Infrastructure Opportunities & Challenges: What is to Come & How to Prepare

 

Blink Charging will be presenting a FREE Learning Lab on October 26 to discuss this topic in depth. Click here to register now!

While electric vehicle sales have risen an average of 40% each year since 2016, consumers still say that a lack of charging infrastructure is their primary concern. This opens the door for private enterprises to fill the gaps. Driven by their own goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the US government has responded to consumer concerns by committing to install 500,000 EV charging stations across the country by 2030 with the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act extended the tax credit until December 31^st, 2022 before requirements change, which is a 30% tax credit of the total cost of the purchase and installation of EV charging equipment up to $30,000 per site. Equipment must be installed by December 31, 2022.

The gas station concept of only being able to fuel up at a specific location will be a thing of the past. Consumers will be able to fuel a vehicle wherever you can access electricity without disrupting their day-to-day routine. This means any business that has public parking spaces can now enter the vehicle refueling market.  Challenges with hosting EV charging stations include the space to host them, the upfront costs of installation, electricity, and a reliable Wi-Fi or data signal if you want to monetize them.

Working with a notable EV charging company will eliminate many of challenges. There are opportunities for businesses to host Level 2 chargers, where customers spend a significant amount of time and DC fast chargers for high traffic locations.

Hosting EV charging stations has many benefits that include:

• Generating charging revenue.
• Attracting new customers.
• Receiving tax breaks and funding opportunities.
• Getting LEED or other green energy certification.
• Allowing your business to be at the forefront of green energy technology.

Blink Charging will be presenting a FREE Learning Lab on October 26 to discuss this topic in depth. Click here to register now!

 

 

 

 

Renters Want To Go Electric, But Where Will They Charge?

 

By Margaret-Ann Leavitt

I am often asked, “Why should I install EV charging stations?” There are many answers to that question: EVs are better for the environment, they reduce greenhouse gasses and they look good parked outside your business. But the top reason I cite is loyalty. EV drivers tend to be much more faithful to businesses with charging.

If you like us, we’ll like you.

It makes sense, right? EVs need to be charged and drivers will frequent businesses that make fueling easy for them. In fact, several years ago, Kohl’s found electric car drivers spent about 20 more minutes in store than non-EV drivers. Similarly, another major retailer found EV drivers shopped more than three times longer than their gas car counterparts. With statistics like these, the ROI is much higher than most realize.

Testing the theory.

A few years ago, my team and I decided to put this theory to the test and conducted an online survey to learn more about fueling and loyalty among EV drivers. The results were overwhelmingly conclusive. Electric car owners were more likely to favor businesses with available charging. And the numbers were big!

When asked if charging makes them more loyal to a business, 81% of the 700+ EV owners blindly polled, said ‘Yes!’ And listen to what else they had to say:

• “We’ve spent way more money eating at restaurants with charging stations than we ever would have spent on gas.”
• “It’s the convenience. I’m there and I will explore at close by businesses.”[translation: ‘spend money’]
• “Absolutely! The very first thing we did after taking delivery of our EV was to go support a business that had chargers installed.”
• “One day our local supercharger even cost me new glasses” – alluding to her increased propensity to spend while waiting for her car to charge.

Tesla drivers proved to be even more loyal.

The loyalty among Tesla owners was even greater at 92%. Until recently, Tesla drivers could boast having the longest driving range available, often not needing to charge away from home unless they were traveling. So, Tesla loyalty is rooted less in need which is even more telling. They consciously want to support businesses who embrace the future. For them, it was less about requiring fuel and more about brand appreciation and EV recognition.

Loyalty is invaluable in our post-pandemic world.

While the pandemic is not fully over, it and the wide array of supply chain shortages has had a tremendous impact on how we shop. When the pandemic upended our lives, it also created space for shoppers to try new things. A McKinsey report found that “75% of consumers tried a new shopping behavior, from e-commerce to curbside pickup to shopping local.”

With our options growing daily and the exponential rise of online shopping, securing customer allegiance is priceless to retailers. And this isn’t just about high-end luxury car owners. The owners our team polled represented a wide cross-section of electric cars, new and used, ranging in price from $15K-$100K+. Regardless of their investment, all frequented businesses where they, and their cars, felt most appreciated.

Going Green.

Those polled also noted they like to frequent businesses with a lower carbon footprint and those who are looking out for our shared environment. One response said, “I like to see businesses supporting green initiatives.” – a trend that is becoming increasingly more important to consumers.

The Nielsen Global Corporate Sustainability Report found that 66% of survey respondents shared they were willing to pay more for sustainable goods. And, a further study conducted by Harris Interactive found that 82% of adults claim to be well informed about brands with a strong track record for sustainability. These findings align perfectly with the primary reason EV drivers buy electric in the first place. There are numerous motives to switch from the internal combustion engine (ICE) to an EV, but the primary stimulus is the lower environmental impact.

