As electric vehicles become mainstream, businesses need to address the EV charging and how they are going to support EVs.
Providing charging for electric vehicles is an excellent way to attract customers especially in the leisure, hospitality and retail sectors. EV charging is becoming a must have like WiFi has become.
As transport goes electric so will company vehicles as well. Having EV charging at work is convenient, low cost and overnight charging means the vehicles are 'fully fuelled' for the next days work.
Electricity for EVs can be generated cheaply onsite using solar panels on the buildings roof, or using carports / solar panels over parking spaces to generate electricity directly for the vehicles parked below.
Reduce charging worries for employees by having cheap or free EV charging at the workplace who can leave the car plugged in slow charging while they work. Low cost to provide with free solar energy.
EVs are zero emission so there are no pollutants and particulates causing an unhealthy environment and dust everywhere. EV charging encourages helps provide this benefit for all.
EV charging is very flexible to provide with the ability to make it free to users or selectively price however the business feels is best.
The energy transition is in progress moving from polluting fuel sources to zero emission generation, and with it the growing number of electric vehicles on the road. Currently at just over 20% of all cars sold, the 2030 deadline will accelerate the number of EVs on the roads.
EV charging does not have to be done quickly, batteries prefer a slower charge to keep them healthy and parked all day at work is an ideal opportunity. Alternatively providing the opportunity to charge for customers makes life easier and is an attraction especially in the leisure and travel sectors where cars are parked for longer after a longer journey.
The best use solar power is to use it yourself behind the meter and not have to import electricity. Most car parks are open empty spaces ideal for unobscured access to sunlight to generate solar power. Combining the two, solar power in car port canopies with users just below is an great combination of to use the space and provide instant benefit at the same time.
The solar carports can be combined with batteries to store excess charge after cars are full or in periods of peak generation to charge cars or use in the business later when less solar power is being generated and their is demand.
Covering car parks is gaining in popularity due to the benefits for car owners too – keeps cars cool in the sun and dry when it rains or snows.
All new buildings plus those undergoing renovation with 10 or more parking spaces now have to a minimum of one chargepoint with cable route provision for at least 20% of car park spaces. The legislation is expected to change to use those pre-installed cable routes for chargers.
In addition, further legislation is likely to introduce similar rules as in France where car parks of a certain size have to have a solar canopy to generate electricity. In France there are strict time limits too putting pressure on car park owners to complete the work pushing up prices.
Planning ahead the car park owner in the UK can beat the rush and have solar canopies generating power and income before this happens.
There are many options to providing EV charging options in non-residential environments connected to solar power generation. The business can set the price including free and control the charging to balance load and available power.
Solar canopies over car parking spaces can be more individual car port style or canopies that extend over many spaces. The power can then be utilised locally, with the business or exported as appropriate as suits each individual installation.
There are other canopy options too. Only got a bike rack space, use a solar canopy to keep the bikes out of the sun and rain while generating solar power (see photo). Walkways, covered spaces, anywhere outside and needs a cover.
Extending solar panels over car parking spaces is a great way to add solar or extend a roof based solar energy system to add additional capacity for the business or earn income from. EV charging is an excellent benefit to power the company vehicles cheaply, and provide value added benefits to customers and employees.
Start the process using the Tell Me More button. We will then be in touch to understand your needs, and provide more information on how a solar energy system can be profitable for your business.
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