Top factors to consider when installing an electric vehicle charging station

The share of EVs has grown to about 4% by the financial year 2022 and the figure continues to rise rapidly. With the rapidly rising personal EVs, the demand for charging stations is also increasing.With the rate at which EVs share on Indian roads increasing, it is estimated that India needs more than 50,000 electric charging stations by the year 2030.In this article we are going to understand factors to consider when installing an electric vehicle charging stations.

Following are the 6 factors to consider when setting up a commercial EV charging station:

Location of charging stations : Homes are first preference where EV owners plug in their vehicle when it is idle before or after the journey. This is the most preferred charging point due to its convenience. The 2nd preferred point is the location of the workplace. The owners may plug in their vehicle when they reach their work so the vehicle is ready for the return journey later.EV charging stations on your site comes down to two factors: power and visibility.Charging stations need to be plugged in. Running conduit across a long distance between a charging station and its power source will add to your costs. “The closer you can get the charging station to the power source, the better,”

Cost of charging an EV-The charging station provider needs to set the prices such that it helps maintain the operational advantage of an EV.EV owners ultimate goal is to save on cost while charging EV.Charging station owner may innovate different ways to make money from users for example the station to provide some leisure services food or PVR for the customers while they wait for their vehicles to charge.

Charger type -Charging station provider needs to understand different types of EV chargers to determine the solution that best fits their end-users’ needs. EV chargers are typically categorized in terms of charging levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. In general, the higher the charging level, the faster a vehicle will charge. Here’s a comparison of the different types of charging levels.There are several factors which decide which type of charger needed-Amount of available power at the site,The speed at which vehicles need to be charged,Type of vehicles needing to be charged

Who will be using your charging station and how many EVs are expected to charge per day

Businesses should have deep knowledge of the behaviour of the target audience.For example,An EV driver at a shopping center will have different charging needs than EV fleet drivers. With this visibility ,they can match the charging station type with the charging speed needs of their consumers.Also understanding the number of vehicles that come to charge at your location will help determine the quantity and types of EV chargers required.

Safety

Your charger transfers a high quantity of electricity from your house or apartment building into your car. So, if it’s not correctly installed, there will be risks of fire or electric shock. It's vital to choose an experienced, specialized EV charging station installer. Reputable installation companies will give you a copy of your charger’s compliance certificate.Choosing an experienced EV installer also means you’ll be guaranteed compliance with national regulations, such as wiring regulations.

Network flexibility

With Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) interoperability users have the ability to select the right hardware and software combination for their needs and the flexibility to change their EV charging network at any time, without having to replace their hardware. If you’re not locked into one company’s software, you can’t be held captive if their service no longer fits your needs, the company suddenly raises your fees or it goes out of business. You can simply switch to a new software platform without needing to buy and install new charging stations.

Long term value

You must consider the durability and longevity of the brand you install.A charger needs to be able to withstand all kinds of weather. It should be able to take a hit and keep on charging safely. Also rugged and weatherproof exterior, with a steel and aluminium architecture that makes it shockproof, as well.