Investing in EV charging stations – how to choose the right location and optimize your retail charging site 

Whether you are overseeing a handful of retail sites or managing an entire retail chain, the strategic initiation of your EV charging infrastructure rollout is of paramount importance. Factoring in the constraints of both time and financial resources, retailers must carefully pinpoint optimal locations to commence their electrification journey. This deliberate approach will not only minimize opportunity cost but also enable operators to swiftly establish a notable presence in the evolving EV charging landscape.  

Retailers have a golden opportunity to enhance their offerings and attract a growing community of EV drivers. This blog post aims to provide retailers with tips and considerations to make informed decisions, ensuring a smooth and efficient rollout that maximizes return on investment. 

1. Understand how EV drivers will charge at your location 

Before diving into site selection, retailers must define the kind of EV charging experience they want to offer. Will it be a convenient opportunity charging solution for shoppers, or is the site location well-positioned for highway and traffic junction charging? The nature of the offering will impact power requirements and the overall feasibility of the site. 

2. Consider what services EV drivers are looking for 

Since charging requirements mean EV drivers often have longer dwell times compared to traditional ICE vehicles, EV drivers are seeking out various new services, ranging from restroom facilities to convenient parking and a welcoming environment. Moreover, when seamlessly integrated with primary tasks like weekly grocery shopping, charging can be transformed into a complementary activity. There’s a growing demand for opportunistic charging among EV drivers, so retailers have a unique opportunity to enhance customer satisfaction by integrating charging services into their core offerings. 

3. Analyze customer behavior 

Understanding the driving habits of your customers is crucial. Are they likely to drive to your store, and what are peak times for visiting the car park? Knowing the average time customers spend at your store helps tailor the charging offering to match their dwell time, optimizing the charging experience for both parties. 

4. Assess local EV presence 

Survey the area for the number of EVs and existing public charging infrastructure. A higher concentration of EVs coupled with limited public charging options makes a location more attractive. Even in competitive areas, retailers offering additional services and leveraging the value of customers’ time can stand out. 

5. Understand the residential landscape 

Determine whether your retail site is situated in an area with single-family houses or in a location dominated by condominiums and apartments. The latter scenario may indicate a higher likelihood of success, as residents in houses are likely to have home chargers, making public charging a secondary need. 

6. Explore external traffic opportunities 

Identify external traffic sources that could be attracted to your retail site due to the presence of EV charging. Taxis, last-mile delivery vans, or locations near traffic junctions and highways can add significant value and footfall to your EV charging station. 

7. Evaluate grid capacity and stress 

Assess the electrical grid’s stress in the area compared to your site’s power consumption. If your site has enough power capacity, it becomes a priority for installation. However, if an upgrade is necessary and the local grid is stressed, retailers should consider alternative sites to avoid delays and additional costs. On the other hand, if the chosen location shows significant potential across various metrics but grid power will be an issue, it’s advisable for retailers to promptly initiate the grid expansion application process to accelerate the site’s opening.

Finding solutions to fit your needs 

In instances where a power upgrade is required, retailers can leverage solutions for connecting into low voltage (LV) connection points, which, in many countries, involve fewer challenges and faster implementation. While LV connection points may accommodate fewer chargers or less power per charger, scalable solutions allow retailers to start smaller but still offer high power charging and more plugs and easily expand when the site is ready for a connection upgrade. A dynamic power-sharing solution ensures optimal charging for EV drivers even with restricted power. 

Grow your retail business with EV charging 

Strategic site selection is the cornerstone of a successful EV charging infrastructure rollout for retailers. By prioritizing locations based on customer behavior, amenities, local EV presence, external traffic opportunities and grid capacity, retailers can ensure a more efficient and profitable venture into the electric vehicle charging market. Embracing scalable solutions like those offered by Kempower allows for flexibility and growth, ensuring that your EV charging stations adapt seamlessly to evolving needs while simplifying the process even for low voltage connections. 

This blog offers essential knowledge to kickstart site prioritization and explore viable electrification solutions. Retailers diving deeper into analysis may face data access challenges, but consulting firms and AI tools can help.  

If you’re prepared to take the next step and electrify your site, keep an eye out for the upcoming release of our blog series! 

Written by

Oscar Sánchez Valverde

Segment Owner, Public Charging, Kempower