Startup costs in this industry are reasonable. It is possible to start a vending machine route for less than a few thousand dollars. The work of a Vending machines business operator can be divided into two basic areas. As a vending machine business owner you can choose to work by yourself, with a partner or hire teams to work for you

Consideration #1 - Power Type and Availability

• 240-volt power is required for the EV chargers currently available commercially. Some commercial locations use other voltages, such as 208, 277 or 480. These sites will require a transformer to be installed to raise or lower the voltage to 240. Also, the kind of wiring and conduits you’d typically use for lighting aren’t adequate for a charger.

  Edison EV will be happy to speak with your electrician or maintenance engineer, on site, to determine what voltage you have and what is required for EV charging.

Consideration #2 - Power Panel Capacity

• Each charger will need a dedicated 40 amp circuit. So a typical four-charger installation will require 160 amps for the charger - plus more for lighting.

  In addition, there should be room for the new circuit breakers in the existing electrical panel or sub-panels. Edison EV can determine whether your existing electrical capacity is sufficient, or if more needs to be added.

Consideration #3 - Conduit/Wire Routing

• Simply put, the closer the power is to the charging site, the cheaper it is to install. Running power through an overhead conduit is the best way to go, if you can. In fact, an overhead conduit can cost less than half of what it costs to run a wire and conduit through a saw-cut and back-filled trench across an asphalt parking lot. You can also save money by planning your installation to take advantage of existing lighting.

  Edison EV will evaluate potential locations and help you select the most cost-effective one.

Consideration #4 - Charger Positioning

• Each charger station typically uses one parking space for the charger and vehicle. The station consists of the charger, a raised concrete base, wheel stops or bollards to prevent cars from hitting the chargers, and appropriate signage, lights and so on.

  Chargers should be situated for easy access, but where they don’t interfere with other parking lot users. Ideal locations are a median strip or planter area separating two rows of cars.

  For a complete professional site selection and installation consultation, contact Edison EV. Edison EV will help you determine the best and most economical location.

Consideration #5 - Planned Flexibility

• Your installation should include plans that allow the site to be flexible as technology develops. That’s why Edison EV suggests installing extra circuits and capacity now at minimal extra cost. You can then easily add inductive or conductive charging devices as needed.

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