Installing EV Car Charging Stations

Electric Vehicles, or EV cars, are dominating car sales these days.  A record 1.2 million EV cars were sold in the United States in 2023, and Illinois is among the top 10 states of registered EV cars.  And that is about to grow significantly as our state is not very high historically on access to level 2 and DC fast charging stations.

While most folks are installing their cars at home, there is a growing demand for charging stations in public and work environments.  And Comed just released an ambitious rebates for level 2 chargers for public and commercial usages.  We expect public access to chargers to almost double in the next few years, driven by EV car purchasing and the generous support from the Utility to put those chargers into public spaces.

Public libraries, fire stations, police stations, and fast food restaurants are just a few of the many public spaces that benefit from the addition of EV car charging stations in their public parking lots.  In addition, multifamily parking lots for apartment buildings and condos will increasingly see demand for these systems and the percentage of tenants with these vehicles increases.

If you are thinking – why would anyone want to drive an EV?  You likely haven’t driven one, as they are incredibly fun to drive and responsive.  And, the cost to operate an electric vehicle is far less than a traditional vehicle.

Installing Charging Stations in a Public Area

Public Car charging stations can drive huge benefits, pun intended. Not only cash value to the public entity or business, but a higher perceived value from the public and employees.  It is an investment that can not only pay for itself, but also really attract and retain people.

Attracting Paying Customers

You can use an EV charging station to attract paying customers, such as those that are passing through and are willing to spend money while their car charges or just customers that are increasingly picking retail that has EV charging available.

Retaining Loyal Employees

While most EV charging stations at work have been for the owners, an increasing amount of employees will value this and it will help retain employees.  In addition, as we see more commercial fleets go toward EV or PHEV, this will drive the demand for charging stations.

Additional Income

An increasing amount of individuals own EV cars but lack a dedicated place to charge at home or at work.  Offering up a charger to collect revenue can be meaningful, or at least drive the decision to invest in a charger to a net positive value.

We install chargers that enables the EV Match software system, enabling a combination of free and charged charging, allowing the owner to get a premium on the energy that public uses to charge their vehicle.  We also support the local software from EV Energy Group in Park Ridge, IL and their innovative EV XYZ system.

WallBox Pulsar PRO

WallBox is a spanish company, that has really been at the cutting edge of worldwide EV car chargers for almost a decade.  These commercial grade Pulsar PRO chargers are sleek and lightweight, and incredible simple in design.

These products come in 40 amp and 48 amp chargers, perfect for a commercial Level 2 charger.  One of our favorite features about this system is that they can share a single breaker when there is limited panel space.  This means there can be three 40 amp chargers sharing a single 50 amp breaker. The first charger gets all the juice, the second shares 20 amps, and so on.  This allows dynamic charging when panel or building capacity is not available.

Finally, this product meets the current utility rebates requirement of ISO 15118, which is a standard for the future of charging EVs.  Not only does this allow the grid to safely manage energy usage, but it also enables the ability for folks to charge and pay for this service without an app or credit card on hand.

We typically propose this EV charger to buildings with a stand and two chargers on each stand, but it can mount directly to the wall.  In addition to the base stand, there is an upgraded stand that includes retractable cables and is a great value for the cost upgrade.

This commercial EV Car Charger comes with a basic WallBox software, that can charge clients a fee for charging.  In addition, we can install either EV Match or EV XYZ software for an upgraded system with reservations and more to meet any public space need.

The WallBox Pulsar PRO comes with a 3  year warranty, or can come with an upgraded 5 year warranty that even includes vandalism or accidents like a snow plow pushing over the equipment.

Autel MaxiCharger

Autel is another manufacture that meets ISO 15118, and has several products to choose from to meet commercial EV Car Charging installation needs.  Autel is a Chinese company that has a long history of quality and recently jumped into the EV Car Charging market.

The Autel MaxiCharger is up to 50 amps of charging speed, adjustable on a single unit.  This charger is tried and tested, with a ton of installations in the world, and one just up the street from us installed by Verde electricians.  This chargers has all the similar benefits for our clients, with a stand that can fit two 50 amp chargers if needed.

This commercial charger is up to 9x faster than home charging, delivering up to kW of power on level 2 charging for electric vehicles.

Right now, this Autel MaxiCharger can come with their base software, as well as the upgraded EVMatch system for reservations and more.

The base app is solid and gives a good readout of charging sessions as well as the ability to stop and start chargers.  It also allows Siri and Alexa to initiate and stop charging, and although more of a residential feature, could be attractive for business owners.

This commercial EV Car Charger comes with a 3 year warranty.

Autel MaxiCharger AC Ultra

This premium EV Car Charger comes with a robust stand, retractable cables, and really looks attractive.  While a higher price than the base charger from Autel, this one is worth the additional cost and comes with two ports, often covered by incentives from local utilities.

The MaxiCharger AC Ultra is ISO 15118, enabling grid support and app free and credit cardless payments for charging.  One of the more premium chargers, we see this as a great fit for many commercial and public spaces.

This robust charger not only looks more attractive than most, but also can do more out of the box.   At 240V and up to 80 amp, this charger can deliver 19.2 kw for fast charging (75 miles in an hour).  It also comes with an 8-inch touch display, and can handle fleet management and smart charging.

This product comes with a 3 year warranty.

EV Car Charger JuiceBox Pro

One the products we recommend most is the JuiceBox Pro EV Car Charger.  This product, specially designed for commercial applications, has a 32amp, 40amp or 48amp option for the commercial level 2 charger options.  We find our the JuiceBox Pro 40 is the most popular product right now, but the trend is toward higher amperage and faster charging.  With 25 miles charged in an hour, we feel the 40 amp version is a sweet spot for public access – not to be confused with level 3 fast charging for highways and rest stops.

