A recent report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado (NREL) points out challenges in achieving a charging network that will support the goal of having 50% of U.S. passenger car and light truck sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2030.
According to the study, by 2030 there will be a need for at least 33 million electric vehicle charging ports for personal electric vehicles (PEVs) on the road by then. And both governments and manufacturers are taking measures that could drive that number even higher…much higher.
NREL estimates that there will be a demand for 182,000 public 480-volt DC Level 3 fast-charging ports, about 1 million “public destination charging ports,” likely 240-volt Level 2 chargers, for office, retail, and neighborhood access, and 26 million private hookups in single and multifamily homes and workplaces.
For more information about these several types of charging stations, see this article on the Allstar Electrical Services website.
Setting aside the enormous investment in expanding the power grid’s capacity to handle this demand, the charging network will also involve a huge cost in adding the needed charging ports. The NREL study estimates that 52% of this investment will go to private chargers and 39% to the very expensive public (commercial) fast chargers.
A Look at the Public Charging Business
The public charging business is taking on two models. One is installing public-access Level 3 fast-charging points made exclusively for vehicle charging, à la Tesla charging stations. Others are on a service station model where the chargers are part of a service station/convenience store business, supplementing or replacing gas pumps.
Both models charge customers for the fuel (kilowatts instead of gasoline) they purchase to cover operating costs and a return on their investment—also known as a profit. That includes the so-called “free” charging stations. That “free” part is built into the vehicle’s selling price, but as pressure to lower prices mounts, it’s an option with a limited life.
Other public “destination” chargers (including most Tesla chargers) are 240-volt Level 2 hookups designed to charge patron’s vehicles while they’re at the business. They’re designed to “top off” batteries as a convenience rather than charge them fully, which could take hours with a Level 2 charger. And like fast charging stations, most charge customers by the kilowatt, possibly at a discount (like Costco and Sam’s Club memberships) or as an incentive to shop with them.
Public charging is still evolving as a business model, but if you’re interested in exploring it, see this article on the Allstar website.
Private Charging Stations for Homes and Businesses
Like public ones, private charging stations come in a couple of varieties and applications. The fast chargers are impractical for private applications but both the Level 2 240-volt and Level 1 120-volt models are options.
The Level 1 chargers work on regular household current making them the least expensive but slowest type. More of a “trickle charger,” they take several hours to bring a battery to a fractional charge, making them best suited for smaller, limited use secondary vehicles rather than everyday transportation. But they’re available off the shelf and easy to use.
For most practical uses, a Level 2 charger is required. They run on 240-volt household current just like an electric dryer or range.
Many cities, including Denver and Boulder, require new residential construction to have provisions for Level 2 charging included. What the codes don’t require is for them to be operational. That means that a dedicated 240-volt circuit needs to be added along with the customer’s choice of charging equipment, work that should only be done by a licensed electrical contractor. But prewiring saves the cost of installing the conduit and connecting points, which can be expensive, especially if walls need to be opened to run the wiring.
Buildings that aren’t charger-ready will need the conduit installed and may need a service upgrade to carry the extra load.
Allstar Electrical Services has installed dozens of Level 2 charging points and can handle your job, too. For more information about Level 2 charging stations for your home or business, check out this article on the Allstar website.
We’re Here to Help
Allstar Electrical Services has installed dozens of Level 3 and Level 2 EV charging stations in homes, parking garages, and at businesses with multiple EV fleets. We’ve helped Coloradans increase efficiency while adding comfort and convenience to their homes and businesses for over 20 years.
For an estimate on installing a home EV charger or to learn more about the many ways upgraded electric services and emerging technologies can improve your home or business, visit our website or give us a call at 303.399.7420.