Elizabeth Christenson

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States jumped 15.2% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 365,824 units, setting a new volume record for any quarter, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. In 2024, full-year EV sales reached 1.3 million units, an increase of 7.3% from the upwardly revised total in 2023. Experts expect EV sales to continue to boom this year, with more than 15 new EV models hitting the U.S. market, supplemented by generous purchase incentives and improving charging infrastructure. According to the Cox Automotive Forecast, EVs will account for close to 10% of total sales this year. EV charging stations are essential for the continued increase of U.S. EV car sales. A network of charging stations and outlets is necessary for EVs to be practical for most drivers. As of Aug. 27, the U.S. had 192,000 publicly available EV charging ports, with approximately 1,000 new public chargers added weekly, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Facility managers nationwide are realizing the value EV charging stations bring to their regular building occupants, visitors, and employees. Currently, 90% of EV charging is done at home or the workplace on level 2 chargers or chargers that use 240-volt AC electricity. These chargers can charge an EV with a modest-size battery overnight. As the density of EV vehicles grows, the convenience of having chargers in every facet of day-to-day travel will increase. In turn, most facilities will offer level 3 chargers, which use 400- or 800-volt DC electricity. Level 3 chargers can charge an EV’s battery from 10% to 90% in a half-hour. “Drivers will want to add charge to their vehicles while at dinner, the theater, a doctor’s appointment, sporting event, the grocery store, and more,” explained Thomas Berton, a professional engineer and director of e-mobility solutions with building service provider ABM. “These locations will be built and house level 2 and 3 chargers—depending on the dwell time and the prominence of available stations in a relative area.” Existing versus upgraded electrical When facility managers consider installing EV charging stations at their facilities, they first need to determine what type of stations to install based on the dwell times of the vehicles that will be charging. For example, a stadium would install a different dwell time speed than a charger near a highway. “That is a fundamental question because that will drive the decision on what chargers to invest in,” said Gaurav Agarwal, building automation director of sustainability solutions with Honeywell International Inc. Answering the question also will help determine infrastructure costs. Understanding why you are adding EV charging stations to a facility also will help define the type of chargers to add. Determining the “why” can help you identify which EV chargers to select for fleet or public-facing vehicles, and this will help select the power level of the equipment: level 2 or level 3. “In accordance, the power level of the chargers is determined by the stay duration and turnaround requirement of the vehicle,” Berton said. For instance, if fleet vehicles charge all night, level 2 is the best choice for a facility. However, if the fleet consists of medium- or heavy-duty vehicles, level 3 chargers might be required. This decision also will allow facility managers to know where to install the chargers, for example, in guest parking, employee parking, or fleet parking areas. Electrical infrastructure needs will vary and will involve two distinct considerations: Is there sufficient infrastructure to distribute the available power from the electric utility around the facility to the EV chargers? Is there enough capacity available from the electric utility service to satisfy the power needs of the new EV chargers? “If facility managers have the tools to solve these questions, [the answers] can help steer them in the correct direction,” Berton said. Most electrical services can support an additional one to four level 2 chargers. However, larger quantities or higher-powered chargers often require new or upgraded service requirements. Berton said the utility may also have special EV charging rates requiring separate metering and limiting the loads for EV charging. Installation and maintenance costs Building EV charging infrastructure is not an isolated task. “You have to look at it in a very holistic manner about the time it takes, the cost and budget, and the financing available, then [determine] what are the short-term and long-term benefits they are going to get on their investment,” Honeywell’s Agarwal said. For example, facility managers may have to put new EV chargers on a separate meter with a separate electrical feed coming into the facility. This option allows facility managers to negotiate with the utility for the EV charging infrastructure decoupled from the building and keeps the EV charging stations separate from the rest of the building operations. Installation costs vary widely based on many variables, requiring facilities and operators to consider multiple perspectives. Costs include the use of existing services, the distance from the panel to the EV chargers, exposed conduits or trench and patch civil work requirements, the power level, and quantity of the chargers. EV chargers also vary in cost depending on the brand and speed (level 3 charges cost more) in addition to the software a facility may need depending on requirements, including user and payment management. A certified EV charging station electrician also is highly recommended or required for installation in most areas. The age and type of electrical infrastructure also are cost factors. Agarwal said facility managers might consider doing a basic electrical assessment of the building to discover if repairs and upgrades are needed before installing EV chargers. Agarwal cautioned that the market is very fragmented, though, and facility managers can shop around for EV charging stations, infrastructure, and software like they would for any general contractor work. Considering the holistic environment, an end-to-end strategic solutions partner can help determine costs, infrastructure, etc. “Many facility managers don’t have the bandwidth or expertise,” Agarwal said. He added that facility managers should investigate

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Elizabeth Christenson

Editor for CMM and Cleanfax

Articles by Elizabeth Christenson

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