What Kind Of EV Charging Station Do My Clients Need?

EV charger options vary by charging speed.

Level I Charging

This is what most EV owners initially get for their home. While the cheapest option, this is also the slowest – cars will add only 3 – 5 miles of travel per hour. This charging time is often too slow for publicly available stations. However, Level I chargers may be a good fit for some workplaces where employees can charge their car for up to 8 hours at a time.

Level II Charging - Most Common For Commercial Sites

You’ll probably get very familiar with this option: it’s the standard for commercial parking spaces. Level II stations charge cars 4 – 5 times more quickly than their Level I counterparts, with 12 – 40 miles added per hour. They use 208/240V and 30 amp electricity.

Level III Charging

The speediest charging level, these DC Fast Chargers (DCFC) fill up batteries fast: 80 – 400+ miles per hour. But they’re also the most expensive option and incompatible with some electric vehicles, so they’re not as popular as Level II chargers. Usually, only high-volume customers such as car dealerships, commercial charging stations, and rest stops will benefit from the added speed.

Electric Vehicle Charger Incentives And Rebates

If you or your clients are interested in an EV charging station but balk at the initial cost (from $1,000 – $10,000 per station), your area’s incentives and rebates can help.

Federal Tax Credit for Commercial EV Charging Stations

There is a 30% federal tax credit for installing commercial electric car charging stations. The maximum value of the tax credit is $100,000 per unit, and both the cost of the equipment and installation are eligible.