Why companies should start installing charging infrastructure now

In the face of climate change and increasing environmental regulations, companies must make their operations more sustainable. One of the first steps many companies take is electrifying their fleet by introducing electric vehicles. However, this transition comes with several challenges that need to be addressed. 

Charging infrastructure: companies face various challenges 

• High investment costs: Transitioning to electric vehicles requires significant upfront investments for purchasing the vehicles and building the charging infrastructure. 

• Excavation and construction adjustments: Installing charging stations often necessitates extensive excavation and construction adjustments at the site, leading to additional costs and time. 

• Lengthy construction phases: Electrification measures often involve long construction phases, potentially disrupting the company's normal operations. 

• Permits and regulatory requirements: Obtaining permits and complying with regulatory requirements is time-consuming and can delay the process. 

• Grid load: Increased grid load due to additional electric infrastructure can lead to challenges in energy supply. 

• Space requirements and location selection: In urban areas, space for installing charging infrastructure is limited. Charging points must be strategically placed for easy access by employees, customers, and visitors. 

The fact is - installing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles at a company site is both costly and time-intensive. The acquisition and installation of charging solutions, including necessary excavation, cabling, and grid upgrades, can be expensive. Additionally, companies must consider ongoing costs for maintenance, software updates, and energy consumption. Permits and regulatory requirements also pose hurdles, as installing charging infrastructure often requires permits from local authorities, which can be time-consuming. 

Companies must also ensure compliance with all safety and environmental standards and other legal requirements. Space requirements and location selection are also crucial. While rural areas offer more space for installing charging infrastructure, they often lack extensive grid development. In urban areas, the grid is quickly saturated, and redistribution is often limited. Charging points must be strategically placed for easy access by both employees and visitors. 

Elli’s Charging Site Management helps energize your company site 

Sounds like a huge task? No worries! To address these challenges, Elli offers tailored B2B solutions covering every step of the electrification roadmap: 

• Site analysis: A detailed analysis of the site to determine the optimal positions for charging stations. 

• Construction planning: Professional planning and execution of necessary excavation and construction adjustments. 

• Installation and integration of hardware and software: Setting up a comprehensive charging infrastructure, including the necessary software solutions for management and billing. 

Elli’s comprehensive Charging Site Management helps companies efficiently build, operate, and monitor their charging infrastructure. From site analysis and construction planning to installation and integration of proprietary software tools for ongoing operations, all components are available individually or as a package. 

SaaS solutions are increasingly important in this area. Elli offers specially developed tools for managing charging cards, company car drivers, and charging points. With the Elli Site Management Console, companies can digitally set up and manage their infrastructure, with additional features such as load management, access management, cost transparency, and monetization (in public mode). 

Elli also offers a wide range of suitable charging hardware that can be customized to each customer’s needs while considering grid capacities. 

Subsidies of up to €30,000 per charge point 

Electrifying company fleets and infrastructure is no longer just an option but a necessity to remain competitive and future-proof. The government shares this view: last fall, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) launched a nationwide funding call for non-public fast-charging stations in Germany under the 2023 Electromobility Funding Guidelines. Since then, around 6,000 fast-charging points have been funded with approximately 100 million euros, with an additional 150 million euros now available (more information at PtJ Project Funding). Costs for the acquisition and installation of non-public fast-charging points, including the required grid connection, are eligible for funding. These fast-charging points must have a minimum nominal power of 50 kW and support DC charging. Companies can thus benefit from subsidies of up to €30,000 per charge point. 

The primary goal of this measure is to expand the charging infrastructure and thus promote electromobility. Companies can benefit from this funding by receiving financial support for the installation of fast-charging points, significantly reducing investment costs and making the transition to electromobility economically attractive. 

Challenges in expanding fast-charging stations: complexity and solutions 

One of the biggest hurdles is the limitations of the existing grid infrastructure. The need for excavation work often leads to complications regarding property ownership and rights, especially when the properties are rented. These works typically require the owners' approval, which can slow down and increase the cost of the process. 

Additionally, the costs for grid expansion and the enhancement of existing infrastructure are high, further increasing the financial burden on operators. Long delivery times for hardware, often exceeding 12 months, complicate the planning and implementation of projects. 

All these factors lead to a low return on investment (ROI) and high total operating costs, significantly affecting the economic viability of installing and operating fast-charging infrastructure. To address these issues, Elli has developed the mobile fast-charging station Flexpole. 

Elli Flexpole: the practical Plug & Play charge point 

For companies seeking an efficient and cost-effective solution to electrify their fleets, Elli’s mobile fast-charging station is a forward-looking option. 

The battery-powered fast-charging station can bypass the above challenges, significantly easing the transition to electromobility for companies. With a charging power of up to 160 kW, it enables rapid charging of electric vehicles, which is especially important for companies with large fleets or those wishing to offer charging facilities to their customers. 

Advantages of the Elli Flexpole at a glance: 

• Quick and flexible deployment: The Flexpole can be installed anywhere, permanently or temporarily. Thanks to straightforward installation without extensive excavation or cabling, the charging station can be quickly deployed at various locations and easily repositioned as needed. 

• Efficient DC charging processes: Rapid and efficient charging with a maximum DC output of 250 kW and an integrated battery of over 160 kWh. 

• Mobile power bank: A standard CEE plug for recharging or, as the professionals say, a 400V low-voltage connection starting at 11 kW. Ideal for locations with limited power supply. 

• Advertising and customer interaction: The integrated 10” touchscreen and 43” advertising screen offer additional revenue opportunities through advertising and provide an attractive platform for customer interactions. 

• Familiar Volkswagen quality: Our charging stations are made of galvanized steel used in vehicle construction and are developed and manufactured to the highest VW quality standards.