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Traditional - Traditional charging stations (also called EVSE or electric vehicle supply equipment) are stations that are uncomplicated and easy to use. You simply plug the cord into the outlet on the vehicle and walk away. There may be lights on the stations that show that the station is on, off or charging.

Some electric vehicles have a feature that allows the owner to schedule vehicle charging using the information center in the vehicle or on a smart phone app. You may also get reminders if charging is supposed to start and the vehicle is not plugged.

Smart Station – Charge station manufacturers now sell stations that are called ‘smart’ stations. These stations are equipped to work with cell phone apps that allow owners schedule charging, see charging status and get reminders. Some of these stations/apps work with Alexa or Google Home for you to manage your EV charging.

Access Only – At times a facility wants to control who is able to use charging stations and get station usage reports but doesn’t want to charge a fee for the service. It seems like there should be an option between installing stations that anyone can use, putting stations behind a wall or gate and paying for an expensive network when you don’t want to charge to use them. That’s where Access Only options come in. Two ways to accomplish this are using 1) Bluetooth equipped stations with a user app for access or 2) Network that only charges a fee when you charge for the service (transaction fee) but no/low network fee.

Network – When advanced energy, access and user features are needed, owners install networked stations. In addition to managing access, networks allow stations owners to recoup part of the cost of installing and managing the networks and to encourage drivers to move their vehicles by changing fees the longer the vehicle is plugged in. Drivers can typically find available stations and pay for a charging session using a smart phone app.

Fleet Only – Businesses that are converting to electrified vehicles have different concerns than those businesses that are installing stations for employees, apartment residents or shoppers so their solution set may need to be different as well. Business owners may be concerned about the power they are using or they may need certain vehicles to be fully charged before others. This is where Fleet Only options come in. Fleet Only options allow for businesses to better manage how and when the fleet is charged to ensure vehicles are fully charged when expected and to manage power utilization to manage utility costs for not only the stations but for the entire facility.

If a business has a small number of vehicles, traditional or access only options may be sufficient to meet their charging needs but the business should plan for future growth by either installing a low cost or flexible stations.

Georgia Power Business EV Charger Installation

Click here to read about Georgia Power's Electric Vehicle FAQ's.

$500 Per Charger

Georgia Power business customers may qualify for a $500 rebate for each new 208/240-volt Level 2 charger with dedicated circuit purchased and installed. Submit a rebate request form with a copy of paid installation, charger invoice(s) and current W-9 form within 60 days after the EV charger has been installed. For the detailed terms & conditions, click here.

Download rebate request form (Expires December 31, 2021).

Average EV Charging Stations Cost $6,000 Installed

How much do EV charging stations cost?

The average cost to purchase equipment and install a commercial grade, level 2 EV charging station is around $6,000.

Lower end equipment with minimal installation requirements can cost around $2,500. Higher end level 2 EV charging stations can run $10,000 to $13,000 fully installed. While the average cost of an EV charging station is $6,000, there are many ways this number can be significantly higher or lower.

Installation Drives EV Charging Station Costs

Since EV charging station equipment costs are static, the major cost variable is installation. Installation costs can be broken down into two categories, time and materials.

Installation should only be performed by a licensed electrician. Depending on location their labor costs can range from $70 to $100+ per hour. Unfortunately there is not set amount of time it should take to install an EV station. At some properties it can take 2 hours, at others it could take over 20.

Installation materials drive cost because a property’s electrical infrastructure determines how difficult it will be to install an EV charging station. Running 20 feet of conduit and wiring to an existing panel with capacity to handle the charger can take less than 3 hours. Older properties might require 100+ feet of conduit and wiring, installing a new circuit breaker or even worse an electrical panel upgrade. If often makes sense to get an installation bid from a qualified electrician before purchasing equipment.

Level 1

Electric vehicles come with a charging cord that plugs into a typical garage electrical outlet (110V). This is known as Level 1 or trickle charging. Level 1 charging provides you with 4-6 miles per hour of charging. The typically round-trip commute is 36 miles so it will take you 6 to 9 hours to charge your vehicle.

Level 2

To charge vehicles more quickly, a Level 2, 240V station can be used. In addition to installing a Level 2 station at your home, you may also find them at public parking and workplaces. Level 2 charging provides 25+ miles per hour of charging making charging 6x as fast as using the Level 1 charging cord. Level 2 stations now come in higher power levels so that longer range vehicles (over 200 miles range) can be quickly and easily charged overnight in your own garage.

