As Joni Mitchell once wrote, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Her point? Parking lots are everywhere. And while she was lamenting this development, in the modern world, they're necessary.
That doesn’t make them, potentially, any less concerning as they’re an indicator of our reliance on motor vehicles. However, with changes in the motor vehicle industry and the adoption of EVs, parking lots have a huge opportunity to be a part of sustainable cities and a sustainable future.
Obviously, some parking lot owners are finding ways to retain green space and mitigate the environmental impact of parking lots. And, with greater EV adoption, parking lot EV charging stations can be part of that effort.
Quick Links:
- The Benefits of Parking Lot EV Charging Stations
- Choosing Parking Lot EV Charging Stations
- Parking Lot EV Charging Station Considerations
- Choosing the Best Solution For Parking Lot EV Charging Stations
The Benefits of Parking Lot EV Charging Stations
The connection between EV charging and gas stations or convenience stores is pretty clear. A and, much like how gas stations are positioned on heavily trafficked routes, parking lots are also usually found in high density areas, with significant traffic, and, perhaps most importantly for EV charging options, longer dwell time.
These attributes make parking lots and decks ideal candidates for EV charging solutions. And, whether they are municipal lots or privately owned, EV charging stations in these lots can provide a valuable income stream through EV charging fees.
Another clear advantage of EV charging stations is that, especially for municipal parking lots, they align with city or regional sustainability goals. However, the advantages and benefits aren’t just for parking lots and deck owners.
For example, drivers, residents, visitors, or customers who are environmentally conscious will, most definitely, notice the inclusion of EV charging infrastructure in your lot (not to mention that EV drivers will find networked EV charging stations on charging apps and maps).
For EV drivers, you can help eliminate range anxiety, offering peace of mind knowing that they can recharge while parked and taking care of other essential tasks or errands. This accessibility and visibility contributes to the expansion of the EV market, creating a snowball effect in helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lowering overall carbon emissions.
From a practical standpoint, EV charging stations attract and retain customers, increasing foot traffic and dwell time, which can translate into higher revenue for shops, districts, restaurants and more. And, it’s likely that parking lots are strategically placed in those areas as well.
In short, the benefits include:
- Encouraging EV adoption and reducing range anxiety for EV drivers
- Enhancing brand image or reputation and contributing to corporate social responsibility
- Attracting and retaining customers, increasing traffic and revenue for surrounding businesses
- Introducing additional revenue streams through charging fees, advertising, or partnerships
- Contributing to reduced carbon emissions and environmental impact
Choosing Parking Lot EV Charging Stations
With EV infrastructure incentives and rebates, there’s no better time to make the investment in EV charging stations for your parking lot or deck. And, given the benefits, the hardest part of the decision is likely choosing the right EV charging solution for your lot.
While a turnkey solution provider will walk you through every part of the process, from site analysis to installation and implementation, you’ll need the site analysis first.
Simply put, the site analysis will provide important information about your charging stations options as power grid capacity can dictate the number and type of EV charging stations your site can handle. However, your charging station platform management system (CPMS) can also help you manage power loads as well and maximize your charging stations.
There are a few important options you’ll want to consider when it comes to EV charging stations. First, networked or non-networked?
Networked EV charging stations are connected to an EV charging network (not the internet) that allows them to communicate with a CPMS enabling remote administration and maintenance (when possible). This CPMS access means stations owners and hosts have flexibility in EV charging fee structures and access to charging station maps and apps that can expand the reach of your charging station program.
In simple terms, it puts your chargers on the map, allowing you to manage remotely, and for drivers to not only find your chargers, but also go out of their way to visit your chargers and potentially, the nearby area.
In contrast, non-networked EV charging stations are stand alone entities with no communication capabilities when it comes to alerting charging station owners or hosts of issues. Without the network, there’s no real revenue potential and no reach to EV charging apps and maps. In fact, owners of these stations are increasingly swapping them out for the flexibility, control, and visibility into networked EV charging stations.
Your next choice? Level 2, DC fast or hybrid charging stations. The truth of it is that offering multiple types of charging stations is probably the best option, but understanding your parking lot, its location, driver’s needs and demand will factor into your decision.
