Expert Answers to Every EV Question

February 16, 2024
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Transcript

What鈥檚 the easiest road to EV success for my facility?

Answer: 色花堂solutions make EV charging infrastructure a key feature of your facility. And you get all of the power鈥攚ith none of the hassle.

The journey to broad EV adoption in the U.S.
The number of electric vehicles on American roads is increasing daily鈥攁nd it鈥檚 elevating the nationwide demand for more public and private EV charging stations.

Expert forecasts鹿 estimate that by 2030, 28 million EVs will enter the American auto market. Meanwhile, the EPA has announced expected new emissions rules that will result in EVs attaining a roughly 60% market share of all vehicles by the same year.虏 To power those, the U.S. will need 700,000 Level-2 chargers and 70,000 Level-3 chargers. That鈥檚 an 8-fold increase in the country鈥檚 EV charging infrastructure in just 7 years.

To help make this possible, the federal government has allocated $5 billion over the next half-decade to increase EV charging infrastructure, promising to fund half a million chargers.

In short, the nation鈥檚 headed straight into an era of hyperspeed growth in the EV market, and your facility needs to be ready to support it.

Your on-ramp to easy EV implementation: ABM

Are you reading these figures and feeling overwhelmed, lost, confused or unsure of how or where to start? Like it鈥檒l be impossible for you to meet the demand? Let 色花堂draw you a map for how to best get EV infrastructure at your facility.

As daunting as the prospect of charger proliferation sounds, our EV experts have enabled thousands of physical locations spanning over 15 different industries to meet the current and forthcoming demands of EV charging.

As the nation鈥檚 largest commercial installer of EV charging solutions, we are perfectly positioned to upgrade your systems and infrastructure to meet demand. We have the hardware, software, expertise, and financing structures to support you every step of the way. Plus, we鈥檝e got more than a decade of experience鈥攁nd over 28,000 installed EV charging ports鈥攖o prove it.

In short, if you鈥檝e got EV questions, we鈥檝e got EV answers.

Read this guide to get many of them right now. In it, we address the four primary barriers to success head-on:

Barrier 1 - Where to begin and how to scale

Barrier 2 - The costs, financing options, and financial structures

Barrier 3 - Finding the right solution for your specific facilities

Barrier 4 - Implementing in an uncertain economy

Once you know what you鈥檙e up against, we can start solving for it together, in a way that best benefits your facility and the people in it.

What questions should I be asking about EV charging infrastructure?

Answer: If you鈥檙e not sure where to start, don鈥檛 worry 鈥攚e鈥檝e already asked and answered all the questions.

EV charging technology is just now becoming widely demanded, mandated, and adopted. As a result, many facility owners and managers aren鈥檛 completely familiar with the details, specs, and requirements of implementing EV at their facilities. At the same time, they have reasonable concerns surrounding making a significant investment in EV charging infrastructure.

They worry that the EV installation market is:

  • Not yet mature
  • Fragmented
  • Full of jargon
  • A sea of sameness
  • Highly focused on software-enabled charging ports

Furthermore, EV marketing often loses track of the primary beneficiaries of the technology: EV drivers, the environment and the client鈥檚 business. Thus, facility owners and managers are uncertain on the best path forward, what sort of investment to expect and the ongoing costs and management requirements for maintaining the charging systems

Steering the EV rollout in the right direction

In December 2021, the Biden-Harris听Administration unveiled its 鈥淓V Charging Action Plan鈥澛 to outline steps federal agencies are taking to standardize, streamline and support the efforts to develop and deploy EV chargers in American communities across the country. As part of that plan, the Bipartisan听Infrastructure Law includes $5 billion in funding for building a national EV charging network.听

Consulting firm McKinsey & Company鈦 emphasizes not only the pressing need for increased EV charging infrastructure, but also consideration around the distribution and placement of such infrastructure:

鈥淎n important principle to consider is placing public chargers where EV owners will charge their vehicles. This point may seem obvious, but it can be challenging to accomplish in practice. By distributing public chargers in the right numbers and places, states and companies can analyze the driving and parking behavior of motorists in detail at the local level.鈥

The President is laying the foundation for a nationwide network of EV charging infrastructure to provide a reliable, affordable, convenient, seamless user experience that is equitable and accessible for all Americans. As a result, EV charging stations are now being required across a variety of facilities and industries:

Parking Structures听

Commercial complexes, airports, shopping centers, hospitals, schools and campuses