We like the simplistic approach of the product, and have installed these for libraries and multifamily applications in Chicago, Oak Park and Vernon Area.

These units can mount directly to a wall, or they can come with a stand to mount up to two units (or ports for charging).  Additionally, they have an optional pedestal, which is more expensive but comes with a retractable cord management system.

The variety of options is helpful, as each use is unique need for a building and community.  With a 3 year warranty, and a very affordable 5 year extended warranty – we see and install a lot of JuiceBox Pro products in Chicagoland.

Currently, we recommend installing EVMatch software for managing this hardware.  This hardware expects to meet ISO 15118 in mid 2024 and will begin shipping soon and eligible for rebates and incentives.

EV Box Iqon

Another great option is the EVBox Iqon – which comes standard with two 30 amp charger retractable ports and a more attractive stand.

With less level 2 charging options that JuiceBox, this product really stands up for a few situations as the ideal product.  When compared to the Pedestal with retractable cables, the price point of the Iqon is better.  And our favorite feature is that you can get two charging ports with just a single 32 amp supply.  When the first car plugs in, it receives the full power charging up to 25 miles per hour.  When a second car plugs into the other port, both cars receive half the power.  While not ideal, this design allows a building with limited power supply to provide two ports.

If power is available, this product can be supplied with two 32 amp circuits, so it can charge faster speeds for two ports.

With a standard 5 year warranty, we really like the confidence behind this product.  And since they are stored in Libertyville, Illinois – they have a local presence and commitment.

What About The EV Car Charging Rebates?

Very recently, Comed released their rebates for public and commercial locations for level 2 chargers.  Those are as follows

Commercial and Public buildings, throughout Comed territory can receive a $5,333 rebates for installing a level 2 charger. This incentive is per port – so each JuiceBox receives $5,333 each, and each Iqon receives $10,666 each.

Commercial and Public buildings in distressed communities receive a $8,000 rebate for each port.  So each JuiceBox receives $8,000, and each Iqon receives $16,000.

There are different incentives to support residential, DC fast charging, and EV fleet vehicles.  All program will likely run out of funding, so we encourage our clients to act fast as these new programs can be a bit spotty when first out of the gate.

State and Federal Incentives for EV Car Charging Station Installations

Both Illinois and the Federal government offer attractive incentives for installing EV charging stations.  These incentives are a part of a glowing support network to support both purchase of electric vehicles, as well as the charging of these vehicles.  Our government is doing this in an effort to support a lower carbon emission form of transportation, in addition to public transit.

Illinois has the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate, which launched in July 2022 through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) offers rebates of up to 80% for installing Level 2 and DC Fast Charging stations.

The IEPA also has the Transportation Electrification Infrastructure Projects where it provides $70 million in grants for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, prioritizing medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, public transit, fleets, and school buses.

Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Program (REV Illinois Program) is a multifaceted initiative aimed at accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and fostering a robust clean energy economy in the state.

This program includes batteries, power supply equipment, and anything related to building and equipping EVs.  Starting in 2023, the program expanded to include tax credits for companies manufacturing renewable energy equipment like solar panels and wind turbines.

These tax credits are tiered based on investment and job creation, offering incentives for both large-scale manufacturers and smaller startups entering the clean energy space.

The program offers grants for public-private partnerships to develop innovative and accessible EV charging infrastructure, particularly in underserved communities.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) provides technical assistance to businesses and communities navigating the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy.  The program collaborates with educational institutions and training providers to develop a skilled workforce for the growing clean energy sector.

By combining financial incentives, infrastructure development, and workforce training, REV Illinois aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem that supports the growth of the clean energy industry and positions Illinois as a leader in the transition to electric vehicles.

Federal Tax Credit for Home Charging Equipment

The IRS Home Charging Equipment Credit, introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, offers a 30% tax credit, up to a maximum of $1,000, for the purchase and installation of qualified home charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). This credit applies to both Level 2 AC chargers and DC Fast Chargers, making it an attractive option for homeowners looking to make charging their EV more convenient and affordable.

To qualify for the credit, the charging station must be installed at your principal residence and meet specific safety and efficiency standards. Additionally, you must own the EV and use it primarily in the United States. The credit is claimed on your federal income tax return using Form 8911 and can be used to offset your tax liability dollar for dollar. It’s important to note that this credit applies to charging stations placed in service after December 31st, 2022, and is currently set to expire at the end of 2032.

Federal EV Tax Credit: This credit applies to the purchase of new electric vehicles and ranges from $2,500 to $7,500 depending on the model and battery capacity.  Introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, offers a tax break for purchasing new qualifying electric vehicles.  The credit amount ranges from $2,500 to $7,500, depending on the model and battery capacity of the EV.

You can claim the credit on your federal income tax return, reducing your tax liability dollar for dollar.  To qualify, the vehicle must be purchased new after December 31, 2022, and meet specific battery size and manufacturing requirements.

Additionally, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be below certain thresholds.  While this does not apply to a lot of businesses or owners, it is a critical part of the process for moving EVs forward.

NEVI Program for Electric Vehicle Adoptoin

The NEVI program provides $5 billion to states for building out their EV charging networks.

If you are confused about all of these overlapping incentives – don’t worry – we’ve got your back.  Set up an EV Car Charging Assessment with us and we can get you access to all kind of wonderful incentives.  While it can feel overwhelming – it really comes down to two things.  Does your organization want an EV Car Charger in your space, and do the incentives help you move forward with the decision.