Having an energy-efficient dealership is an added bonus because it’ll help lower the energy load on its own, making some room for the additional demand of adding EV chargers. Dealerships can utilize their local public utilities energy efficiency programs, like Direct Install, to upgrade outdated lighting to LEDs and retrofit any inefficient HVAC equipment using state incentives and on-bill repayment options. IN THE EV FAST LANE Getting ahead of the EV race, especially while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, is a better strategy for dealerships in the long run. For example, Brogan Cadillac of Totowa approached Donnelly Construction about wanting to adopt electric vehicle charging for their facility over a year ago. Even with due diligence and foresight from Donnelly’s project planning team, construction was at the mercy of long product lead times due to supply chain issues. According to TJ Ely, Jr., President of Brogan Cadillac, if your dealership has a deadline on when to install EV chargers, you really can’t wait until the last minute to implement a plan. Ongoing supply chain issues have been affecting industries across the board, including New Jersey’s major utilities. A new transformer was needed to help supply more power to Brogan, with the equipment lead time being 45 weeks, delaying their installation. What should have been a four-month construction project turned into seven. However, not every electric vehicle charger installation requires heavy behind-themeter work or service upgrades. At Wholesale Auto Supply (WASCO) in South Hackensack, Donnelly was able to install two Level 2 chargers at their facility, as well as upgrade all of their lighting, in less than three months from the initial site assessment to final installation. Wholesale Auto had enough power supply to match the demands of their chargers and the perfect layout to install. No additional excavation work or “heavy lifting” was needed. Wholesale Auto Supply will also be participating in PSE&G’s EV charger program, which will cover all construction-related costs (labor, wiring, and conduit) for their new EV chargers. According to Andrea Karsian, CEO of WASCO, because the company had the extra capacity on their existing service to handle the installation of Level 2 chargers, the company was able to avoid any major construction work, making installation quick and seamless. New Jersey’s EV landscape is everchanging and adapting to the times. Working with a top-performing contractor who has your best interest in mind and strong programmatic relationships can help ensure the best return on investment. Chris Donnelly is Vice President of Business Development at Donnelly Construction. Founded in 1977, Donnelly Construction is a leading general contractor, construction manager, and property developer headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. Chris can be reached at 862.400.6106 or, via email, at cdonnelly@donnellyind.com. IF NEW JERSEY IS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF HITTING ITS EV GOALS, THEY NEED TO MAKE IT EASY AND AFFORDABLE FOR THIS INITIATIVE TO BE ADOPTED STATEWIDE. N E W J E R S E Y C O A L I T I O N O F A U T O M O T I V E R E T A I L E R S 17 N J C A R . O R G new jersey auto retailer
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