The push for electric vehicles (EVs) is here. California plans to phase out sales of new cars with internal combustion engines by 2035, and many state and local governments have created similarly ambitious EV goals. Now, increasing emphasis is being placed on creating an adequate charging infrastructure for EV drivers.
About half of all vehicles in the US belong to people with dedicated parking spaces at home. However, many potential EV drivers will have to rely on EV chargers in apartment complexes, parking lots, workplaces and commercial properties. Ideally, EV drivers will have convenient, accessible charging options without significantly changing their daily routines. Therefore, many commercial properties will want to add EV chargers now or in the near future. And EV adoption depends on it.
Public charging stations, ideally with fast charging options, are crucial to making EV ownership attractive. However, EV professionals have encountered some hurdles when installing chargers. Obtaining easements for grid interconnection in particular can be a challenge. As an EV professional, this is an important topic to understand to keep commercial projects on time and on budget.
What is a utility easement?
Easements give another party the legal right to access someone else’s property for a specific purpose. In some cases, they can affect what a property owner can do in or near a particular area. An example of a commercial easement might be allowing trucks access to a driveway to make deliveries.
Utility easements are some of the most common types of easements. Property owners can run several types of utility lines through their land, both above and below ground. These pipes include water, electricity, sewerage and gas.
Even though they are on private property, utility companies must have access to these lines to perform maintenance. For example, let’s say a power line is down due to a storm, or a gas line is broken. Utilities will allow crews access to the property to resolve the issue.
Utility easements emphasize the rights of utilities to access these lines. Sometimes deeds may grant utilities the right to use a certain corridor on land along a property line for utility lines, poles, etc. However, some projects may not require easements depending on local policies, ownership of the delivery equipment, and the layout of the building.
An important characteristic of a commercial EV charging location is the available electrical service capacity and whether there is sufficient capacity on the existing transformer and electrical panel. If not, the electrical infrastructure will need to be upgraded, otherwise developers may be limited in the number of chargers they can install. This is especially critical for DC Fast Chargers (DCFCs) as they have a very large load compared to Level 2 chargers.
Obtaining utilitiesLocal construction permits and network interconnection to advance an electric vehicle charging station project can add weeks, months, or even more than a year to a project schedule. However, project requirements vary considerably from project to project.
What is a grid interconnection easement?
A grid interconnection easement is a legal agreement that gives the right to use someone else’s property to connect to grid infrastructure, such as electrical transmission lines. In the context of EV charging station installations, grid interconnection easements may be necessary where the charging infrastructure must cross private property or use land owned by third parties.
Obtaining utility grid interconnection easements for EV charging stations is critical to ensuring the utility has access to the site for maintenance, repairs and connection purposes. Easements provide legal permission and define the rights and responsibilities of the utility company and the property owner. They establish the conditions under which the utility can install and maintain the necessary infrastructure, such as transmission lines or power distribution equipment, for the operation of the charging station.
What does the interconnection of easements mean for commercial EV charging stations?
Unfortunately, obtaining easements can increase the soft costs of the project and introduce a degree of uncertainty. In some cases, the site host may be unwilling to grant an easement or may not have the legal authority to do so. Such problems can completely halt a project. Even without major obstacles, the permitting process can be expensive.
The cost of easements and other permits can seem particularly high if only one charger is installed. However, these costs drop significantly as a percentage of the total costs when installing multiple EV chargers. It is critical for commercial installers to help their customers understand what the EV charger installation process entails in order to maintain a project timeline and ultimately a high level of customer satisfaction.
A well-thought-out site plan can potentially circumvent some of the issues and enable easy EV charging for drivers and landlords when retrofitting commercial properties with EV chargers. Thus, designing a plan requires balancing various needs with real estate restrictions and local building codes. Therefore, it is crucial to have a clear idea of the property and its features.
As EV chargers become more widespread, they will be a consideration for new construction. Rather than retrofitting a project with EV chargers, this approach allows developers to build the right infrastructure from the start. It can also help with future scaling as demand for charges increases over time.
What is an underground utility survey?
An underground utility survey is an accurate plan of the underground environment. It can be in different formats, including 3D. In addition, various technologies can be used to investigate underground utilities, ssuch as ground penetrating radar equipment and electromagnetic locators.
Underground utility surveys are an invaluable tool that can help minimize project risk, reduce planning time, increase confidence before excavation work and help the project comply with regulations.
How could an underground investigation impact commercial EV charging?
GreenLancer underground investigations include a location diagram, topographic map, trenching locations and electrical lines and highlight various physical features of the land. Research often shows that there are underground lines for sanitation, sewerage, electricity, gas and telephones. They may also include other features such as fire hydrants, vegetation, water meters, light poles, fences, storm drains and electrical boxes.
These underground surveys are extremely useful for EV professionals. They help inform you where trenches and drilling are required for installing underground pipes and highlight location limitations. This helps streamline the installation process and ensures satisfied customers.
Create an account to get started using GreenLancer EVC’s design, engineering, and research services.
Utilities and underground surveys for smooth EV charger installation process
There have been many recent commitments to electrify transportation to slow climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and using renewable energy. However, there are still common hurdles that EV equipment professionals face, such as obtaining an easement to interconnect the electrical grid. Unfortunately, obtaining easements and permits for some projects can be a difficult process. However, there is a strong demand for DC fast chargers and fast charging services from various stakeholders. In some cases, partnerships and streamlining regulatory requirements help remove barriers to projects.
High-quality subsurface research will help remove these hurdles and streamline EV charger installation projects. GreenLancer can be your solution for seamless underground utility surveying.
GreenLancer has a network of certified designers, licensed engineers and fulfillment partners ready to complete the on-demand execution of their projects EV charging services fast, such as:
Complete the form below for more information.