Getting EV charging at your place of business/commercial property

[SeanTek]

Hi Model S owners and hopefuls,

I just wanted to see if folks who do not have EV chargers at their place of business or commercial property already, have had much success in convincing the business (for employees: convincing their employers) or property management (for business owners: convincing their commercial landlords) to install EV chargers or charging outlets (e.g., bare NEMA 14-50). What negotiation strategies worked or did not work? Did you end up paying a premium one way or another (such as higher rent) to get EV charging installed? Does it change your driving habits now that the charger is there, where it was not there before?

[artsci]

By good fortune, the space in the commercial lot where I park in downtown Baltimore, has a 120v outlet in a place that most people wouldn't even notice. Now and then I charge my Chevy Volt with it. But when my Model S arrives, with its range there will be no need.

[Rifleman]

I have ran into a brick wall trying to convince duke reality to install a charger for the building I work in. I even offered to pay for it, and donate it to them, and they still shot me down. As a result, my commute is 40% on gas every day, as the volt does not have long enough electric legs to make it round trip.

[GSP]

Rifleman,

I am grateful that my employer allows me to us a 120 v outlet when I need it (about 2-3 times per month). Situations like yours are extremely frustrating, with electricity on the premises, but not available for charging. We need a full court press for workplace charging. After the home, work is the second most important place to charge.

Also, longer range EVs, like artsci's Tesla, will be a big help. For these cars, installation of J1772 charging stations at hotels, and 90 kW superchargers on freeways, will be the biggest enablers of expanded use.

GSP

[PattyChuck]

My employer was so excited about the car, he immediately called our maintenance department and asked the feasibility of installing a 240V outlet on the side of our building. As my luck would have it, one of the breaker panels is basically across the hall from where I park, and they said it would be about a four hour job to run the line.

It's being installed this week, and I don't even have my car yet! I offered to pay the company for the time/materials, but the owner has a Model X on order, so maintenance is probably going to be tying in a second line to the one they're putting in for me. Tragically, my daily commute is a whopping 12 miles round trip, so I doubt I'll ever have much use for the charger, but it'll be nice to know it's there in a pinch!

[Darmok]

I work in a high rise building and had a conversation with the landlord rep a couple of weeks ago. He was quite positive about it. They are looking at several different options, aren't sure whether it would be free or not, the vendor, etc. I started by saying that I had noticed the owners putting in LED bulbs and taking other energy savings measures, and that a charging station would fit right in with those efforts. It might also help owners with LEED certification. Hopefully the LL isn't just yanking me around, but the rep seemed genuine about it.

[SeanTek]

Tragically, my daily commute is a whopping 12 miles round trip, so I doubt I'll ever have much use for the charger, but it'll be nice to know it's there in a pinch!

Hey, free electricity is free electricity. And it's no tragedy to save energy, regardless of what form!

[kinddog]

i asked my building management and they said their goal is to have them installed sometime in 2013.

will be nice to charge at work for free...

[PattyChuck]

Hey, free electricity is free electricity. And it's no tragedy to save energy, regardless of what form!

I should have been more specific, now realizing that this is in the Battery & Charging forum, but I was speaking to the tragedy that I only get to drive the car 12 miles to/from work instead of longer! Someone in another thread commented that when their wife sends them to the store down the street and it takes them 30 minutes to drive a few miles because of all the detouring they're doing. I think that'll be me!

My company is, as I type this, installing the 220v lines. Now I really am getting excited.

[PattyChuck]

Here's a few snapshots of my install at work. The company put the outlet in a lockbox. The outlet is a NEMA 14-50 (sorry for the bad photo, it's really sunny here today). I'm more at ease now since the HPWC is still on back order. Of course, I ain't got no car yet, either...

Man, after looking at these photos, you'd think I'm located in some arid, hot environment, but I assure you, it's an unseasonably warm 42° here today!