Governments & Municipalities听

City, county, state, federal; public access to charging at downtown parking and shopping, and as an employer, for EV fleets听

Commercial & Industrial Buildings听

Employer workplace locations and EV fleets

Large Entertainment Venues

Stadiums, theme parks and concert venues

Mixed-Use Facilities听

Multi-tenant/multi-family building owners will need to accommodate EV drivers

Public & Private Fleets听

Electric buses and shuttles need access to efficient charging

Beyond convenience, the EV chargers are also helping these facilities meet their green building initiatives and sustainability goals鈦, including improving air quality and reducing emissions. They鈥檙e also supporting our nation鈥檚 larger goals of creating a path to lower emissions by 2050 and positioning U.S. industries to lead these global efforts. In summary, the best time to start investing in EV charging infrastructure was yesterday. The next best time is right now.

How do I prepare my facility for the EV revolution?

Answer: Here鈥檚 your EV roadmap. We drew it just for you.

The right EV solution takes everything into account from the beginning. Financing and procuring for charging stations. Dynamic pricing models based on demand. Ongoing service and maintenance. All with an eye on long-term sustainability.听

Here鈥檚 how 色花堂builds your custom, scalable EV roadmap for implementing charging technology and capabilities at your facility:

1. SITE CONSULTATION & ANALYSIS

色花堂will help identify the optimal configuration to incorporate EV charging infrastructure while minimizing disruptions to your existing operation.

2. EQUIPMENT & NETWORK SYSTEM SELECTION

色花堂provides the EV chargers and operating software that ensure a smooth equipment installation or upgrade.

3. FINANCING STRUCTURE & INCENTIVES

色花堂helps you identify and secure local, state and federal funding, and provides financing for multi-year projects. Whether through a service-based structure, private or public funding, 色花堂works with you to uncover new financing options.

4. DESIGN, INSTALLATION & ELECTRICAL TESTING

色花堂experts design the EV charger installation鈥攅nsuring your facility has the right power distribution assets and capacity鈥攚hether you install Level-2, Level-3 or a combination of charging ports. Then, our accredited electrical testers perform compliance and safety assessments on all of it, ensuring dependability, reducing liability and protecting the people using your charging equipment per NFPA 70E standards.

5. ONGOING SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

After installation, your dedicated 色花堂team remains an active partner. This includes regular maintenance and any needed lifecycle service and futureproofing upgrades to keep pace with evolving technology and regulations.

6. CONTINUOUS MONITORING, ANALYTICS & REPORTING

色花堂provides dashboards with savings, sustainability and performance metrics all in one place. This empowers you with usage rates, monetization, power management and the additional data you need to report to your stakeholders and community. All to help you minimize costs, maximize revenue and make informed decisions about your pricing and programs.

Throughout it all, 色花堂is your single point of contact operating right by your side, answering every question and ensuring that you make the best choices today鈥攚hile remaining flexible and ready for the future of EV.

Why trust 色花堂as an authority on EV infrastructure?

Answer: We鈥檝e got more than a decade of experience鈥攁nd over 28,000 installed EV charging ports to prove it.

During our more than 110 years as a facility services provider and innovator, we鈥檝e helped facilities evolve to meet tech demands鈥攖housands of times. EV is the latest tech to be woven into the fabric of facilities, and our experts can answer any question about it.

With our extensive experience in parking management and energy-saving solutions, 色花堂helps your facility navigate the intersection of evolving technology, power requirements and operations that impact successful EV charging infrastructure. And our proven experience in eMobility means that we know how to expedite the implementation process and help you plan for your facility鈥檚 future.听

Facilities of all sizes partner with ABM. Our scale and breadth of expertise enable us to offer custom, cost-effective solutions that serve your drivers, your objectives and your bottom line. 色花堂is uniquely positioned to help you design and implement custom, innovative EV charging projects. Our teams self-perform installation, power distribution upgrades and cost-effective preventive maintenance, bundling the services you need to create a customized EV solution for your facility.

