TECHNOLOGY
EV Chargers for Commercial Properties By: Scott Baker, Baker Engineering
“EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, WE’VE HEARD THAT THIS WILL BE THE YEAR FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND CHARGERS TO TAKE OFF,” SAID GLENN KURTZ, VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES WITH LEGACY PARKING. “I THINK WE ARE FINALLY AT THE PRECIPICE OF SOMETHING AMAZING WHEN IT COMES TO EV CHARGERS.” Current trends predict that electric vehicles (EV) will become standard over the next 15 years. Most major automotive manufacturers have stated goals to convert most or all new car models to electric by 2035. The EV market has grown substantially in the past decade. This can be seen most visibly in the number of chargers throughout the United States. There were only 506 public EV chargers nationwide in 2010. The number of EV chargers has grown substantially to over 100,000 chargers in 2022. In Georgia, EV growth has looked a little different due to varying degrees of governmental support and consumer adoption outside of the Atlanta metro area. As of 2021, Georgia has over 54,000 registered electric vehicles, and a car-to-charger ratio of about 14 to 1. With the growth in electric vehicles, the need to provide charging infrastructure has risen considerably.
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Insight • Issue 2, 2022
Charging Types and EV Technologies EV charging stations currently come in three levels. A Level 1 charger is typically 120 volts fed from a standard wall outlet and is often referred to as a trickle charger. These chargers typically come with all EVs sold. The rate of charge is limited to 1.3 to 2.4 kW or three to five miles of EV range per hour charged. Level 1 chargers can take over 24 hours to completely charge an empty EV. Level 2 chargers can vary from 208 – 240 V, allowing for a range of 3 to 19 kW or about 18-28 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 3 charging is the fastest, at 480 volts with most cars being able to be charged up to 80-percent in 20 – 40 minutes and 100-percent in 60 – 90 minutes. Technology may find a way to reduce this time to a level similar to filling a gas tank as many researchers are working on this challenge. There are a few novel ideas for solving current charger limitations. One idea that has gained traction in the Midwest involves roadways that charge vehicles through induction while electric vehicles drive on them. This is being tested in the Midwest, with Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing construction of the first mile of wireless charging road in the U.S. in Detroit. If this solution works, it could reduce the battery size requirements and the need for as many charging stations but with likely costlier infrastructure and maintenance.
