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10-15% for high EV adoption areas like California. Designing electrical infrastructure to support
current and future needs for EV charging helps avoid costly upgrades later as demand for EV
charging grows.
Consider these methods to prepare a site for future charging stations in a later phase of work:
• Add extra capacity if electrical panels are being upgraded now
• Use sub-panels as a way to shorten electrical paths
• Oversize the conduit between the main electrical panel and future stations
• Install pull or junction boxes at the end of an existing row of charging stations, to ease cable
pulls for future stations
• If a junction box or disconnect will be installed between rows of stations, oversize the wiring
between the main panel and the junction box to prevent needing to re-pull wire later
Charging Station Placement
To help minimize costs, choose station locations that are as close as possible to the available
electrical infrastructure. Selecting these types of locations helps minimize long conduit and wire
runs, as well as any trenching work.
Layout considerations:
• Determine appropriate ground anchoring locations where concrete exists or can be installed (no
asphalt surfaces).
• Consider locations where it will be easy to add future stations.
• Determine optimum conduit layout to minimize linear conduit costs to multiple parking spaces.
If possible, avoid or minimize trenching requirements, especially more costly trenching to run
conduit under asphalt surfaces.
• Evaluate existing electrical infrastructure to determine if the existing utility service and electrical
panel capacity is sufficient. Identify costs for any necessary upgrades and/or a new dedicated
electrical panel. ChargePoint recommends using a certified electrician to evaluate available
capacity and identify any upgrades that may be required.
• If a dedicated EV electrical panel is required, choose a panel location in close proximity to the
existing electrical supply.
• Measure cellular signal levels to ensure adequate cellular coverage at the station installation
location. To ensure adequate signal strength in underground or enclosed parking structures,
cellular repeaters may be required. For more information, see Cellular Connectivity (page 26).
• ChargePoint recommends to avoid locations under trees where sap, pollen, or leaves would fall
on the charging station and increase the station owner’s site upkeep workload.
WARNING: The ChargePoint charging station must be installed on a level concrete base.
Asphalt cannot support the full weight of the charging station. Failure to install the
ChargePoint charging station on a level concrete base may cause the charging station to
tip over, resulting in death, personal injury, or property damage.
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