Are you excited about buying an electric vehicle from a prominent brand? Eco-friendliness, innovative features, and several other factors are the major attractions for potential EV buyers. In 2023, there was a surge in sales of electric cars in Canada by more than 13%. But, where will you charge your electric vehicle? Most EV owners have a concern about charging their vehicles during a long or short trip. The charging infrastructure throughout the country is developing every year. So, you can find multiple charge points to recharge your EV on the go. Let us now talk about the best places to charge EVs.
A list of the best places to charge EVs
Charging your vehicle at your own home
With the increasing use of electric cars, many EV owners have thought of setting up a charging infrastructure in their homes. Having a home charging station is a convenient and practical choice. So, a minimal investment in the electric vehicle charging station will give you a significant value. You can charge your vehicle at any time, and there is no need to search for public charging stations. You can start your journey with a fully charged vehicle. You have to pay only for the amount of energy consumed.
EV charging stations at your workplace
You may like to drive your electric car to reach your office every day. So, several employers have thought of implementing workplace charging to ensure advantages to employers. Most workplaces have Level 2 charging stations.
However, employers need to gauge employee interest before investing in a charging station. They have to determine how the charging infrastructure will benefit EV-commuting employees. This approach will encourage employees to depend more on EVs and reduce harmful emissions.
Level 2 stations are advantageous because every Level 2 connector can charge multiple vehicles in a day. Organizations should impose policies to stimulate workers to share the charging stations. Some Level 2 charging stations allow easy sharing of multiple connectors. So, different vehicles can be charged successively, and there is no need to disconnect any car.
Employers investing in workplace charging stations should decide on how their employees will pay for their EV charging. But, some big organizations allow free charging opportunities to employees. But, fees will help employers offset the operational costs related to charging stations.
Some employers have implemented time-limit policies regarding the use of the workplace charging infrastructure. You can also enforce the policy in several ways. For instance, you may install a charge station software that allows employees to charge their cars for a particular number of hours. If you have not imposed these policies, you should encourage EV owners to move vehicles voluntarily.
EV charging at the gas stations
To stay viable in the world of electric cars, many gas stations want to embrace a new business model that meets EV owner’s needs. They are trying to incorporate EV charging stations into the existing infrastructure for traditional fuel pumps. By providing charging stations, gas station owners can enter the growing EV market. Electric car drivers can easily recharge vehicles and engage in various activities at the gas station. Thus, multiple functionalities will attract more customers to gas stations across the country. Gas stations will solidify their positions with forward-thinking adaptions.
This approach also allows them to win the competition with standalone EV charging stations. Diversified offerings and streamlined charging procedures will benefit customers. Furthermore, gas stations with EV charging facilities will provide more amenities, such as comfortable seating, well-maintained restrooms, and seamless checkout.
Gas stations are planning to make collaborations and partnerships to make their customer base bigger. They want to build a rapport with EV charging networks and local hotels for cross-promotions.
It is also essential to implement mobile apps, allowing customers to check charging service availability. Potential customers can book their charging slots and improve the charging process.
Charging your EV at the shopping centers
Many high-end shopping malls provide the facility to charge EVs on their premises. There are several reasons for setting up a charging centre at the shopping centre-
- Catch the shoppers’ attention
EV car owners look for parking zones with good charging facilities. Thus, shopping mall owners can attract more customers, and it will lead to increased revenue.
- Provide the best buyer experience
Managers or owners at the shopping centres try to implement effective strategies to attract customers. Consumer culture and preferences are not the same all the time. Shopping mall owners should implement the best strategy for improving the buyer’s experience. To encourage customers to stay at the mall for a longer time, they should identify how potential buyers arrive at the site.
- Manage range anxiety
Range anxiety is the biggest problem encountered by EV owners. Some consumers have a misconception that the city has only a few charging stations. However, many shopping centers have invested in the charging stations to ensure convenience to customers. Still, you may have portable EV charging points because some shopping malls do not have the potential to accommodate a large fleet of chargers.
- Advertising options
If there are advertising screens in the charging stations, mall owners can understand their customers better. They need to place digital outdoor signage close to the charging point infrastructure. It will allow them to create positive impressions.
Community charging
If you have no home charging facility, you can take advantage of local charging opportunities. Some people in your locality rent out home chargers to earn a revenue. However, it will benefit you as you can easily access the charging station. You may pre-book your charging time and come back after the battery is recharged.
Conclusion
There are diverse places to charge EVs because the recent trend is to choose an electric car for the daily ride. Before driving your car, it is important to be aware of the charging locations. Although you might not have home charging stations, you would find multiple places to recharge the car battery.
