EV charging technology will continue to improve and become more efficient; consequently, selecting a brand that allows for future upgrades will prevent some future expenditures. management capabilities, others are less functional. A few questions to pose initially are: • How will you accept payment should you choose to monetize? Currently, there is typically a 9% charge for transaction fees, and 9% shared revenue to the software provider. • What is the method of payment, RFID scan, or the ability to swipe a credit card? • Do you want to be listed on Google Maps and have travelers or local traffic stop to charge? This can cost up to $400 per charging spot per year. With this cost comes the white-glove service, including demand management visibility. • Public chargers typically charge customers by the minute, typically at a very low cost, $2-$4 per hour. Power Supply Contract: There are countless retail energy suppliers in the marketplace, and it is best to have an official and agnostic RFP run for your specific power load/consumption to get the best price available to you. APPI Energy has 25 years of experience reviewing, negotiating, and brokering power supply agreements. We have experience contracting products specific to utility meters that are used for EVs and can assist your dealership in navigating this new terrain. Demand Management: Another crucial consideration to keep top of mind is: how is the extra power usage going to affect demand charges, future capacity tags … and what are the available solutions? What’s more, consider whether the software you chose allows for site-level demand management. Another component to avoid is coincident peaks. If cars are charging during “peak times” of the day, when the grid is stressed the most, a significant “demand” charge will be added to your power bill from the utility. There are various solutions to help mitigate this inevitable side effect; however, the options should be customized to your energy profile for the best results. Operations and Management: The logistics don’t come to a pause after installation. What happens once everything is installed and something doesn’t work? Hardware or software fail? What kind of service is included by the manufacturer or network provider? Is this a full white-glove service? How long is the downtime while you wait for service? Funding: DCFC’s can cost several hundred thousand dollars if implementing more than a few of them – APPI Energy has options to assist in implementing a project at no upfront cost. State and federal incentives: Many of the state and federal incentives require Level 2 or higher charging speeds. For example, Austin Energy offers a rebate of up to $4,000 or 50% of the cost to install approved Level 2 charging stations for businesses. Austin Energy also provides rebates up to $10,000 to hosts who want to install a DC Fast Charger. As always, APPI Energy is here to advise TADA members and help navigate the evolving energy landscape, from the implementation of solar to the most advantageous EV charging plan. Contact APPI Energy today at 800.520.6685, info@appienergy.com, or appienergy.com. APPI Energy is a TADA Endorsed Company. 23 WINTER 2021
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