Building EV Charging Stations

Building an EV Charging Station

As the rate of US electric vehicle (EV) owners and EV manufacturers rises, EV charging stations are increasingly more common. According to a report from Bloomberg, EV sales in the US are projected to increase exponentially over the next decade and will account for 50 percent of all vehicle sales by 2030. This growth can be attributed to major EV manufacturers like Tesla, Toyota, General Motors and BMW offering more EV models.

As the trend continues toward the prevalence of electric vehicles, the country is facing an infrastructure problem. Our transportation systems have been aligned with gas-powered transportation for decades, but, as there are more and more electric vehicles on the road, EV owners will need more convenient, reliable access to charging stations.

How Do EV Chargers Work?

EV chargers rely on electrical power systems to provide EV owners with safe, reliable and efficient EV charging services; they consist of rechargeable batteries that get their charge from the electrical power grid. Today, a common outlet in a turn-of-the-century home has enough power to charge some modern EV vehicles.

EV owners plug the EV charger into their vehicle and allow time for the power in the rechargeable batteries to transfer over to their vehicle. Today’s EV chargers can charge battery-powered vehicles to a range of 200 miles in only an hour.

EV Charging Station Levels

EV charging stations currently come in three different levels of power output: Level 1, Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers. Users can find each charger in different settings, all of which have widely different use cases for charging an EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle (PEV).

Level 1 EV Charging Station 

• Electrical Outlet: 120-volt AC
• Location: Residential homes, best for PEVs
• Charging Speed: 3 – 5 miles of range per hour

Level 2 EV Charging Stations

• Electrical Outlet: 240-volt AC
• Location: Residential homes, commercial buildings and public settings (grocery stores, office buildings, shopping mall parking lots, etc.)
• Charging Speed: 10 – 20 miles of range per hour

DC Fast Chargers for Electric Vehicles 

• Electrical Outlet: 480-volt AC
• Location: Public and commercial settings (gas stations, office buildings, shopping mall parking lots, etc.)
• Charging Speed: 180 – 240 miles of range per hour

Who Builds and Installs EV Charging stations?

EV charging station installations typically require the expertise of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineers, and EV infrastructure specialists. MEP engineers design charging stations that meet safety requirements and create charging networks that are reliable and convenient for EV owners. EV infrastructure specialists ensure that charging stations comply with all local and federal EV infrastructure regulations to provide EV owners with safe and reliable charging, just like traditional gas stations.

Additionally, EV charger installations typically require the expertise of electricians and civil engineers. Electricians and electrical engineers connect EV chargers with local power grids, and civil engineers must consider the necessary site requirements, such as drainage and foundation needs, for EV chargers to be installed safely and effectively.

At Dialectic Engineering, we deliver comprehensive plans for EV infrastructure that will maximize budgets to meet the electromobility needs of new and existing customers. Learn more about our EV charging station services.

How to Build an EV Charging Station

1. Site Assessment: MEP engineering and construction partners survey sites to determine the best location. A proper EV charging site should have an easy connection to the local power grid, ample space for multiple vehicles during charging and align with safety standards and infrastructure regulations.
2. Design Planning: Project partners create multiple design plans including MEP drawings outlining everything needed for proper installation and future maintenance.
3. Installation: The installation team places and finalizes the location of the EV charger according to the design plans.
4. Local Power Connection: EV charger owners and the installation team coordinate the connection to the local power provider.
5. Final Testing: The installation team conducts safety and regulation testing and documents the results.
6. Maintenance: The EV charger owner schedules regular testing and maintenance to ensure the EV charger works safely, reliably and remains up to date with changing regulations.

How Much Does It Cost to Build an EV Charger?

The cost of EV charger installations can vary depending on the EV infrastructure regulations and EV-specific safety requirements in a certain area. Additionally, EV charger installation costs are affected by the number of EV chargers being installed, the type of EV charger being used and the necessary site requirements (such as drainage and foundation needs). Generally, EV charger installations can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on those regulations. EV owners should consider all EV-specific safety standards and EV infrastructure regulations when selecting an EV charger that works best for them.

Ready to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations?

If you are ready to add electric vehicle charging stations to your property, contact us today to see how we can build your EV charging station from the ground up.