There are a variety of options available for EV charging equipment installations, from standard 120 volt outlets (often adequate for workplace charging) to specialized equipment with higher power flows for faster charging.

The equipment ranges in cost from $500 to $20,000 or more depending on the capabilities and amount of power provided. Higher powered units can reduce charge times from several hours down to 30 minutes or less.

Need a Primer?

Visit the electric car technology and charging equipment page for a general overview of EV charging technology.

Select A Site

Is this charging installation for employees, visitors/customers, and/or the general public?

Calculate Costs

Determine installation costs and whether you need to recover costs.

Plan Your Site

Find out more about typical site plans, accessibility requirements, signage and other considerations.

Mounting

Wall mount units generally have lower capital and installation costs, so this option is often preferred if the site has a suitable wall area.

Dual port or multi-unit mounting options available from several EV charging equipment vendors may also help reduce overall installation costs as the incremental cost of adding another port is frequently much lower than installing an additional single port unit.

Constructability

This includes the extent of site work, such as trenching for underground conduit runs which many installation locations will require.

Where digging is required it is best to go through softer features, such as grass medians, rather than sidewalks, asphalt or areas with extensive landscape features.

Availability of Power

Proximity to electric power is often the key factor in determining installation cost. Placing charging equipment near existing power connections will reduce cost and installation time, particularly if there is reserve capacity available to avoid electric service upgrade costs.

Environmental Protection and Safety

Exposure to the elements should be minimized when possible. Charging equipment is engineered to be safe in wet environments, but areas prone to flooding or standing water should be avoided.

Workplace and Commercial Locations

After home, workplaces are the second most common location for electric vehicle charging. Several additional siting factors should be considered for these areas.

Parking capacity - Vehicles may need to sit several hours while charging. Placing charging equipment in areas with excess parking capacity and restricting parking in front of the charging equipment to charging vehicles only will reduce potential conflicts.

Proximity to employment / destinations - Since EV charging requires time it is advantageous to co-locate in areas with services, such as shopping, restrooms, food and other workplace facilities which provide EV owners with a range of activities to pursue while their vehicle is plugged in.

Modal Connections - Locating next to other modes of transportation, such as sidewalks, bus stops, and park & rides provides owners with access to additional destinations and opportunities.

Public locations

Public EV charging locations generally require the same considerations as Workplace / Commercial locations (above).

Factors particularly relevant to public locations include signage to direct users to the charging equipment, parking restrictions to increase the availability of charging installations, and consideration of fee collection systems to recover costs from users.

Nearly all vendors in the United States meet the general recommendations for all charging equipment, including:

For public charging stations, additional specifications are recommended, including:

• Compliance with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J-1772 standard for EV charging plug connector and operational requirements;
• Certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Lab (e.g. Underwriters Laboratories) for outdoor use;
• NEMA Type 3R or 4 certification for outdoor electrical enclosures;
• Ability to operate in extreme temperature conditions (-20 to +100 degrees F);
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible buttons and components;
• A minimum 1-year warranty covering parts and service labor.

• Charging amperage from 30-80 AMPs to support vehicles with higher charging power capabilities (7.2 - 19.2 kW);
• Modular field serviceable parts, particularly for cord and J1772 connector, including a minimum cord length of 18 feet and a cord management system to keep cords off the ground and comply with National Electric Code (NEC) article 625;
• Network monitoring capability for status (e.g. in-use, malfunction, etc.), fault reporting, power consumption and usage patterns;
• A fee collection system using credit cards, access codes, phone operation and/or contactless RFID cards from widespread charging network(s) with customer service assistance available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone.

• Power connection, including electric circuit components and conduit-runs necessary to reach the equipment;

• Mounting. Wall-mounts are generally less expensive than post-mounts which require concrete pedestals;

• Protective devices, such as bollards or wheel stops;

• Wayfinding signage, parking lot lines, and stripes;

• Lighting and internet connection if cellular data service is not available;

• Permitting expenses.

Subscription and Fee for Use

EV charging equipment owner charges a fee based on a flat rate per session or hours connected to the charging equipment. Monthly subscriptions are also possible. Several manufacturers of charging equipment include options to collect user fees in real time.

The most common models for charging users is through a membership or pay-per-use fee. Vermont and many other states do not currently allow unregulated utilities to sell electricity by the kilowatt-hour. Legislative changes have been proposed to provide an exception to this rule for EV charging, but until enacted billings would need to be done based on time connected to an EV charging unit or through unlimited access for a fixed monthly fee.

Advertising-Based Revenue Generation

Some models of EV charging equipment are designed to provide space for advertising messaging which the owner could use or lease out. This use of advertising may require specific review by local jurisdictions in the permitting process.

Vermont's Billboard Law restricts signs in the highway right-of-way, limiting the potential sale of advertising on EV charging equipment located on highways and roads. For EV charging equipment located out of view of highways and roads, advertising signage may be a viable means of collecting revenue.

For example, Price Chopper has pioneered this model in New York state with its "Alternative Fuel Pads", charging stations equipped with a canopy and space for advertisers. The model works through direct ownership-as in the case of Price Chopper-or through third-party ownership. In a third-party ownership model, a vendor would install and operate the EV charging equipment on the premises of the host.

Solar Photovoltaic Installations

Solar Photovoltaic installations can offset energy costs of EV charging through utility net metering arrangements.

Vermont's Net-metering and Standard Offer laws allow owners of grid-connected PV to generate a credit from the production of electricity and apply it to a utility account. The credit covers the customer's current rate, plus an additional "solar adder" calculated as $0.20 minus the utility's highest residential rate. This premium applies for the first 10 years of operation, after which the credit is valued at the utility's highest residential rate.

Renewable energy professionals can help you navigate the most cost effective means of using renewable energy for your business and EV charging needs.

Perpendicular Parking Spaces

Perpendicular parking is the most common configuration for workplaces and public EV charging

Above is an example layout of a parking lot with stall dimensions of 9 feet wide by 18 feet long. A five foot wide aisle provides room for disabled users to maneuver.

Locating the EV charging equipment in the middle of a group of parking stalls allows vehicle owners to reach their vehicles in several parking spaces to reduce the possibility of getting blocked by a vehicle which is not charging.

Learn More

See the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Guidebook for more information on siting EV charging equipment.

For EV Charging on Public Sites

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public parking areas to be accessible to people in wheelchairs or with other mobility limitations. While the U.S. Access Board has not specified ADA requirements for EV charging stations, general accessibility requirements for parking areas and public facilities do apply.

To manage accessibility requirements, many charging station hosts make the first charging space accessible by adapting an existing handicap spot. At this time, it is not be necessary to restrict use of accessible EV charging to disabled users only.

For more information on accessible charging stations read the following reports:

ADA & Public Charging Reports

Site Design for EV Charging Stations

EV Charging ADA Version

Accessibility at Public EV Charging Locations

• Canopies or roofs to keep the operating area clear of snow and reduce weather-related damage.
• Heated pavement to keep the EV charging equipment operation areas free from snow and ice with available power.

• Retractable cables that provide access to the EV charging equipment cable with minimal snow removal. Many EV charging equipment designs require users to manually wind and replace the cable after use. This may become difficult in cold weather when the cable becomes stiff, and may result in the cable being placed on the ground.

General Service Signs - The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) has adopted a standard blue service sign symbol for EV charging stations.

Regulatory Signs - The recommended practice in Vermont is to use language restricting parking "Except for Electric Vehicle Charging" to prevent instances of EV owners taking up charging spaces without actually plugging into the equipment.