Authors: Colleen Kettles and Elizabeth Myron for Drive Electric Florida

There has been a shift in mobility behavior in recent years, with electric vehicles (EVs) leading the charge toward a more sustainable future. As both government and industry recognize the importance of embracing net zero, workplace charging (WPC) is becoming increasingly common. This blog post will explore a real-life WPC success story, the benefits for employers and employees, the etiquette surrounding WPC, and important factors to consider when installing WPC.

The advantages of offering WPC are numerous. Providing EV charging not only boosts employee satisfaction and retention but also showcases a business’s dedication to environmental stewardship that may appeal to eco-conscious employees.

Taking a moment to recognize how this looks in real-time, we share with you the following WPC success story. 

City of Cape Canaveral, Florida

Recognizing the increase in EV ownership by its employees, its vehicle fleet, and the general public, the City of Cape Canaveral recently upgraded its EV charging infrastructure. In July 2023, the city removed its first-generation non-networked charging stations and replaced them with modern, pay-to-use “smart” stations. These new dual plug stations enable real-time monitoring, maintenance awareness, and efficient load management, ensuring that charging is accessible and effective. Stations are located throughout the city at public parks and municipal facilities. All chargers are available to the city’s employees. By December 2023, the new stations recorded nearly 1,000 individual plug-ins. The earlier, non-networked stations will not be discarded; they are expected to be repurposed to support the increased demand for EV charging as the city’s resident and tourist populations expand. The City of Cape Canaveral is the gateway to Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and Port Canaveral, the second busiest cruise port in the world.

The city has set an admirable benchmark for sustainable municipal operations. Its 2021 Resiliency Action Plan outlines an ambitious commitment to converting its entire fleet to alternative-fueled vehicles by 2036. Currently, more than 30% of its vehicle fleet runs on alternative fuels. The fleet includes nine hybrid EVs, all of which operate on batteries during idling or low-speed usage. The regenerative braking system further enhances the efficiency of these vehicles, ensuring that their batteries remain charged, particularly in the stop-and-go conditions typical of municipal fleet operations.

 

In addition to its hybrid EVs, the city has introduced two EVs into its fleet, producing zero operational emissions. The anticipated savings on fuel costs and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are notable, with projections indicating substantial benefits in terms of both finances and environmental impact over the vehicles’ lifespans

Benefits of Workplace Charging

As more employers provide WPC, they and their employees have revealed these top benefits. 

Employer Benefits: 

• Attracts top talent by aligning with modern workforce trends
• Enhances brand reputation by raising awareness of sustainable transportation initiatives
• Encourages employees to reduce their carbon footprint
• Enhances the organization’s benefit package 
• Increases employee retention

Employee Benefits:

• Convenient way to charge during the day while reducing range anxiety
• Provides access to charging for those who may not be able to charge at home
• Aligns with employee environmental ethics toward sustainability 
• Provides an opportunity to educate fellow employees on the benefits and cost savings of EVs

WPC Etiquette

To ensure everyone can access WPC, it is important to maintain a respectful and efficient charging environment. Things to consider while using these amenities are: 

• Be mindful of others trying to charge. Avoid occupying a charging station longer than necessary. If your vehicle has finished charging, be sure to move it to allow others to access the charging station.
• If a charging station is not functioning correctly, report it to your facility manager to ensure prompt maintenance.
• EV charging reservation systems are designed to help manage the charging process and improve the charging experience. If your organization offers this type of software program, make use of it. These programs enable you to reserve, schedule, and see the availability of WPC stations.   
• While charging, take the opportunity to educate coworkers on EV use by sharing insights and experiences regarding driving an EV and how to charge at the workplace. 
• If you do not own an EV, please park responsibly. Be courteous and leave designated EV WPC spots open to avoid blocking access for those who may need to charge.

For additional EV charging etiquette tips visit https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/ev-charging-etiquette-guide/

To install or not to install?

To assess the demand for charging stations at a workplace, gathering data and input from employees to find out if they own an EV or would consider purchasing one is recommended. By completing a WPC Survey, employers can understand their employees’ habits and preferences regarding EV charging. 

Additional Considerations  

An organization must consider the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for WPC. For guidance on being ADA compliant, consult the necessary industry professionals in your state.

Additional points to consider:

• Should our organization provide free charging for employees?
• Do employees believe that our organization has an institutional responsibility to reduce emissions?
• Was our environmental impact a factor in an employee’s decision to join our organization?

To encourage employer consideration of WPC, the U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring the EMPOWER program. This nationwide initiative supports a coalition of coaches with expertise in EV charging that assist workplaces as they navigate the landscape of charging station installation. Equitable access to EV charging will accelerate the transition to transportation electrification. EMPOWER recognizes the value of WPC for those who might not otherwise consider EV ownership. To discuss WPC further with an EMPOWERED coach visit https://energyresearch.ucf.edu/about-us/programs/empower/

Why the need for WPC in Florida?

Charles Satterfield, Senior Manager of Electric Transportation at Edison Electric Institute, recently spoke at the Drive Electric Florida webinar, Myths and Facts for Decision-Makers. He noted that Florida “is not only the second largest EV market in the United States, but also the fastest-growing market. There are currently almost six million EVs and we are continuing to see increasing sales each year. Much of that growth is now occurring outside of traditional EV markets like California and coming instead from Florida, New York, Colorado, and Texas.”  With this growth, the question remains, where do all these EVs charge? Given the rate of EV adoption and lack of infrastructure, the demand for WPC is real.   

According to Charles, WPC is an important emerging use case for EV charging. Plugging in while at work can help employees take advantage of low-cost charging and provide an easy charging solution for those who don’t have access to home charging. Electric companies across the country are focused on expanding access to WPC with nearly 40 programs that provide rebates or incentives for workplaces interested in adding charging for employees. You can access more information on these programs using the EV Program Database available for free at https://www.eei.org/issues-and-policy/electric-transportation/EVPrograms.

There are numerous benefits for both employers and employees when considering WPC.  For further details on WPC, we encourage you to access the additional resources below.

Additional Resources

• Alternative Fuels Data Center Guide to Workplace Charging for Electric Vehicles
• VTO Workplace Charging
• EMPOWER Workplace Charging Pocket Guide
• Providing Workplace Charging for Your Employees’ Plug-in Electric Vehicles
• Kelley Blue Book EV Sales Report
• City of Boston How-To-Guide: Starting an EV WPC program
• For further reading

Authors: 

Colleen McCann Kettles
Elizabeth Myron
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)