EV adoption is on the rise across the country, and property owners are increasingly seeing the demand for safe, reliable on-site charging. However, installing EV chargers involves more than simply scheduling an installation date. The decisions property owners make early on are crucial to a project’s success and avoiding future issues. Below are five of the most common EV charger installation mistakes property owners make and strategies to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Choosing the Wrong Charger Type
The most common EV charging mistake is installing the wrong type, or types, of chargers for your property. The most important factor when selecting charging hardware is driver dwell time, or how long vehicles typically remain parked at the property.
Level 2 chargers are ideal for sites with long dwell time. These stations can charge most EVs in 4-10 hours. This provides ample time for a car to charge while the driver works, sleeps, or runs errands. Level 2 stations are a strong fit for workplaces, residential buildings, schools, and healthcare facilities.
A second common option is DC fast chargers (Level 3); these stations typically charge an EV in under an hour, making them the perfect solution for sites with short dwell time and quick driver turnover. Common locations for Level 3 stations include grocery stores, retail centers, highway corridors, and other locations where drivers are looking for a quick, stop-and-go charge.
How to avoid: Match the charger type to how long drivers park and understand the different types of chargers. A professional site assessment identifies the right station type(s) for your property.
Mistake #2: Underestimating Future Demand
Another common issue for installation is underestimating utilization at a site and installing too few stations or installing enough to meet current demand but failing to prepare for future needs.
EV ownership continues to rise across the country, and residents, employees, and guests are increasingly expecting charging where they park. What was once considered a nice-to-have amenity is quickly becoming an expected feature at many properties. Properties that install too few chargers can quickly limit charger availability and frustrate drivers.
How to avoid: Future-proof your property. Plan for future demand, not just your current demand, and build in room to scale.
Mistake #3: Installing Chargers in the Wrong Location
Placing stations in the wrong, or suboptimal, locations can be the difference between a successful charger installation and a costly one. Each property has specific needs, ranging from the drivers it serves to the parking lot layout. Poor placement can increase installation costs and create a frustrating experience for drivers.
The farther chargers are located from available electrical infrastructure, the more properties typically spend on installation and construction costs. At the same time, chargers often must meet strict requirements, including ADA compliance, weight limits, lighting, visibility, and wayfinding.
How to avoid: Have your station layout designed by professionals who can factor in your property’s unique electrical infrastructure, accessibility requirements, and driver convenience.
Mistake #4: Failing to Plan for Ongoing Charger Maintenance
A major EV charging mistake is assuming the work is finished after installation. Even the most reliable charging stations require ongoing monitoring and occasional maintenance to remain active. After chargers are installed, property owners can take on this responsibility themselves or partner with a provider to handle it.
Chargie provides multi-year warranties that include continued maintenance and monitoring. Our internal Network Operations Center (NOC) provides 24/7/365 live monitoring, solving most issues remotely before drivers or property owners even know there’s a problem. Chargie stations deliver 99% uptime, meaning our chargers stay operable well after installation and property owners don’t need to worry about them.
How to avoid: Install chargers with a true turnkey partner that will continue maintenance of all stations. Not all installers will offer warranties for stations post-installation, so ensure you choose one that does if that’s the route you want to take.
Mistake #5: Missing Valuable Incentives
Most funding waves are on a first-come, first-served basis and only exist while funds last. Waiting too long can reduce the number of available funding opportunities and increase out-of-pocket costs. With Chargie, our team can help prepare your application for any applicable rebate and incentive programs, ensuring your site can earn as much funding as possible.
How to avoid: Get assessed for applicable rebates and incentive programs to get your application prepped early. Chargie helps our partners with the entire discovery and application process to ensure applicants have the best chance of receiving funding.
How Chargie Can Help
Chargie is a leading provider of intuitive and reliable EV charging solutions. With over 23,000 stations installed across 1,200 properties to date, we understand what each property needs to avoid mistakes.
Our turnkey service is built to help property owners sidestep these potential mistakes. Looking to get stations installed at your property, or replace stations that aren’t working? Connect with a member of our team today to get started.
