The need for sustainable solutions is quickly becoming a part of our daily lives, and with it comes the rapid rise of the electric vehicle (EV) market. As of 2024, it was estimated that the American market would sell 16.7 million EVs, a surge driven by increased technological advancements, global adoption of green energy, and conducive government policies.
There are currently more than 64,000 publicly available EV charging stations across the country. But these are still not enough cited by the growing need for flexible and easily accessible charging solutions. Starting a mobile EV charging station is a lucrative business where you offer on-the-go solutions that bring charging capabilities to EV owners directly. The only challenge for investors would be how to manage a mobile EV charging service.
Here, we take a look at how to efficiently manage a mobile EV charging business and make a real difference.
Understanding the Mobile EV Charging Landscape
On-the-go EV charging solutions bring convenience to EV owners wherever they are. This approach solves common challenges facing EV adoption in the US and beyond, such as range anxiety and scarce charging stations in some areas. With the growth of the EV market, the demand for innovative charging solutions also increases, making mobile EV charging the most effective, timely, and valuable service.
Between 2018 and 2023, the compound annual growth rate of EV charging stations was 43.7%, with over 64,187 charging stations expected by the end of 2024. However, much of this growth has only occurred in a few states, specifically Texas, California, Florida, Washington, and New York. All of these states account for 46.4% of the country’s charging stations.
While these countries form the spine of the EV revolution, charging station distribution still varies wildly from state to state. Consumer demand, state policies, politics, and geography drive these variations.
Important Considerations for Managing a Mobile EV Charging Service
Now that we’ve seen the mobile EV charging service is a lucrative business in the US, what do you have to put in mind to run a successful venture?
Choosing the Business Model
Picking the right business model for your portable charging station for EVs is crucial. Some of the available options include:
On-Demand Charging Services
This is the emergency electric vehicle charging service where you offer immediate assistance to EVs that have run out of charge and are stranded. It’s more like offering roadside assistance, except for EV charging. It’s the right model to go for if the target area of operation has sparse EV charging stations.
Subscription-Based Model
Here, customers pay a fixed monthly fee to charge their EVs regularly. Owners can have their EVs charged from their homes at specific scheduled times or be given exclusive access to mobile charging stations. It’s more of a “charging-as-a-service,” just like internet-infrastructure-as-a-service.
Event-Based Services
In this business model, you supply charging stations to events or locations that temporarily need additional charging infrastructure. These can be sports events, festivals, and large gatherings. You can also decide to offer temporary EV charging services at peak demand times, like on highways during the festive season.
Corporate Partnerships
When thinking of how to manage a mobile EV charging service, another profitable model you can adopt is partnering with corporations. Here, you sign an agreement with other businesses to offer to charge their EV fleets. This can be in the form of putting up charging stations at the corporate offices of the business or offering mobile EV charging services to auto dealership clients.
Each of these models comes with its challenges and benefits. So, it’s important to assess your target market and available resources to know which one best fits you.
Equipment and Technology
The types of chargers you’re going to invest in are also an important consideration when setting up mobile EV charging stations. Different chargers have varying benefits and capabilities.
- Battery-Powered Chargers: These types of chargers don’t need a direct power source to work. They run on batteries and therefore are portable.
- Generator-Powered Chargers: These units produce electricity on-site, and are best suited for areas that don’t have grid access.
- Renewable Energy-Powered Chargers: These chargers are powered by solar or wind energy. They’re the best, especially if your business puts more emphasis on sustainability.
In choosing the right type of charger, you need to look at factors like the target audience, service area, and environmental considerations.
Regulatory Compliance
Running a mobile EV charging service isn’t just about plugging in and powering up vehicles—you need to stay on top of federal, state, and local regulations to ensure compliance and avoid hefty fines or shutdowns. The EV charging industry is highly regulated, and failure to adhere to legal requirements can lead to liabilities, penalties, or even loss of business operations. Here’s what you need to know:
Permits and Licenses: Check with your local authorities to find out which licenses you need to operate a mobile EV charging service. These requirements can vary according to your city and state. However, the common permits you’re going to need include the following:
- General business license, often needed for any commercial operation.
- Mobile Vendor License—Mobile charging services operate on the go, therefore, some cities require vendor permits to operate in public spaces.
- Energy Distribution Permits—This is only needed where the charging system pulls power from the grid. You may need to seek clearance from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) or your state’s energy regulatory body.
- Environmental Permits – if your EV chargers are generator-powered, you need to check with the local air quality regulations. In certain states, like California, there are strict emissions regulations for businesses that use fuel-based energy generation.
Charging Standards and Safety Codes: Before setting up your EV charging service, you need to adhere to the industry safety and technical standards defined by organizations like:
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code) – This organization is in charge of electrical safety standards for EV charging equipment.
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Certification: UL 2202 and UL 2594 are in place to ensure charging stations meet the safety benchmarks set for public use.
- The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards: The SAE J1772 is in charge of the design of charging connections primarily used in the US.
- OSHA Regulations: These are meant to ensure your workplace is safe for employees who operate charging units in public.
Pricing Regulations and Consumer Protection Laws: In some states, EV mobile charging providers don’t dictate the prices, especially when it comes to kilowatt-hour (kWh) billing. As of 2024, at least 30 states had a requirement to bill EV owners per kWh rather than per minute. Before proceeding, ensure you check your state’s PUC to confirm the pricing laws before setting up your payment structure.
Also, EV charging providers are required by law to set and disclose clear pricing. Clients must know exactly how much they’re paying for before charging. Through this transparency, compliance with consumer protection laws from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Market Analysis and Customer Engagement
Another vital aspect of how to manage a mobile EV charging service is carrying out market analysis. Some of the strategies you might use include:
- Identifying service gaps: Research the areas that have a higher EV adoption rate but with limited charging infrastructure.
- Customer feedback: Ensure you regularly collect customer feedback to identify and address pain points to improve service delivery.
- Marketing: Make use of digital platforms and promotions to market and reach potential customers. Where possible, partner with portable EV charging companies to deliver your services to sparse areas with limited charging infrastructure.
When you engage more with the EV community, it fosters loyalty and helps you widen your customer base.
Operational Logistics
Having efficient operations will ensure your mobile EV charging services are reliable. Some of the aspects of operational logistics that you should factor into your business include:
- Fleet management: This is to help you coordinate vehicles equipped with charging units to promptly meet customer demand.
- Scheduling systems: Implement software solutions such as EvoltSoft to manage appointments and dispatch services more effectively.
- Staff training: Have your technicians trained professionally to operate equipment and handle customer interactions.
By streamlining these processes, you can enhance the quality of your EV charging service and increase customer satisfaction. When customers are satisfied with your service, more business begins to flow in, allowing you to expand your business to other sparse areas.
Conclusion
When it comes to finding the best way to manage a mobile EV charging service, you have to blend strategic planning, technological investment, and customer-focused operations. As the EV landscape evolves not just in the US, mobile charging services continue to play an important role in supporting this change. It offers EV owners across the US flexibility and convenience, something that the publicly available charging stations haven’t fully achieved.
Embracing the opportunity presented by mobile EV charging stations with a well-planned approach can give rise to a successful and impactful business in the growing EV industry.
