EV CHARGING FOR
YOUR BUSINESS.

EV registrations in Virginia keep climbing, and charging availability is starting to influence where people shop, stay, work, and rent. For some Roanoke businesses, chargers are a real draw. For others, the math doesn't work yet. Here is how to think it through, starting with the question that determines your cost.

The first question: what can your service handle?

Commercial Level 2 chargers draw 32 to 80 amps each. Two or four of them is a significant new load, and whether your building absorbs it cheaply or expensively depends on existing capacity. A property with spare panel capacity and a short run to the parking area might add dual chargers for $8,000 to $15,000 installed. A property that needs a new panel, a transformer upgrade through Appalachian Power, or long trenched conduit runs can be several times that. The site assessment comes first, because it sets the entire budget.

Which businesses actually benefit

Dwell time decides the value. Hotels and apartment complexes benefit most: guests and tenants charge overnight, and "EV charging" is now a search filter on booking and rental platforms. Offices work well for the same reason; cars sit for eight hours. Restaurants, gyms, and grocery-anchored retail benefit when visits run 45 minutes or longer. A gas station model of five-minute visits doesn't fit Level 2 charging at all; that's DC fast charging territory, with utility infrastructure costs to match.

Level 2 vs. DC fast charging

Level 2 is the right call for almost every Roanoke business considering chargers. Hardware runs $2,000 to $6,000 per dual-port unit plus installation, and it runs on building power. DC fast chargers start around $40,000 per unit before installation, usually require utility service upgrades, and make sense mainly for highway-corridor sites near I-81 chasing through traffic. If your visitors stay under 30 minutes and you're not on the corridor, the investment rarely pencils.

Incentives that change the math

The federal Alternative Fuel Infrastructure tax credit covers 30% of equipment and installation costs, up to $100,000 per charger, for businesses in qualifying census tracts, and substantial parts of the Roanoke area qualify. Appalachian Power has run commercial EV programs for Virginia customers as well. Between the two, a meaningful share of the project cost can come back. We confirm what applies to your address when we quote, because eligibility is tract-by-tract.

Ownership and billing decisions

You'll choose between free charging as an amenity, networked chargers that bill drivers per kWh or per hour, or a hybrid (free for tenants, paid for visitors). Networked units cost more upfront and carry monthly software fees, but they handle billing, access control, and usage reporting. Apartment and hotel operators almost always want networked. A small office providing two free spots for employees may not. Decide before purchasing, because retrofitting network hardware later costs more.

Start with the assessment

We install commercial EV charging across the Roanoke Valley: capacity assessment, utility coordination, trenching and conduit, permits, and inspection. Request a site assessment or call (540) 597-4964 and we'll tell you what your property can support and what it will cost.