Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Coming to a garage, airport, parking lot, train station…near you!
We have noticed two trends as of late. First, gas prices are beginning to creep up once again, and Elon Musk’s Tesla’s are becoming a more reasonable purchase for the average consumer. So what does this mean? The industry predicts that consumers will increasingly turn-to electric plug-in vehicles over the next few years.
Electric Vehicles can not only save consumers money, but also reduce the amount of air pollution produced by driving a vehicle. On average an electric car costs about 50-70% less to operate per mile than a newer model vehicle. A gas powered vehicle produces 4.7 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, while an electric vehicle produces a net of zero carbon dioxide per year.
New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has made Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) a key point in his energy initiative. The administration has helped to administer charging stations on the NYS Thruway, train stations, airports and municipal parking lots. Grant money through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research Development Authority) is also available for consumers and municipalities. Businesses are also encouraged to offer EVCS through low interest loans. New York State is striving to accommodate more than 30,000 plug-in vehicles by the end of 2018 and over 1 million by 2025 through the Charge NY program.
What do electricians and municipalities needed to know about Electric Vehicle Charging Stations?
At this point the technology is so new and sparse that some municipalities and electricians are unaware of some of the necessary steps to properly permit and install an EVCS. Be aware that the consumer must provide the following:
-Building permit must include EVCS Manufacturer’s Information
-Site Plan
-Electrical Load Calculations
-Electrical Plans with single-line drawings showing how EVCS will be powered and connection points to the electrical panel
-Electrical Inspection
*For non-residential, site plans should show the location of the EVCS spaces in relation to existing buildings and structures, existing parking spaces and accessibility requirements.
On a side note, major corporations and fleet services are looking at cost saving approaches to help their bottom line. UPS is working to build its own fleet of electric vehicles to service the consumer. Is it time for your business or municipality to investigate electric vehicles?