Another benefit of EVs for retailers is that they are cheaper to run and maintain, especially with increasing gas prices – allowing electric drivers to enjoy more disposable income. In other words, loyal customers have more money to spend at your business.

Retail and beyond.

Interestingly, the commitment to green businesses goes well beyond retail. It plays a role when EV drivers decide where to rent (if they’re not homeowners), where they ‘play’ and where they chose to vacation.

Hotels are a great example. My husband, for example, is willing to give up hotel points for a hotel with charging – in other words, future stays lose out to current fueling which is a huge change in behavior for him and most of us.

Our survey respondents agreed. One respondent shared “I travel to the same city at least once each month for business trips. I stayed at the same hotel for the last 5 years. They know me by name, leave little extras in the room periodically as a thank you and so forth. I switched because the hotel down the street has a charger in the parking garage.”

It’s time to get EV ready

Whether we’re ready or not, the EV revolution is here and electric driving in our future. Regardless of the EV brand drivers choose, our research found having easily-accessible charging available increased loyalty and, in turn, their spending. So, it begs the question – why haven’t you added EV charging to your parking lot yet?

Margaret-Ann Leavitt is senior vice president, marketing for National Car Charging and Aloha Charge. She can be reached at mleavitt@nationalcarcharging.com.

Quiet Quitting

 

By Shontel Zamora

After surviving the trend of ‘ghosting’ employees, an immobilizing pandemic, and the great resignation, who would have thought the next hurdle to jump would be ‘quiet-quitters‘?

The new buzzword around the water cooler has sprung up, but it may not be what you think. When I first learned about quiet-quitting I thought it was just another part of the great resignation. Instead, quiet-quitting describes employees who stayed during the great resignation (due to lack of viable of options or familial commitment) transforming into overworked, unmotivated, and disgruntled employees. These quiet-quitters are the folks who still come into the office every day. They show up physically to work but have mentally checked out. The hustle culture for these employees has all but died.

Some employers have suggested this new trend of unmotivated employees is an effect of the great resignation. When you have a vast number of employees transitioning out at the same time, it can be challenging to replace so many at once. Even if you can bring on new employees quickly, most new staff members need some time to acclimate to the new position. This has led managers and supervisors to reorganize work assignments to veteran employees to ensure the work is done. The results? A group of once resourceful employees transformed into burn outs who no longer put in the extra effort and skate by with the bare minimum required. If this is the case, what can we do to help these quiet-quitters?

Some employers have opted for traditional motivating methods such as financial incentives to keep work production up, while staving off potential departures. Others have tried more flexible approaches including:

• Offering alternating schedules.
• Telecommuting/hybrid options.
• Conducting stay interviews.
• Sending employees to training and conferences.
• Offering child-care services.
• Paying for gym memberships.
• Giving stocks in the company, and more.

Some companies have even gone so far as to provide cash benefits to their employees to take time off and not check work emails. This gives employees the ability to fully detach from work and take the breaks they need to come back fully charged and more motivated than before. These are just some of the few suggestions some companies have tried with success to help with retention and boost up morale and motivation.

If your company or agency is struggling with quiet-quitters hopefully this blog with help inspire some ideas to get your team back on track!  

Shontel Zamora is a budget analyst for the California State University at San Bernardino, and a member of the IPMI Education Development Committee. She can be reached at SZamora@csusb.edu

 

 

 

Renters Want To Go Electric, But Where Will They Charge?

 

By Margaret-Ann Leavitt

With roughly 15% (or 6.5M) U.S. renters now considering an electric car, multifamily dwellings are quickly adding EV charging to their list of amenities – and taking advantage of free money.

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated there were 43.6 million rent-based households in America – representing nearly 36% of the nation’s 122.8 million households. With the affordability of homeownership increasingly in question and more and more millennials opting out of buying a home altogether, the number of those renting is only anticipated to climb.

Now, layer over that these cost-conscious consumers, like so many struggling with high gas prices today, want to make the leap into driving electric. In 2018, University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found the cost to fuel an electric car was 60% less than a gas-powered car (on average $485 for an EV vs. $1,117 for a gas vehicle), and a 2020 Consumer Reports study concurred – making driving an EV a very realistic and viable option for those either on a budget or wanting to do better by the planet, or both. While the Biden administration rolled out a plan earlier this year earmarking $5 billion to fund electric vehicle chargers over the next five years, the reality is that 80% of all EV charging happens at home – so what about those renters or even condo owners who don’t have a driveway?

Given these fast evolving trends, it’s easy to see why EV charging is an increasingly valuable amenity to multifamily dwellings. In fact, a 2016 study from Multifamily Executive predicted this trajectory, finding that 15% of renters planned to buy an EV by 2021 and of those renters, the majority (58%) stated they would be willing to pay more each month to have on-site charging stations – all making rental property owners take a second look at onsite EV charging.

