EV OWNERS
Workplace charging provides convenience and flexibility
If home charging is the most convenient and affordable way to charge, why would you need workplace charging?
Some people might need it if they don't have a way to charge their EV at their home. For others, it can double their daily driving range when needed.
As an employee, you may be trying to figure out how to convince your employer that providing workplace charging is a good move, and how to help them to implement it. Here are some tips and resources for you.
Potentially the main charging location
Since today's EVs have a much longer range than first generation EVs did, range is not really an issue anymore. The average EV sold in the US in 2022 has over 250 miles of range, so daily commutes are not much of a challenge as long as you have home charging. If you don't have an opportunity to charge at home, workplace charging is a very valuable service for you.
Preheating/cooling
Most of the EVs coming to the market have an option of setting your car to preheat or precool before you even get in the vehicle. Workplace charging will allow you to fully enjoy this feature without using the batteries and shortening the range.
More flexibility (Errands, change of plans…)
Our days are not all the same and sometimes plans change. Workplace charging will make those changes easier to manage and stay on electric even if your EV range is shorter. .
Purchase decision influence
Purchasing an electric car is a wise move, but the decision has many implications. Many people are still hesitant to make the shift, but the knowledge that you can charge your vehicle at work will make that decision easier. It also provides an opportunity to talk with your colleagues who own EVs to hear their opinions on different models.
More EV miles
If new battery electric vehicles have over 200 miles of range, older and more affordable used EVs can have only 50-100 miles of range. Plug-in hybrids also still have a much shorter EV range of 15-50 miles depending on the vehicle. If you are a PHEV driver, you have a gas engine so you can drive hundreds of miles with gas, but naturally you would like to drive with much cleaner electricity whenever possible. Workplace charging can allow you to fully recharge your battery during the workday, potentially doubling your daily driving range and staying on electric for your whole commute. This means more miles on electric, less gas used and drastically lower emissions.
Benefits
How to proceed?
1. Calculate your own use case.
We highly recommend keeping things simple, using your own experience as an example and helping your employer to find cost effective solutions. You can start by analyzing your own workplace charging needs. You can do this by downloading the Workplace Charging Power and Energy Calculator Tool and doing the math on your use case. This will clarify your needs and prepare you for presenting the numbers to your employer.
2. Demonstrate the need
For your employer or the building owner to consider workplace charging, they have to see that there is a need for it. Therefore your next step in the process is to connect with other EV owners. If you see others EVs parked in the same parking area, for example, you can simply leave a friendly note on their windscreen inviting them to call you so you can talk with them about workplace charging and see what their needs are. There are many benefits listed on the Employers and Building Owners/Managers webpages that you can use when talking with decision makers.
3. Talk with your employer and ask if they have considered offering EV charging at your workplace.
Share the reasons you and your fellow EV owners want workplace charging and refer your employer to the Employers page to learn more. There are many benefits listed on the Employers and Building Owners/Managers pages that you can use when talking with decision makers.
You can also ask your HR department to do a short survey of employees using the WPC Survey tool to identify current EV owners and those who are considering purchasing or leasing one in the near future.
4. Help your employer find the best solutions.
We have seen several workplace charging projects get started with high hopes, only to get bogged down with technical difficulties, cumbersome usage policies or higher than expected costs that have derailed the projects. There are so many new dimensions in this area and most people have little experience in EVs and charging, so we are happy to help with that too. EMPOWER is an outreach and education project that provides you resources to find the right answers to your workplace charging questions and support in implementation too. Get in touch with our coalition partners.