The size of your lot, for example, may limit DC fast or hybrid charging stations as they have larger footprints. Similarly, access to electricity, while minimizing cabling issues, or even the available electrical capacity can similarly limit which stations you choose.
When it comes to EV driver needs, both Level 2 and fast charging are desirable, but again, the location of your parking lot may have an impact. For example, if your lot is in an area or district with plenty in a walkable distance, or venues, shops and more that may mean drivers are looking to spend a few hours, then level 2 chargers, which require a bit more time, are sufficient. The same is true if your lot is attached to or affiliated with a business or service requiring visitors to spend “dwell time” at the building or location.
However, if your lot is in an area where traffic and visitors tend to move through quickly, with little nearby to occupy their time, fast chargers may be in higher demand. That said, as we noted, there are options, especially if you’re looking to increase dwell time or there are other potential factors. Working with a turnkey EVSE provider can help you determine the best options for your EV charging application.
Learn more about EV charging station Installation and Site Selection
Parking Lot EV Charging Station Considerations
As we mentioned, the size of your lot as well as its location in proximity to services, shops, restaurants, businesses, and more will likely impact your decision making when it comes to parking lot EV charging solutions. However, those aren’t the only things you’ll need to consider.
When it comes to parking lot EV charging stations, owners need to consider several other factors that might influence the success of their EV charging program:
2. Power Capacity- You’ll likely need to consult with your electric company to assess the electrical capacity of the parking lot to determine how many and which type of charging stations can be installed.
3. Types and Number of Charging Stations- Based on the size of your lot, EV driver demand, available parking , and information from your utility company, you’ll need to decide which types of charging stations to install (level 2, DC fast charging, or hybrid) and how many.
4. Choose Your EVSE Provider- Among the most important choices you’ll make when it comes to parking lot EV charging is choosing the EVSE provider with whom you’ll work. This will determine a lot of factors, including the quality of your hardware, software, network, scalability, and reliability. Do your due diligence on everything from their support and warranty to their solvency. The last thing you want is to end up with non-functional EV charging stations and no one to help you restore that functionality.
5. Choose a CPMS- Your CPMS may be determined by your EVSE provider, but not always, so if you’ve got an option to choose a charging platform management system, do your research. Your CMPS will help you control a significant number of variables, some of which will improve your experience (and return) as an owner of EV charging stations and others that will impact EV drivers opting to charge at your station.
More specifically, your CPMS will help you:
- Set and create fee structures and payment models.
- Determine payment systems such as credit cards, apps, key FOBS, and RFID devices.
- Remotely monitor and manage EV charging stations for maintenance issues, ensuring uptime and reliability.
- Choose the payment model for charging services.
- Manage power loads effectively and efficiently.
Finally, consider working with a turnkey EV charging solution provider. Teams that have experience walking station owners and hosts through every portion of the project from site analysis through installation and implementation have a strong holistic sense of what solutions will work based on your needs as well as the demands of your location and EV drivers in your area.
Choosing the Best Solution For Parking Lot EV Charging Stations
The bottom line is that not only do you want the best EV charging solution for your parking lot or deck, but you also want one that’s best for EV drivers in your area. Your charging solution, its benefits, your ROI, are all fully dependent on the reliability of your charging stations which relies heavily upon your choice of EVSE provider as well as the charging platform management system.
That’s just one reason why NovaCHARGE was chosen as one of the partners in Orlando’s EV charging hub, and why major utilities and businesses choose NovaCHARGE as well. Our solutions are reliable, flexible, and powerful. We provide utility-grade EV charging stations and one of the strongest warranties in the industry.
ChargeUP, our branded CPMS, provides unparalleled visibility and flexibility when it comes to creating the business model you need as well as complete control over power management. Finally, when it comes to reliability, we include an AI driven NovaBOT that can alert station owners and hosts to issues while handling tier one trouble on its own. In other words, your stations work when drivers need them, boosting your reputation and revenue.
Ready to talk about EV charging for your parking lot or deck? We are too. Let’s make a plan together, from start to success.