How Much Do Commercial EV Charging Stations Cost to Install? (2023 Update)

As the use of electric vehicles is increasing day by day. There will be many people who would like to install an electric vehicle charging station from the point of view of a homeowner or business owner. So in this article, you will get to know about the commercial EV charging station cost to install it. 

Cost to install commercial EV charging stations:

The cost to install commercial TV charging stations. Depends upon various factors such as the level of the charging you need to install for your home or business, region, type of station you buy, whether portable or hardwired, etc.

EV charging stations
EV charging stations

The following table shows the average cost to install a commercial EV charging station:

National average cost $1200
Average Range$1000 to 2500
Low end$300
High end$4500

Cost to install EV charging station by type:

The following are the three different power levels in which the cost to install a commercial Ev charging station is different. 

Level 1:

Level 1 is similar to the outlet of a home which is able to utilize a 120 volt and have a power rating of 1 KW up to 2kw. The time taken to charge an electric vehicle from a level 1 commercial charging station is up to 20 hours or more which is considered the slowest charger. The cost to install a level 1 commercial power station range is between $300 and $1500 which includes the price before permits and installation which is considered the cheapest level of charging station to install. 

EV charging stations
EV charging stations

Level 2:

Level 2 is similar to the power outlet found in a home or business. The level 2 charging station is able to utilize a voltage between 208 and 240 and the power rating is between 3 KW to 20 KW. We compare the level 2 charging station to level 1. Level 2 is much more powerful. The time taken to charge a vehicle is from 6 to 8 hours per car but it depends upon the size of the battery. The cost to install level 2 commercial power stations ranges between $400 to $6500 which is not always the same because it depends upon its specification and the manufacture. 

EV charging stations
EV charging stations

Level 3:

The level 3 electric charging station is the DC faster charger. The level 3 charging station is able to utilize the voltage from 480 to 600 and the power rating is between 25 kW and 50 KW which is considered the fastest commercial EV charge because it can charge the EV up to 80% just in 30 minutes. A level 3 fast charger is not suitable to use in the home or small business because it requires an electrical service Upgradation. The cost to install level 2 commercial power stations ranges from $10000 to $40000. We can find these levels of charging stations in new Apartment complexes,  hospitals, hotels, and gas stations. 

EV charging stations
EV charging stations

The following table has explained the estimated cost of an EV charger. 

Charge timeCharger typeEstimated costamperageVoltage
4-8 hoursLevel 2 $700 – $2,00048200-240
2-5 hoursLevel 2 1,800 – $4,00080200-240
1-2 hoursLevel 3$30,000 – $40,000100480
30-60 minLevel 3$55,000 – $65,000200480
15-30 minLevel 3$65,000 – $75,000250480

Cost to install EV charging station by type of connection:

There are two types of the electric vehicle supply equipment connector and both have a different costs to install them such as:

  • Plugged in.
  • Hardwired.

Plugged in:

To use the plugged-in connector requires to have 240-volt wall outlet to be installed which makes it portable, and easy to move, remove and repair. this type of outlet is a large outlet similar to the outlet required to run a dryer but in case of replacing it, there is no need to pay for the installation.

EV charging stations
EV charging stations

Hardwire:

  • The hardwire is used to wire directly into the home.
  • Not easy to remove hardwire charger connector.
  • It is not portable.
  • It can be used outdoors.
  • Not so costly.
EV charging stations
EV charging stations

The following table shows the average cost of the installed connector:

Type of connection Average cost 
hardwired$850 to 1800
Plugged in$1000 to 2200

Cost to install EV charging station by brand:

There are various brands for charging an EV having their own pros and cons. you can also use the universal charger. but there are many people who prefer to charge their EVs with a branded charger.

The following table shows the popular brands and their installed cost:

brandAverage cost
webasto$1000-$1300
clipper creek$1000-$1500
bosh$1100-$1600
tesla$1100-$1600
siemens$12000-$1400
juice box$1200-$1400
ChargePoint$1300-$1500

Cost to install EV charging stations by location:

You can choose to install an EV charging station indoors and outdoors, for example, installing it inside the garage. The difference in cost to install the charging station is that in the case of an outdoor location, the charger needs a waterproof location and a locking function for security.

The following table shows the cost of charging stations installed:

Location Average cost 
indoor$800-$1500
outdoor$800-$2500

Other Factors responsible for the cost of commercial EV charging stations:

The following are some other factors affecting the cost of commercial EV charging stations:

  • Infrastructure
  • Soft cost.
  • Software. 

Infrastructure: 

For charging the EV, you need to have a supply of electricity to vehicles which also need to be upgraded, so the average cost range is from $12000 to $15000.

EV charging stations
EV charging stations

The following are some infrastructures where the most amount will be spent:

  • The cost is spent on delivering the empower to commercial EV charging stations.
  • The cost spent on the material and labor for electrical conduit and wiring.
  • The cost spent on the material and labor for fixing the electrical panels.
  • The cost involved in connecting to the internet or non-networked.

The following are factors that affect the installation cost of commercial EV charging stations:

  • Number of chargers
  • Charger manufacturer
  • Charger level
  • Labor
  • Permits
  • Taxes
  • Location
  • Landscaping or lighting features

Soft cost:

The cost spent on providing a parking spot and Signage to get fit into the charging involvement will cost about $15000 but this will help you to attract the customer. If the short sturdy post is needed to protect the machinery system it will cost $400 each and the parking block required at the station will cost $600 per piece. 

Software:

For qualifying financial incentives you need to have certain software that networks with the utility company which will collect and analyze the data from the other charging station so that you can improve the overall system and you could know what is in demand for EV charging stations. The cost to host the information in the cloud every month is around $28.

Conclusion:

You should first decide on the location and compare the cost to install it with other locations. from the above article one can easily get some idea of the cost to install EV charging stations as the cost is not fixed depending on various factors which are explained above in detail.

Rick Costa

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