By Thomas Sardo and Patrick White, AKF Group
As decarbonization efforts increase, electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant traction and with them, the need for robust EV charging infrastructure. EVs currently represent roughly 1% of vehicles on the road and 6% of new vehicle sales in the US. These numbers are expected to surge in the coming years. The federal government has set ambitious goals to help accelerate the adoption of EVs. One of these goals is to have 500,000 public EV charging stations operational across the United States by 2030. Private EV charging stations will also present a new opportunity to businesses.
To incentivize the development and installation of EV charging stations, federal tax credits and rebates are available to businesses and individuals. These financial incentives encourage investment in infrastructure and help offset the costs associated with deploying charging stations. The Federal Tax Credit for EV Charging Infrastructure provides a credit of up to 30% of the installation costs, capped at $30,000 for businesses and $1,000 for individuals. This credit applies to both commercial and residential charging stations.
Various states and local governments offer additional incentives such as grants, rebates, and exemptions from permit fees to further spur the growth of EV charging stations. These initiatives aim to attract private investment and promote the expansion of charging infrastructure networks. Local installers and design professionals will be able to assist owners in identifying and pursuing available incentives.
Readily available charging stations will play a key role in ensuring efficient and widespread adoption of EVs. When designing EV charging stations, the design professional must consider the local codes, the capacity of the existing electrical infrastructure, as well as what is required to increase the system capacity. The load calculations should include the number of charging stations, their charging levels, and potential future expansion. Metering for energy use tracking should also be considered.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) section 625 “Electrical Vehicle Charging Systems” provides the design requirements for these systems. EV charging technology is advancing faster than the NEC. The current adopted code revision of the NEC within a local jurisdiction can impact the total demand load and electrical service size required.
The 2008 NEC, currently adopted in NYC, considers EV charging stations to be continuous loads. Paragraph 625.21 states: “Overcurrent protection for feeders and branch circuits supplying equipment shall be sized for continuous duty and shall have a rating of not less than 125 percent of the maximum load of the equipment. Where noncontinuous loads are supplied from the same feeder, the overcurrent device shall have a rating of not less than the sum of the noncontinuous loads plus 125 percent of the continuous loads.” Under this code revision an installation must have the available electrical capacity to support all EV charging equipment at full electrical load.
The 2014 NEC, and later editions, add a paragraph 625.41 which states: “Where an automatic load management system is used, the maximum electric vehicle supply equipment load on a service and feeder shall be the maximum load permitted by the automatic load management system.” Under this code revision, manufacturer developed load management software can be utilized to reduce and cap the total electrical capacity requirement, allowing for the installation of more EV chargers on a smaller service. The software can reduce demand through several methods, allowing for dynamic load balancing, prioritization, scheduling, real time monitoring, and control. Operator preferences or fleet management requirements can be programmed.
Looking to the future, this software can be integrated with renewable energy sources to optimize the use of clean energy for charging EVs. By analyzing energy generation patterns and EV charging demands, the software can prioritize charging during periods of high renewable energy production, reducing reliance on fossil fuel-generated electricity and promoting sustainable charging practices.
As the world moves closer to achieving a sustainable future, the continued development and expansion of EV charging infrastructure will play a pivotal role. Design professionals need to be aware of the latest code adoptions and technologies available in their market. Consulting experts can help owners maximize their return on investment for this required infrastructure. By combining effective electrical design, ambitious federal goals, and financial incentives, we can pave the way for a cleaner and greener transportation system that benefits both the environment and society as a whole.
AKF Group provides MEP/FP engineering leadership, integrated services, and innovative solutions to clients around the world.
