Watch a comprehensive webinar, led by our Director of E-Mobility, Barry Woods, on the in's and out's of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for Business:
EV Case Studies
Here’s how it works — a business installs electric vehicle charging stations and makes them available to employees. Employees with electric vehicles are able to charge at work, extending their available driving range. By making EV charging visible and offering it as a perk, the workplace is promoting the adoption of EV technology — which is significantly cleaner than the burning of fossil fuels for transportation — and furthering its sustainability goals.
As a free, first-step service, ReVision Energy offers a comprehensive Electric Vehicle site survey evaluation which consists of two parts:
- Working with business owners/stakeholder groups to understand the goals or the project.
- Planning with the site manager to understand the technical feasibility of electric charging – where chargers might go, which equipment works best in different locations, which design choices are the most cost-effective to implement, etc.
There are 3 basic types of commercial EV charging that can benefit a business or organization: Workplace Charging, Public Charging, and Fleet Charging.
Workplace EV Charging
A rapidly growing number of Americans are transitioning to electric vehicles, or EVs — both plug-in hybrid and all-electric models. In response, many commercial enterprises and small business owners are installing EV chargers, and providing workplace charging as an incentive for their employees who drive some form of EV.
Public Charging Stations
Public charging stations are appearing in great numbers across the US, and remarkable progress has been made in the past few years.
In 2018, the US had around 16,000 public charging stations, and that number is growing quickly. For comparison, there are over 100,000 gas stations throughout the 50 states, but with EVs, most of the “fueling” is done at home or work for commuting. The growing public charging network will extend drivers’ battery range, or even enable long-distance travel.
By joining the transition and providing EV charging as a perk for your customers you can increase visits to your business. Businesses that offer public charging can be listed on the free app, PlugShare, through which a large market of users can easily find and review charging stations. This directory leads EV drivers to discover new businesses, like your own, that they love to support while topping off their vehicle’s battery.
Fleet Charging
It’s another huge opportunity to install chargers to power your company fleet. Electric vehicles are a great choice for fleet vehicles because 1) electricity costs roughly 1/2 that of gasoline (and is even cheaper when connected to solar power), 2) the vehicles need comparatively little maintenance — no fluid change, less brake wear, and 90% fewer moving parts! That means that EVs spend more time on the road and less at the dealership. Switching to EVs means you can enjoy serious financial savings while also going greener.
Available Equipment
Electric vehicle charging equipment is categorized in one of three categories, based on the speed of recharge:
- Level 1: Delivers about 5-8 miles of range for every hour. Every EV ships with the basic charging plug, and while it is conveniently able to plug into any 120V outlet, this is also the slowest method of charging.
- Level 2: Can deliver about 25 miles of range per hour of charging. For the vast majority of businesses, Level 2 charging is the right option.
- Fast Charging: Recharges at a rate of around 150 miles of range per hour. Remarkable time benefits, but is by far the most expensive option.
