As electric vehicle adoption accelerates across Florida, forward-thinking Orlando businesses are installing commercial EV charging stations to serve employees, customers, and visitors. Understanding the benefits, options, and considerations for commercial charging installations helps business owners make informed decisions about this increasingly important amenity.
Benefits for Orlando Businesses
Installing EV charging stations demonstrates environmental commitment and positions your business as forward-thinking. Customers increasingly consider sustainability when choosing where to spend their money, and visible charging infrastructure signals your company values align with growing environmental awareness.
Employee recruitment and retention benefits are substantial. Offering workplace charging as an amenity attracts EV-driving job candidates and provides meaningful value to existing employees. This benefit costs relatively little compared to other compensation elements while addressing a practical daily need for EV owners.
Extended dwell time represents a direct commercial benefit for retail locations, restaurants, and service businesses. EV owners seeking charging naturally spend time at your establishment while their vehicles charge, increasing opportunity for purchases and engagement with your offerings.
Revenue generation is possible through paid charging services. Many businesses offer charging as a free amenity, but others implement payment systems that recover costs or even generate modest profit. Networked charging stations provide various billing options and usage tracking capabilities.
Commercial Charging Options
Level 2 commercial chargers provide practical charging speeds for locations where vehicles park for extended periods. Workplace installations, retail centers, hotels, and restaurants typically employ Level 2 equipment, adding 20 to 40 miles of range per hour of charging. These units cost less to purchase and install than faster options while meeting most customer and employee needs effectively.
DC fast charging stations offer rapid charging comparable to Tesla Superchargers, adding significant range in 15 to 30 minutes. These installations suit highway rest stops, convenience stores, and other locations where quick turnaround is expected. Higher equipment and installation costs require careful business case analysis to ensure adequate utilization.
Tesla destination chargers provide a branded option specifically for Tesla vehicles. Tesla provides equipment at reduced cost for qualifying hospitality businesses, though installation remains the property owner responsibility. These chargers attract Tesla-driving customers specifically seeking charging during dining, lodging, or shopping.
Site Planning Considerations
Electrical infrastructure assessment is essential before committing to commercial charging installation. Many commercial buildings have adequate electrical capacity for several Level 2 stations without upgrades. Larger deployments or DC fast charging may require service upgrades coordinated with your utility company.
Location selection within your property affects both usability and installation cost. Placing chargers near electrical service points minimizes wiring runs. Providing convenient, well-lit locations encourages usage while ensuring user safety. ADA accessibility requirements apply to public charging installations.
Consider traffic flow and space allocation carefully. Charging spaces should not impede general parking circulation. Signage directing EV drivers to charging locations and indicating any usage policies prevents confusion and encourages compliance.
Network and Payment Considerations
Commercial charging stations typically connect to charging networks that handle payment processing, usage monitoring, and remote management. Networks like ChargePoint, EVgo, and others provide business owners dashboards showing usage statistics, revenue tracking, and station status monitoring.
Pricing strategy options include free charging as an amenity, per-session fees, per-kilowatt-hour billing, or time-based charges. Your choice depends on business goals, whether attracting customers, recovering costs, or generating revenue. Some businesses offer free charging for customers while charging fees for general public access.
Incentives and Tax Benefits
Federal tax credits currently offer 30% of commercial EV charging equipment and installation costs up to $100,000 per location. Florida state incentives vary but may provide additional benefits. Utility company programs sometimes offer rebates or reduced installation costs for commercial charging deployment.
These incentives significantly improve the business case for commercial charging installation. Combining federal credits with available local incentives can offset half or more of total project costs, accelerating return on investment substantially.
Professional Commercial Installation
ChargeOrlando provides commercial EV charging installation services throughout the Orlando metropolitan area. We help business owners evaluate options, select appropriate equipment, manage permitting and installation, and coordinate with charging networks. Contact us to discuss how commercial charging can benefit your business and receive a customized proposal for your location.
