Implementing EV charging stations to meet growing demand can be done more cost-effectively if you understand the many cost factors involved.
Plug-in electric vehicle drivers primarily charge their vehicles using residential electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), but there is also an increasing need for non-residential EVSE in workplace, public, and fleet settings. A new report—Costs Associated With Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment—from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program provides vital information about controlling the costs associated with purchasing, installing, and owning non-residential EVSE.
The cost information featured in the report is compiled from various studies around the country and input from EVSE owners, manufacturers, installers, and utilities. The information indicates how the cost of implementing EVSE varies widely. For example, the cost of a single port EVSE charging unit was found to range from $300-$1,500 for Level 1, $400-$6,500 for Level 2, and $10,000-$40,000 for direct current fast charging.
These varying costs are influenced by many factors. It is important for employers, business owners, and fleet operators to understand these factors when installing, operating, and maintaining EVSE in order to make informed decisions about long-term EVSE development. The report details how to gauge multiple cost factors to determine the expected cost range of a particular EVSE unit or installation.
The report also features example cost ranges for different types and applications of EVSE including operation and maintenance, network fees, station management, and permitting and inspection.
While cost information presented in the report can help establish a ballpark estimate, a site assessment with local utility representatives, EVSE manufacturers, and EVSE installers is the best way to determine an actual cost estimate. A local Clean Cities coalition can help start the process by facilitating connections with contacts in the electric vehicle industry. To find the nearest Clean Cities coalition, visit cleancities.energy.gov.
Download the report from the Alternative Fuels Data Center website.
- Kathryn Ruckman, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Clean Cities Technical Response Service Team
- technicalresponse@icfi.com
- 800-254-6735