Congratulations on installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in your workplace! Providing this service to your employees is a great way to promote sustainability and encourage the adoption of EVs. One question you may have is whether your workplace EV chargers can also be made available to the public. In this blog post, we’ll explore the possibility of offering public access to your workplace EV chargers.
Benefits of Public Access EV Charging
Opening up your workplace EV chargers to the public can have several benefits:
- Additional Revenue – If your workplace EV chargers are not being used by employees outside of working hours, opening them up to the public can generate additional revenue for your business.
- Increased Visibility – Public access to your EV chargers can increase their visibility and promote your business as a sustainable and forward-thinking organization.
- Community Engagement – By providing public access to your EV chargers, you can engage with the local community and help promote the adoption of EVs.
Things to Consider Before Offering Public Access
Before opening up your workplace EV chargers to the public, there are several things to consider:
- Equipment Compatibility – Make sure that your EV charging equipment is compatible with the public’s vehicles. This may require additional equipment or software updates.
- Payment and Billing – Determine how you will handle payment and billing for public access. You may need to establish a payment system or partner with an existing payment provider.
- Liability and Insurance – Consider the liability and insurance implications of providing public access to your EV chargers. Make sure that you have adequate coverage and are following any legal requirements.
- Maintenance and Support – Determine how you will handle maintenance and support for public users. This may require additional staffing or contracting with a third-party provider.
Steps to Offering Public Access
If you’ve decided to offer public access to your workplace EV chargers, here are some steps to get started:
- Determine the Compatibility of Your Charging Equipment – Make sure that your EV charging equipment is compatible with the public’s vehicles.
- Decide on a Payment System – Determine how you will handle payment and billing for public access. This may involve partnering with an existing payment provider or establishing a payment system.
- Establish a Liability and Insurance Plan – Make sure that you have adequate coverage and are following any legal requirements for providing public access to your EV chargers.
- Develop a Maintenance and Support Plan – Determine how you will handle maintenance and support for public users. This may require additional staffing or contracting with a third-party provider.
- Advertise Your EV Chargers – Once you’ve established public access to your EV chargers, advertise them to the public. This can include posting signage, listing them on EV charging directories, and promoting them through social media and other marketing channels.
Offering public access to your workplace EV chargers can have several benefits, including additional revenue, increased visibility, and community engagement.
However, before opening up your EV chargers to the public, make sure that you’ve considered equipment compatibility, payment and billing, liability and insurance, and maintenance and support. With careful planning and execution, you can successfully provide public access to your workplace EV chargers and promote the adoption of EVs in your community.