  • #1 commercial installer of EV chargers in the U.S
  • 28,000+EV charging ports installed
  • $1.5 Billionin parking revenue collected for 色花堂clients
  • 400,000+maintained parking lots (and equipment)
  • 230+major cities served
  • 10+years of EV charging experience
  • 93% customer retention rate

Answer: An entire training centerand program dedicated just to EV

色花堂is investing in the buildout of a more than 114,000+ sq ft. facility that will soon become the home for all of its EV innovation. The electrification center will house our eMobility and power grid headquarters and state-of-the-art EV training and commissioning facilities.听

Specifically designed for technical trades, and with space dedicated to hands-on training, the center features the following:听

  • Warehouse for 色花堂EV chargers, EV OEM spare parts and pre鈥揷ommissioning听
  • Advanced repair support services facility听
  • Indoor EV charging development and testing lab to support vehicle interoperability testing with our clients
  • Exterior EV charging hub for DC Level-3 and AC Level-2 charger

Alongside the development of its electrification center, 色花堂has also launched its new 色花堂Certified EV Charger Technician program, which will be the first-of-its-kind OEM-agnostic training program. Consisting of three tiers of certification and bringing together ABM鈥檚 world-class service and maintenance, our deep understanding of EV charging will fully develop the next generation of EV service technicians.

Answer: The added value of unmatched expertise6

A successful EV installation requires more than a trained technician. It takes experience working alongside cities and utilities, engineering excellence and the exceptional customer service skills of a qualified EV charging partner. Here鈥檚 everything else 色花堂offers.

  • Single source provider for consultation, selection, configuration and pricing, installation, permitting, testing and maintenance听
  • Lower electricity rates through our supply-side power offerings
  • Building and facility services to improve energy efficiency through HVAC, mechanical, electrical and LED lighting and intelligent lighting controls听

As the largest commercial installer of EV charging stations in the U.S., 色花堂is perfectly positioned to upgrade your EV systems and infrastructure. We have the hardware, software, expertise and financing structures to support you every step of the way. With us, you鈥檒l be ready to meet the impending, growing demand for EV.

How many EV charging stations, and which types, do I need?

Answer: It all depends on your goals, footprint and the investment you want to make in your facility鈥檚 EV infrastructure. But, no matter which way you choose to go, 色花堂can get you there.

As electric vehicles continue to evolve, 色花堂can help you lead the charge by right-sizing your EV assets and maximizing their useful service life.听

Here鈥檚 a quick overview of the three main types of EV charging technology

Level-1 Charging 鈥 Uses a standard 110/120-volt receptacle

  • A simple cord with an adapter uses a standard AC wall plug on one end and the EV鈥檚 standard charging port on the other. This offers a slow 鈥渢rickle鈥 charge that is best suited for emergency charging, as it only provides a limited extension of the vehicle鈥檚 range over a long-duration charge.

Level-2 Charging 鈥 Uses the 208/240-volt SAE J1772 port for faster charging听

  • It can be anywhere from 3.5 to 10 times the speed of a Level-1 charger (4-6 hours to fully charge a small EV).听
  • 听With their relatively low cost and moderate electrical infrastructure demands, Level-2 stations have become both the global industry standard and the practical standard for the majority of sites.听
  • Keen eyes will notice a growing number of charging stations popping up in key metro areas at retailers, public parking sites, office buildings, parking structures and residences.听

Level-3 Charging (DC Fast Charging) 鈥 480 volt, very fast charging for automobiles equipped with the Fast Charging option听

  • DC Fast Charging can charge a small EV to 80% of its capacity in less than 30 minutes.听
  • Unlike Level-2, where there is one global standard, Level-3 chargers have at least three 鈥渃ompeting standards.鈥 These standards have regional roots, yet both are battling for global dominance. It will take some time to see if the industry moves to a single option or if we live with two for the foreseeable future8.

No matter which type you need, 色花堂teams know how to design efficient, safe and dependable EV installations

Meeting high-voltage requirements听

These days, it鈥檚 become common to see chargers with more residential specifications, such as 240V, 20A. Now, 40A circuits are needed for AC charging.听

For DC Fast Charging, 50kW and 400V have been the norm. And that鈥檚 poised to increase to 800V at 350kW of charging. Meanwhile, the market is already looking ahead to 1,000kW (1MW) and 1,200V.听

Many commercial electricians are not required to work with voltages higher than 480V phase-to-phase, and many work mostly with AC power. DC Fast Charging means more technicians will need to be trained to work on DC at the 1,000V (soon to be 1,200V) level. This means a change in the insulation rating of the wiring needed, a change to the personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for the job and a big change to your training plans.听

To operate in this increasingly charged environment, 色花堂has fully trained its personnel across the board鈥攏ot just techs. Our field electricians all possess the appropriate skills and PPE for handling higher voltage equipment. In addition, our estimators, designers and project managers are well-versed in the increased power requirements and working practices required.