Aside from making renters happier (and more loyal), adding EV charging brings numerous other benefits to property owners including:

• Differentiating your property from the competition and opening the door to more potential renters.
• Elevating your green reputation while also reducing your carbon footprint.
• Adding to your property’s overall value.
• Opening up new revenue streams by hosting rideshare vehicles or providing dedicated charging spots for Lyft and Uber (who are also quickly shifting their fleets to electric).

However, probably the most important reason to add EV charging to your property now is the incentive programs.

Whether we are ready for it or not, the EV revolution is here. Most of the automakers have ceased R&D on gas powered vehicles, states across the country have either invested in or are working on legislation to advance EV adoption, and many are passing bills requiring all new construction (including multifamily dwellings and new single family homes) to pre-wire for EV charging.

Why pre-wire? While EV charging stations aren’t inexpensive, the station itself can often seem relatively cheap when compared to retrofitting properties during the installation process which can cost 8-12x more than pre-wiring during new construction. But this is where the incentive dollars come in. With President Biden committing more than $5B to building up our nation’s EV charging infrastructure, every state is developing incentive and rebate programs – essentially giving public and private property owners free money to install EV charging stations.

In Hawai’i, for example, Hawai’i Energy and the Ulupono Initiative are partnering to offer a $5,000 incentive for each station installed at multifamily dwellings. And they’re not alone. States and non-profits across the country are offering millions to increase the availability of public and private charging options to meet the growing demand.

There is no better time to act than now. Multifamily dwellings – whether they are apartments or condos – can now increase their audience appeal and their ‘greenness,’ and make both more affordable than ever. With millions of dollars in state incentives on the table, essentially giving multifamily building owners free money to install EV charging equipment, why would you wait?

Margaret-Ann Leavitt is senior vice president, marketing for National Car Charging and Aloha Charge. She can be reached at mleavitt@nationalcarcharging.com.

 

 

 

Future-Proofing EV Charging Deployment

 

By Paul Pirhofer, CAPP

When planning for EV charging stations whether one to two chargers or multiple chargers, don’t minimize – instead consider a plan to future-proof deployment. Let’s focus on Level 2 charging for this discussion.

Level 2 plugs into an EV’s on-board converter for storage to the battery. As today’s EVs have converter capacity to charge at 11kW up to 19.2kW, capable EVs charging at 19.2kW may add more than 25 miles travel range in one-hour versus charging at 7.68kW on a 40-amp charger.

Match public charging points to length of stay or dwell period, as well the capacity of EVs parked. High-turn commercial properties where visitors dwell 30 to 60 minutes have different customer needs versus locations with overnight guests.

Plan accordingly:

• Start with a preliminary site power assessment – assess power availability, proximity to power source and utility pricing.
• For high-turn locations, plan for up to a 100-amp breaker to output at up to 19.2kW for each charger plug; utilize local load management for multiple plugs.
• For longer dwell locations, plan for a 50-amp breaker to output 9.6kW on 240V, charging most EVs within 12 hours or less.
• For fleet locations, plan for a 60 to 70-amp breaker for up to 50-amp output and 12kW.

Use at least 1-1/4” conduit to each device location. Don’t make the mistake of planning 1/2″ conduit for a high-turn location, as charger will provide only 8-14 miles range within a 30-minute session. Consider future expansion now. Many new developments plan charging stations for 25%+ of parking capacity, though initial deployment may be less.

Remember that installing EV charging stations is not merely buying a charger and checking off a box, but instead treat a deployment as you would other aspects of your business – with customer needs as your focus.

Paul Pirhofer, CAPP, is executive sales manager at Blink Charging and serves on the IPMI Planning, Design, & Construction Committee.

 

 

 

 

By Paul Pirhofer, CAPP

This post serves as a summary and recap of the Learning Lab held on January 26, 2022. Click here to watch the full presentation.

With the data showing a growing increase in Electric Vehicles (EV), along with a robust political push towards electric mobility, we still get the question, “Is it too early to invest in EV charging stations?” The answer is no, the demand is here, and the time is now.

Automakers have committed to investing more than $300 billion in research, development, and manufacturing of electric vehicles. In fact, according to Reuters, U.S. auto executives believe that 52% of new vehicle sales will be all-electric by 2030. As an EVSE professional, I can say that creating EV charging revenue does not happen overnight but is possible. Here’s the brief answer on how.

Start by understanding the most cost-effective way to deploy chargers at your location. Installation can be the most expensive part; save money by engaging with an EV charging company to guide you through the process and share their knowledge about grant and rebate opportunities.

“Will people know that we have EV charging stations?” you may ask; luckily, once your station is connected to an EVSE network, EV drivers will find your chargers on various maps, such as Google Maps, the Blink Charging Map, and Plugshare. Issue a press release or send customer emails informing the community that your property is now an EV charging destination.

The shift in the automotive industry is bringing new opportunities for additional revenue in the parking industry. Properties that become an EV charging destination secure their position in customers’ minds as a great place to park and charge.

Paul Pirhofer, CAPP, is executive sales manager at Blink Charging and serves on the IPMI Planning, Design, & Construction Committee.