Three ways electric vehicle charging can bring benefits to businesses

The electric mobility global market continues its growth, both in terms of registrations of hybrid and fully-electric vehicles. For Australian businesses, adding charging stations to their sites offer a range of benefits that extend beyond the environment.

Although Australia is lagging behind the rest of the developed world in its uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia's last report has shown how the adoption of EVs in Australia is starting to grow.

The perception of the practicality and benefits of electric vehicles versus internal combustion engine vehicles is rapidly changing in a positive direction. One area needed to support this continued growth is ensuring a reliable electric vehicle charging network, whether at the home, office or out and about, to counter any range anxiety.

Most public, commercial or industrial locations will only require a 22kW AC charger to meet their charging needs, particularly if vehicles will remain at the location for at least 30 minutes. They come in various configurations that can suit businesses of any size and budget.

There are three ways businesses can benefit from installing one or more electric vehicle chargers at their premises, by choosing how they enable charging for their customers.

By installing a simple plug-and-charge charger, businesses can offer free charging to entice people to their business. Just drive up and plug in – it's that simple. The cost of the electricity used will depend on their retail tariff and businesses that run primarily through the day and have solar installed can offset this to provide the charge at essentially no cost.

Chargers can control and manage the loads to ensure it doesn’t overload the capacity of their electricity supply. An example is an independent brewery in Victoria with five wall-mounted chargers installed. Two are FIMER FLEXA AC Wallboxes for customers to use for free.

Offer customers, guests or staff free charging as a value-add

Businesses that want more control over who has access to charge with their chargers can provide electronic swipe (RFID) cards at their discretion. All the user needs to do is swipe the RFID card on the charger, which will enable the charger. This is an ideal solution for hotels or motels offering their guests free charging and the ability to fully charge their vehicle overnight while it is parked.

Provide charging at a small fee and have an additional revenue stream

Businesses that install smart chargers that are OCPP-enabled can subscribe and connect to a charging management provider and offer customers to charge for a fee, enabling the business to create a new revenue stream. Every charging management provider will have a different subscription model. However, they will all manage the charger remotely and allow the business to set rates for customers to pay. For example, FIMER's charging solutions can be integrated with Noodoe, Everty or JetCharge, with more being added over time.

So what charging options are available?

FIMER's FLEXA AC Wallbox is a wall or stand-mounted solution that offers businesses an easy and affordable solution to install and offer electric vehicle charging.

The FLEXA AC Wallbox is Italian-made and has a 100 per cent recycled plastic casing that is IP55 rated, so it can be mounted inside or outside.

Businesses can install only one or up to 32 chargers and have them configured to work together smartly with its built-in load management system.

Alternatively, FIMER's FLEXA AC Station is a perfect solution for businesses with larger car parks, as it is a ground-mounted solution that can charge two vehicles simultaneously. FIMER's AC charging solutions, the Wallbox and Station, offer a 22kW threephase solution that can fully charge most current electric vehicles in approximately 2-3 hours. They can also be customised and branded to match any business's branding requirements.

There is confusion in the market that businesses need to offer DC fast chargers to their customers.

Compared with AC chargers, DC fast charging solutions are generally more expensive to install and have higher ongoing operating and maintenance costs.

DC fast chargers are usually installed in areas where vehicles will remain for less time, need to travel longer distances and/ or require fast turnover of vehicles to keep the availability of the charger as high as possible, for example along major roads or in regional or remote areas. These chargers pump energy directly into the vehicle's battery without first converting the energy from AC to DC. The charging times are much quicker, with fewer losses experienced.

FIMER's ELECTRA DC Station charger is a modular charger available in power ratings from 60kW up to 150kW, offering both AC and DC charging for up to three vehicles simultaneously.

FIMER is the fourth largest solar manufacturer globally and still manufactures its string inverters and electric vehicles in their two manufacturing facilities in Italy. Since 2017, they have been manufacturing electric vehicle chargers and to date, have over 55,000 units installed worldwide.