Smart Stations

You may see websites touting ‘smart stations’ but why are they smart? Smart stations come equipped with communications capabilities that allow you to use your cell phone to schedule your charging when prices are lowest, remind you if you haven’t plugged in your vehicle and some even work with Alexa or Siri to check on your charging status!

DC Charging

The Electrify America and Tesla stations installed at the Peachtree Corners Town Center parking deck are DC stations. These stations allow for vehicles to charge at over 100 miles per hour of charging so most vehicles can be charged in about an hour. You will typically use these stations when you are traveling outside your normal routes. The most important factors with DC charging has to do with what the coupler looks like and the power of the station. Most vehicles are compatible with the major networks including Georgia Power and Electrify America but only Tesla vehicles work with Tesla stations.

The increase varies depending on the type of electric vehicle, as well as the amount the vehicle is driven. In addition, electricity usage and the time of day you charge your vehicle will also affect the price. However, compared with gasoline, you will see savings of greater than 70% on fuel costs.

Electric vehicle owners can expect to see an increase in their electricity use. However, because gasoline and diesel prices outweigh that of electricity, they will still save money using electricity to power their vehicles. It's estimated that electric vehicle owners who charge their vehicles during Georgia Power's super-off-peak period will see the cost equivalent of paying approximately $0.50/gallon for gasoline, compared with more than $3.50/gallon for a gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle.

EV Charging Stations are quickly becoming an amenity that people expect as they are looking at their options to rent or to maintain their residence at an apartment or condo complex. It is a differentiator from other sites and demonstrates the Management is forward-thinking both from the perspective of meeting the residents’ needs as well as having a commitment to the environment as EV adoption continues to grow.

In Peachtree Corners, almost half of all residents rent or lease their home. In addition, EV charging does not increase utility bills significantly and there are options for either charging tenants a monthly access free or charging a per-use fee to cover the cost of the charge. (See answer on utility bill increase for more information.)

There are a wide variety of charging station options that allow for a more cost-effective station installation and make the decision for management easier. Some options to consider include:

• Giving the resident/condo owner permission to install their own station. This is an especially good option if parking spaces are assigned to an individual unit.
• Allowing a 3rd party network permission to install and manage stations at the location
• Consider installation of Access Only stations that don't require wi-fi or a network to run the stations

The Department of Energy provides additional information for both the resident and the HOA/Landlord.

Many of the vendors who are included in the PTC Community Charging Program will provide recommendations for local installation partners who are trained to install EV charging stations. The higher power stations installed at home require a 240V circuit. The breaker size will depend on the power of the station purchased.

Factors that influence the cost of installation include:

• The capacity of your electrical panel (is there enough capacity for the power of the station)
• The distance from the panel to the installation location
• The power level of the station being installed

Stations come in different power levels to better suit your situation both from an electrical panel capacity side to manage installation costs as well as how quickly you need to charge your vehicle.

16 Amp

• Requires 20A circuit
• Adds 12 miles per hour of charging

30/32 Amp

• Requires 40A circuit
• Similar to clothes dryer circuit
• Adds 25 miles per hour of charging

40 Amp, 48 Amp, and higher

• Requires 50 A or larger circuit
• May require panel upgrades
• Adds 30+ miles per hour of charging

What vehicle am I thinking about buying and what is the range?

• Is it a full battery electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV)? (You may want to consider a higher powered station if you are purchasing a longer range (300 mi) vehicle)

How far is my typical drive?  Do I have charging available for me at my destination/workplace?

Do I have a place to install a Level 2 Station?  (Do I have a dedicated parking location?  Where would I locate the station?)

Do I have to ask someone’s permission to install a Level 2 Station?  (e.g., Home Owners Association, Landlord)

Do I have capacity in my electrical panel?

• Quick check:  Do you have two spaces next to each other on your electrical panel?
• Quick check:  Most electricians/station installers will provide a free estimate!

Smart Station

• Programmable (some vehicles have this capability)
• Wi-fi or Bluetooth w/ smart phone, maybe Alexa/Siri compatible
• May be able to participate in utility programs in the future

Uses Industry leading standards

• Open Charge Point Protocol – OCPP – Can be used with other networks in the future, additional features in future
• ISO 15118 – Additional features/capabilities in the future

Highest Power Level for your electrical panel

• Station will only provide as much power as the vehicle is capable of accepting
• Vehicles are upgrading their battery capacity all the time

Advanced Features

• Power Share/load levelling – if you have or may have more than one station
• Programmable -- Power level of station

There are many public charging available in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and throughout the U.S. Go to the top of this page to see an interactive map of all your charging options nearby.