What are the right EV chargers to meet my needs and demand?

Answer: 色花堂provides and installs world-class charging technology. We鈥檒l work with you, your facility and your goals to implement the best possible EV charging hardware

From entry-level charging solutions to the latest smart EV Level-2 charging stations and Level-3 heavy duty fleet chargers, our options are perfect for any location, including hotels, offices, entertainment venues, residential parking lots and more.

  • Fast time-to-market
  • Low development costs听
  • Best-in-class reliability听
  • Comprehensive product support

How do I monitor and optimize the usage of my EV charging stations?

Answer: Our intelligent, proprietary EV OS software enables you to balance comprehensive reporting, energy management and automatic peak-hour pricing in a few clicks.

色花堂doesn鈥檛 just specialize in charging hardware. Our EV OS software suite is a versatile, cloud-based operating platform that can run a single charging station or a network of charging stations across multiple locations.鈦固

Utilizing smart algorithms and intelligent monitoring, the software balances electrical usage, optimizes available power usage and protects local electrical systems from overloading.听

色花堂EV OS also offers flexible implementation options to suit your ideal number of chargers. It鈥檚 part of the complete charging package that 色花堂offers industries and facilities.

Core Services听

  • Remote operation management that is scalable and brings a single charging site or entire charging network into focus on a single platform听
  • Easy access information management includes the location and photos of each charging site听
  • Comprehensive reporting with automatic peak-hour pricing and cost optimization听
  • Automatic infrastructure diagnostics that reduce downtime and enhance visibility to 色花堂service and maintenance teams

Microservice Library听

  • An ever-expanding library of microservices and timely custom implementation that can fit any business needs听
  • Energy management, enablement and promotion features to optimize operation听

Advanced Services听

  • Customizable solutions for business and charging network operators of any size听
  • Build your own charging ecosystem through API integrations including rewards programs, building entry badges and parking systems

What EV financing, tax incentives, grants and rebates can I get for my facility?

Answer: Our experts help you identify governmental funding and financing options for your facility to help you pay鈥攁nd pay less鈥攆or your EV charging infrastructure.

The installation of EV charging infrastructure is supported by subsidies and rebates at the federal, state and local levels.鹿鈦 Local governments as well as utilities providers offer an array of tax credits, rebates and grants to help offset the installation and operating costs of an EV charging network.听

While most people are familiar with the federal tax credits available for installing EV chargers, many are unaware of additional programs that may be available. Right now, 63% of the country is covered by a rebate or incentive for installing an EV charger.Representative programs include:鹿虏

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program鹿鲁听

  • Allocates $5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure along 75,000 miles of highway across the country.听
  • Your facility must be within one mile of an established alternative fuel corridor to qualify and may need to meet other requirements as well.

The 30C Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit鹿鈦刺

  • Commonly referred to as the 鈥渇ederal tax credit,鈥 gives qualifying businesses a 30% tax credit, up to $100,000, for the purchase and installation of EV charging infrastructure.听
  • Businesses must have installed the stations between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2032, and must claim the credit on their federal tax return.

Numerous State & Local Incentives & Laws鹿鈦

  • There is a wide number of state and local laws and incentives that encourage or require the use of alternative fuels, electric vehicles, EV charging station design guidance, EV ready building requirements or strategies to decrease fuel use or increase fuel economy.听

Having done this for over a decade with a dedicated Rebate & Incentive team, 色花堂constantly tracks available EV programs by state. All to help you get as many tax credits, rebates, grants and incentives as possible鈥 and to minimize the cost of your EV implementation.

What environmental and sustainability benefits can EV deliver for my facility?

Answer: From reduced carbon emissions to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels to eliminating greenhouse gases, EV chargers are as good for the environment as they are for your operation

The environmental impacts of EV charging solutions

色花堂is the largest installer of electric vehicle charging stations in theU.S. To date, we have installed more than 28,000 EV charging stations.

This means we鈥檝e helped our EV clients and their customers to avoid:

  • 3,849,000pounds of greenhouse gases and other emissions
  • 1,746tons of CO虏e/kWh鈥攁nd a fuel cost of over $658,000
  • 196,000gallons of gasoline and diesel fossil fuel use

We also helped increase our clients鈥 waste-diversion rates, reduce their operating costs and achieve LEED and True Zero Waste certification credit points with our waste management services.

