Make EV Charging Convenient for Your Building Tenants: As electric vehicles become increasingly popular, providing convenient charging options for your building tenants is no longer just a luxury—it’s a necessity. If you’re a building manager looking to stay ahead of the curve and keep your tenants happy, implementing efficient EV charging solutions is key, but it is also important to make sure you get it right.
In this post, we’ll explore five ways you can make EV charging more convenient for your tenants. This will make them happier and increase the appeal of your property.
Location
When you’re planning to install EV charging stations for your building tenants, it’s important to think about where you put them. Choosing the right locations can make all the difference in terms of user convenience. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to placement:
- Close to building entrances: This makes it easier for tenants to access their vehicles and start charging as soon as they arrive. Something particularly important for people with mobility issues or for those carrying heavy items like groceries.
- Easily accessible within parking areas: When deciding on specific spots within your parking area, choose those that are easy to navigate and don’t require excessive maneuvering. This will minimize the risk of accidents and make it more appealing for tenants to use the charging stations.
- Well-lit and visible: Placing the charging stations in well-lit areas with clear visibility can promote a sense of security for your tenants. This also helps prevent unauthorized use or vandalism.
- Near elevators or staircases: Positioning charging stations close to elevators or staircases can be particularly convenient for tenants who live on higher floors or those with limited mobility.
Prioritizing these prime locations is a good way to show your commitment to making your tenants’ lives easier. And to show that you support the use of electric vehicles.
Quantity Matters: Offer Multiple Charging Stations
No one likes waiting in line, especially when it comes to charging their EV. By offering multiple charging stations, you can minimize wait times and potential conflicts among tenants. This also shows that you’re anticipating future demand and are prepared to accommodate a growing number of EV owners.
It may also be a good idea to take stock of the current demand for EV chargers in your building beforehand. How many tenants currently have an EV? How many would get one if the building offered convenient chargers?
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Compatibility is Key
There’s a wide variety of EVs on the market, and not all charging stations are compatible with every make and model. To ensure that you cater to as many tenants as possible, invest in charging stations that are compatible with multiple types of EVs. This will make your property more attractive to prospective tenants and encourage current tenants to consider switching to an electric vehicle.
This can also play a role in future-proofing your charging stations. There is no way to know which manufacturing standards will still be popular in 5 years or even which manufacturers will still be part of the EV race. Charging stations that are optimized for compatibility will — in all likelihood — also be easy to adapt to new and changing standards, ensuring that your charging stations stay useful even as the EV space continues to evolve.
Simplify the Process with Technology
One thing EV users love to have is an app that makes charging easier for them. Many EV charging networks offer software solutions that allow users to locate charge stations, reserve them, keep track of their charging bills, and more.
Implementing something like this in your building charging station is a good idea, particularly if you’re rolling out charging stations to large buildings that see a ton of regular traffic every day. Plus, implementing a user-friendly system like this demonstrates that you value your tenants’ time and are dedicated to making their lives easier.
Software integration can also help with charging station management. It allows you to understand usage patterns, identify peak times, and allocate resources more effectively. If and when you decide to expand your charging infrastructure, this data will also be incredibly valuable.
Keep It Running Smoothly: On-Site Maintenance and Repairs
Like any other amenity, charging stations require regular maintenance and occasional repairs to ensure optimal performance. Offering on-site maintenance services demonstrates your dedication to providing a hassle-free experience for your tenants. Plus, well-maintained charging stations are less likely to encounter issues, reducing downtime and keeping your tenants satisfied.
One quick online search will show you hundreds of complaints from EV owners about charging stations that are never fixed. You don’t want your brand-new stations to become another source of frustration like that in six months.
Of course, the entire process of planning, implementing, and maintaining EV charging stations is not an easy one. But it may not be as hard or costly as you think, especially if you leverage a work management solution to streamline the process to see how that works. And with EVs becoming ever more popular, installing charging stations on your buildings is a task you’ll want to deal with sooner rather than later.