Overview
As the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates, organizations across various industries are adopting EV charging infrastructure to support sustainability goals and meet the needs of a growing EV community. This case study explores the efforts, benefits, and challenges faced by organizations within the Impact Network that have embraced EV charging stations, showcasing current practices and key lessons learned.
13 members of the Impact Network portraying 5 sectors across Wilmot, Oxford, Kitchener, and Waterloo were surveyed. These sectors include:
- Public administration
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
- Utilities
- Educational Services
12 of the 13 organizations surveyed have electric vehicles as part of their fleet.
Objective
Highlighting best practices, challenges, and innovations in EV charging infrastructure management within the Impact Network to encourage new and continuous installations by members and the broader community.
If your organization is considering similar initiatives, the insights and strategies shared here provide a roadmap to success, in hopes of inspiring others to lead in the transition to cleaner, greener transportation solutions.
Why Organizations Within the Impact Network are Embracing EV Charging
Participants in our survey revealed several compelling reasons for installing EV charging stations that can be summed up as follows:
- Promoting Sustainability: Many of the organizations installed chargers as part of their carbon reduction goals and environmental initiatives.
- Enhancing Convenience: Organizations aimed to provide accessible amenities for employees, tenants, and visitors, fostering a future-ready work environment.
- Fleet Electrification: Companies managing vehicle fleets recognized EV charging as a practical step toward operational efficiency and reduced fuel costs.
More than 90% of respondents have the EV chargers installed on site. The combined number of chargers that have been installed by the surveyed organizations is approximately 238, and at least two of these are dual head chargers. According to this survey, the organizations within the public administration sector have the most EV chargers installed, accounting for a combined 45.8% of installation.
Types and Scale of Charging Infrastructure
Varied approaches to EV charging station installations were reported, tailored to their organizational needs:
- Charger Types: Level 2 chargers were the most commonly installed, offering a balance between affordability and efficient charging times. Some organizations also expressed plans to introduce Level 3 fast chargers to accommodate higher demand. Flo was the most installed brand, followed by ChargePoint.
- Installation Scale: The number of chargers ranged from small setups (2 dual units) to extensive networks (53 units), reflecting the organization’s size and EV adoption rate.
- Tracking: 69.2% of respondents track the duration of use per station and some request staff to be plugged in for a maximum of 4 hours.
- Payment & Pricing: 30.8% of respondents allow free charging. Others have implemented a Pay-per-Use model mostly based on time and energy consumed.
- Access: The charging stations are either open or accessed through apps, key cards, pin codes or credit cards.
All respondents use the stations for their fleet, and 92% of respondents allow personal use for employees. While most of these organizations do not have a reservation system, implementation for it is in consideration as more employees switch to EVs.
Key Benefits and Return on Investment (ROI)
Investing in EV charging infrastructure has yielded tangible benefits:
- Flexibility and Accessibility: Employers noted increased convenience for employees and visitors, enhancing workplace satisfaction and engagement.
- Sustainability Impact: Some member organizations highlighted their ability to demonstrate leadership in green initiatives, improving their brand reputation.
- Financial Viability: Charging fees, typically structured by time or energy consumed, and in one case, government subsidies helped offset operational costs for some members. In other instances, fees were waived or discounted for employees, serving as an incentive for sustainable commuting.
Lessons Learned
Despite the successes, organizations faced challenges in managing and expanding their EV charging infrastructure:
- Existing electrical systems often require costly upgrades to support the additional load.
- Managing access, addressing downtime, and ensuring timely repairs posed logistical hurdles for several respondents.
- Developing or updating workplace policies to align with EV charger usage required coordination across teams.
- Vandalism and theft of charging cables due to small amounts of copper in them
Considerations for Better Outcomes
- Partnering with reputable manufacturers to ensure reliable equipment and usage tracking.
- Introducing pay-per-use models to manage operational costs and promote equitable access.
- Incentivizing staff by providing discounts or free charging options.
- Engaging stakeholders in planning expansions to anticipate future EV adoption trends.
- Investing in quality cameras to deter vandalism and theft.
Future Expansion Plans
Many of the organizations are looking to scale their charging infrastructure to meet increasing demand. Motivations driving expansion include:
- Fleet Integration: Transitioning company vehicles to electric and ensuring robust charging support.
- Community Engagement: Enhancing public-facing chargers to foster a broader impact.
- Sustainability Goals: Achieving long-term targets for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency.
If your organization is considering the installation of EV chargers or would like to learn more, consider contacting Impact Network Members Arcadian Projects, and VCT Group For data-related questions or membership information please reach out to impactnetwork@sustainablewr.ca.