Our broader sustainability efforts

Beyond our EV solutions, 色花堂has also helped our customers and their facilities achieve their sustainability goals. In total, we鈥檝e helped them to save, reduce or avoid:

  • $275,000from utilizing electricity to displace fossil fuels
  • 5,800tons of greenhouse gases (GHG)
  • 3,500pounds of nitric oxides(NoX)
  • 5,600pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • 300pounds of particulate matter

We also helped increase our clients鈥 waste-diversion rates, reduce theiroperating costs and achieve LEED and True Zero Waste certification credit points with our waste management services.

  • 361 million square feet of our clients鈥 facilities implemented our Green Cleaning and GreenCare庐 programs
  • 450USGBC LEED-certified and LEED-registered sites serviced

In 2022, 色花堂earned a SEAL Award, recognizing it as one of the 鈥50 Most Sustainable Companies in the World鈥 for its impactful and innovative environmental initiatives.鹿鈦

Need more than just EV solutions for your parking facility?

Answer: Introducing 色花堂Vantage鈩. An integrated mobility solution that unifies your data and maximizes your revenue so your operation can do more. It鈥檚 Parking Unparalled.

色花堂Vantage makes parking simple by unifying diverse component systems to seamlessly manage, maintain and modernize parking.

Unconstrained Data Insights听

  • 色花堂Vantage centralizes all your data from existing subsystems into a single source of truth鈥攇iving you new insights to better forecast and anticipate demand.听

Unrivaled Revenue Optimization

  • Through capacity planning and dynamic pricing, 色花堂Vantage accelerates your ability to maximize value through new products and revenue streams.听

Uncompromising Operational Efficiency

  • 色花堂Vantage streamlines how people move through your facility鈥攔educing bottlenecks and operational costs while bringing greater efficiency to your operation.

Unprecedented Driver Experience听

  • Whether your drivers are fans, employees, students, tenants or visitors, exceed their evolving expectations with touchless payment and online booking鈥攊ncluding VIP, Valet and EV-charging capabilities.

So, what鈥檚 the ROI on EV?

Answer: Happier tenants and visitors. Fewer carbon emissions. Cleaner air. Less energy waste. Lower energy bills. Greater revenue for your facility.

Preparing your facility for the forthcoming EV revolution is smart for everyone.听

EV charging stations provide a new revenue stream for your facility, improve your sustainability metrics and support the evolving lifestyles and preferences of tenants and customers.听

Sources:

1. Electrek.co 鈥 2022 S&P Global Mobility forecast 鈥 鈥淗ere鈥檚 how many EV chargers the US has 鈥 and how many it needs鈥

2.Electrek.co 鈥 鈥淓PA releases new emissions rules: 60% EV by 2030, saves US trillions鈥

3. The White House 鈥 鈥淔act Sheet: The Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan鈥
4. McKinsey & Company 鈥 鈥淏uilding the electric-vehicle charging infrastructure America needs鈥

5. 色花堂鈥 鈥淓V Infrastrucutre 101: An Early Market EV Whitepaper from 色花堂for Facility Managers鈥

6. 色花堂鈥 鈥淪implifying the path to EV鈥澨

7. ABM鈥撯淓VInfrastrucutre101:AnEarlyMarketEVWhitepaperfromABMforFacilityManagers鈥

8. 色花堂鈥 鈥淓V Infrastrucutre 101: An Early Market EV Whitepaper from 色花堂for Facility Managers鈥

9.础叠惭鈥撯赌淓痴翱厂笔濒补迟蹿辞谤尘贵别补迟耻谤别蝉&补尘辫;叠别苍别蹿颈迟蝉鈥

10. U.S. Department of Energy 鈥 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 鈥 鈥淓lectricity Laws and Incentives鈥

11. BriteSwitch 鈥 鈥淩ebates for EV Chargers. Do you qualify?鈥

12. U.S. Department of Energy - Alternative Fuels Data Center - 鈥淓lectricity Laws and Incentives in Federal鈥

13. Federal Highway Administration - Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill - 鈥淭he National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure(NEVI) Formula Program Guidance鈥

14. U.S. Department of Energy 鈥 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 鈥 鈥淎lternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit鈥

15. U.S. Department of Energy 鈥 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 鈥 鈥淪tate Laws and Incentives鈥

16. 色花堂鈥 鈥淎BM鈥檚 eMobility Solutions Recognized with Prestigious SEAL Business Sustainability Award鈥

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