Work Hard and Charge Easy Program
Increasing access to EV charging will no doubt grow the adoption of these clean vehicles. As EV drivers, we know that the majority of EV charging (nearly 80%) occurs where EV drivers are spending their time: at home and at the workplace. If a consumer does not have access to home charging, the ability to charge at the workplace becomes a major consideration in the purchase of an EV. In fact, access to EV charging at the workplace increases adoption of EVs by a factor of six.
What is workplace charging?
Workplace charging means providing access to a Level 1, Level 2 or DC Fast Charging station at the workplace. Depending on the parking layout at the workplace, this could be as easy as providing access to an outside 120V outlet along the building exterior or, for a large workplace, installing a combination of charging stations.
Workplace charging is especially useful for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivers, as this allows these drivers to cover both legs of their commute in clean all-electric mode. Workplace charging is also extremely useful for drivers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with shorter ranges. Plug In America found in our 2020 driver survey that, when it is offered, EV drivers make frequent use of workplace charging.
Additional benefits for having EV charging stations at the workplace include the following:
- Workplace charging helps to attract and retain talent: 52% of employees believe that their employers should be doing more for the environment.
- Offering EV charging builds the reputation of a company as being a leader in sustainability: nearly 69% of consumers care whether or not a company has a socially responsible business model; EV charging shows that the business has taken concrete steps towards sustainability.
- Employees love charging at work: Studies show that 91% of employers received positive feedback from employees for installing workplace charging.
- Workplace charging is inexpensive compared to other employee benefits: offering workplace charging to employees can be as little as $1.50/day with Level 2 charging and as little as $0.60 a day with Level 1 charging—which is much less than a cup of coffee!
As employees return to workplaces throughout 2021, having workplace charging as an option can also encourage employees to utilize other modes of clean transportation, even if the employee is not (yet!) driving electric.
Are you a workplace that offers EV charging?
We want your story! We are actively compiling a database of case studies on workplace charging. Please fill out our form and we will feature your workplace on our website.
Resources:
Plug In America Work Hard and Charge Easy Program (2021)
Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at the Workplace (2021)
Sample Workplace Charging Policy to Share with Employees (2021)
Sample Employee Survey for Workplace Charging Planning (2021)
Costs for EV Workplace Charging Stations (2021)
Electric Vehicle Handbook for Workplace Charging Hosts (2021) – coming soon!
- The U.S. Department of Energy ran a program called the Workplace Charging Challenge from 2013 through 2017. This program provided informational resources to employers about installing EV charging and managing a workplace program. Plug In America experts helped create many of the original documents. We have updated these original documents with the latest EV market information.
ADA Requirements for Workplace Charging Installation (2014)
California Workplace Charging Guide (2015)
If you are a workplace and would like to offer your employees workplace charging, please contact us at info@pluginamerica.org.
