Charging Station Infrastructure
Charging Stations provide the fuel for Electric Vehicles.
Whether you are interested in charging your organization’s fleet or providing charging stations for your employees or customers here is some basic information to help you get up to speed.
Types of Car Charging Stations
Charging stations largely come in three different types—with varying charging speeds, power requirements and installation costs. Most light-duty electric vehicles can work with any charging station type (some require adapters that may or may not come with the vehicle). Medium- and Heavy-duty vehicles likely need DC charging to achieve necessary recharge times.
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3/DC FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Alternating Current (AC) | Alternating Current (AC) | Direct Current (DC) |
| 120V | 240V | 480V |
| 2-5 miles of range per hour of charging | 10-20 miles of range per hour of charging | 60-80 miles of range per 20 minutes of charging |
| Residential Use | Residential & Commercial Use | Commercial Use |
Charging Station Location Considerations
Not all chargers are suitable for every location. Factors like how long cars are parked at that location, and how long each charger takes to supply a sufficient charge should be considered. It’s also important to select locations that are located near power sources that will power the charging stations.
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3/DC FAST |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Overnight Charging | Residential | Public Stations (15 minute dwell) |
| Workplace (Plug-in Hybrid Electric) | Workplace (Full Electric Vehicles) | Rest Areas |
| Public Stations (1-2 hour dwell) |
Charging Station Operating Cost Considerations
Charging stations are generally low maintenance but they do consume electricity. If your organization wants to install charging stations for employees or customers, you can generally offset ongoing operating costs by implementing a minimal charge-fee to be paid by those using the charging stations.
Financing Your Charging Stations
Numerous programs are available that can help you finance the installation of charging stations, both for your own fleet as well as for your employees and customers. Visit the Bottom Line section to learn more.