While cornfields may be the first thing to come to mind when we say “If you build it, they will come,” we’re going to ask you to take a step back and think beyond Kevin Costner and outside the baseball diamond. When it comes to EV infrastructure, this is among the most important principles we must understand. If we want increased EV adoption, we must provide the infrastructure. If we build it, they will drive, but we have to build it.
That means that, right now, in the EV industry, we’re trying to figure out how to best make that happen. Across the world, in countries with higher EV adoption rates, we’re seeing a variety of solutions that are making their mark in the US as well– EV charging hubs.
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What is an EV Charging Hub?
Much like you have charging hubs for electric devices which allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time, EV charging hubs do the same. They are a group of EV charging stations, placed together, that allow many drivers to charge their electric vehicles.
Typically, they’re centrally located near population, entertainment, and retail centers to improve access for everyone from residents and visitors to EV fleet vehicles on the go.
Where are Existing EV Charging Hubs?
Increasingly, especially in countries and states with high EV adoption rates, EV charging hubs are popping up.
In fact, in Japan, England, Poland, and Germany, EV charging hubs are catching on quickly. In the states, we’re starting to see them pop up in:
Brooklyn
Orlando
Atlanta
Various California Cities
And, with the success of early hubs in terms of usage and access, more are coming soon, especially with grant funding and multiple partners. In fact, nearly every player in the game and every industry stakeholder is exploring how to be a part of this emerging market.
Advantages and Disadvantages of EV Charging Hubs
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of EV charging hubs is they’re built for a singular purpose, providing EV charging stations in a central, high demand, location.
In contrast, most other locations were designed for another purpose and then retrofitted to accommodate EV charging stations. Because of this reverse engineering, many sites end up over architected and power management is a major concern. Site selection, therefore, becomes a vital part of the implementation and charging station installation process.
Further, because of both physical space and grid constraints, they’re often limited to the number and types of EV charging stations they can offer.
In other words, planning for a charging hub, in the same way one might plan for a parking structure, means the space can be designed to maximize charging opportunities as well as be prepared for power demands. This was one of the advantages of EV charging companies, including NovaCHARGE, partnering with the Orlando Utilities Commission for the recently opened EV charging hub in Orlando.
Additionally, much like service stations, they provide additional business opportunities. From the time of the first pull-up service station in 1913, refueling – or recharging– has provided an opportunity for other businesses to target the folks who need to stop. In 1913, maps and other travel necessities were available the day the first station sold its first gallon of gasoline.
Over 110 years later? The same opportunity exists because charging requires dwell time. While a lot of EV charging hubs have a goal of offering more fast charging opportunities, deemed vital to increasing EV adoption, fast charging still takes time– time for a coffee, a quick lunch, or even picking up dry cleaning or a few things for dinner.
Additionally, EV charging hubs are thought to be the future for rest areas on highways, commuter lots, and high traffic areas on the outskirts where drivers on the move can get a quick “top up”-- in this case a top up with kWh. This will also significantly help reduce range anxiety and assist electric fleets on the move. Charging hubs, regardless of location, present a great opportunity to develop businesses and retail shops to serve those charging.
These locations also offer one of the other most significant advantages and that is, pretty simply, charger density. EV drivers and those considering electric vehicles have voiced concerns about the availability and reliability of EV charging stations. There just aren’t enough chargers, in the places where drivers need them, to make widespread usage seem feasible to some drivers.
In fact, 85% of EV owners own a gas powered vehicle and, at least anecdotally, report using those for longer trips or in situations where reliability and security are factors. That means that EV industry stakeholders need to find alternatives, and that’s where charging hubs fit in, especially as we look to the future.
However, as noted, they do require space. While opportunities on the outskirts of cities exist, in congested and highly developed areas, it’s harder to find room. This is why one often finds single EV charging stations scattered across metropolitan areas.
While not all hubs are as large as the UK’s largest EV charging hub, which boasts space for 180 vehicles, the goal is to provide multiple stations in one location so drivers can avoid having to consult an app to find an accessible, available, and functioning EV charging station. And, some plans involve even more impressive capacity than 180 as more players pilot charging hubs.
Still, if one of the goals is improving charger density, then hubs will certainly need to be able to scale, both large and small. For example, the same model as to work in congested downtowns as well as in warehouse spaces off highways. As an example, that Orlando EV hub features 6 stations, with a mix of Level 2 and DC fast charging stations, which is perfect for downtowns and highly developed areas.
EV charging hubs hold the promise of improving station density and driver experience, especially when EV charging station reliability is increasingly becoming a concern.
How EV Charging Hubs Fit Into EV Charging Infrastructure
The EV charging industry is at an interesting stage. Nearly all stakeholders seem to have a sense of what is needed to improve EV infrastructure. And, frankly, many share similar visions regarding how we get there. Thankfully, they are finding ways to work together to bring this common vision of EV infrastructure to fruition.
So, exactly where do EV charging hubs fit? Based on what we’re seeing overseas, we can expect them to continue to grow into a staple of EV infrastructure. This means we can fill in substantial gaps in some areas and address concerns with the lack of rural charging infrastructure.
In addition, some suggest the next natural move is to incorporate EV charging hubs into existing transportation infrastructure and businesses. Most of the major oil and gas companies are already in the EV game in one shape or form and it seems, given their pre-existing strategic locations along travel routes, entry into the charging hub space can’t be far behind.
What does that mean for everyone else? It means now is the time to look at how you can create EV charging hubs at your business, MDU, or any properties you hope to develop. With investment in EV infrastructure strong, providing the infrastructure now will pay off in the end, especially with multiple potential revenue streams.
Ready to talk about the role you’ll play in improving EV infrastructure? Reach out to the NovaCHARGE team today. We’re invested not just in the future, but in your role. That means we’ve built our solution on efficiency, reliability, service, control, and ROI. If that sounds good, reach out today!