DC, but AC power can be converted to DC using the built-in onboard charger. We can help you make decisions about what’s best for your project.
Widseth recently helped Central Lakes College (CLC) in Brainerd, MN, become EV-ready. The college initially wanted to create a secure location in one of its parking lots for fleet vehicles. A powered gate was desired on two ends of the space and new light poles with security cameras were also part of the project. CLC had the foresight to take advantage of this opportunity and incorporate the necessary infrastructure for level 2 EV charging stations as part of this project.
“At the college, we talked about installing charging stations for a couple of years and when the parking lot project came up, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and go for it,” said CLC Physical Plant Director Jim McArdell. “Now we’re set up to have a handful of charging stations onsite, which will be great for the college.”
CLC has the infrastructure in place for chargers inside the secured parking area for fleet vehicles as well as outside the area for the public.
Funding opportunities for EV charging stations are occasionally offered by state, federal, or regional resources. These can include grants, rebates, and/or tax credits. Widseth can help businesses and communities take advantage of these programs when they are available.
If you’re making improvements to your site or expanding your building footprint, now may be a good time to consider EV charging infrastructure. Contact us to start the conversation about getting your property EV-ready.