HAWAII EV READY Guidebook for Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installations May 2012 prepared by Acknowledgements This Guidebook for Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installations was produced from funding made available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. These funds are directed for use in the Hawaii State Energy Program through the U.S. Department of Energy, and support the goals of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), a partnership launched in 2008 between the State of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0000095. This Guidebook was prepared by Plug In America (PIA) for the State of Hawaii under the Hawaii EV Ready Grant Program. Plug In America would like to thank Mr. Jim Helmer of LightMoves for his participation in this project. Plug In America and the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic De- velopment and Tourism (DBEDT) would also like to give special thanks to the following organiza- tions and individuals for their input and participation in the development of these guidelines: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Counties Honolulu Clean Cities Coalition State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) IBEW Local 1186, Hawaii Hawaii State Department of Transportation (DOT) University of Hawaii, Parking and Transportation Services Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) AeroVironment, Inc. Electric Auto Association, Hawaii Chapter Better Place Hawaii Hawaii Auto Dealers Association (HADA) Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Building Industry Association of Hawaii EZ EV Options Community Associations Institute, Hawaii Chapter GreenCar Hawaii, LLC Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association Volta Charging Hawaii State Building Code Council Disclaimer This document was prepared by Plug In America as an account of work sponsored by the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Neither Plug In America nor the Hawaii State government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, com- pleteness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States or any agency thereof. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommenda- tion, or favoring by Plug In America or the Hawaii State government or any agency thereof. i Hawaii EV Ready Guidebook for Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installations Executive Summary The Guidebook for Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installations presents an organized methodology for planning, installing, and operating electric vehicle charging infrastructure at commercial facilities in Hawaii. Hawaii-specific installations are featured throughout the Guidebook. However, the recom- mended order of topics and best practices contained in this Guidebook are applicable any- where in the world where electric vehicles (EVs) can be expected to play a role in the transportation system. The essential premise of this Guidebook is that successful charging station outcomes result from a prescribed process that includes planning, best installation practices, and implementa- tion of an operating plan. By following the recommended course of study in the Guidebook, site hosts will be able to make informed decisions at each step in the process of installing charging stations at their facilities. A comprehensive listing of charging business models is included to help property owners and operators evaluate the financial aspects of funding and operating charging stations. State-of-the-art recommendations on charging station signage, accessibility, and multiple unit dwelling installations are also included in the Guidebook. The recommendations and practices in this Guidebook are based upon millions of miles of real-world EV driving experience, including fueling from both private and public charging stations. Plug In America additionally draws from its professional experience advising gov- ernment agencies, organizations, and businesses on the subject of EV charging infrastructure. Table of Contents Introduction 2 About This Guidebook .................................................................................................... 2 Background ................................................................................................................... 3 Hawaii’s Leadership ...................................................................................................... 3 Electric Vehicles in Hawaii ............................................................................................ 4 Charging Electric Vehicles ............................................................................................ 6 Planning a Charger Installation 10 Charging Business Models ............................................................................................ 10 What Type of Equipment Should I Choose? ................................................................. 14 Electric Utility Considerations ........................................................................................ 16 Multiple Unit Dwellings .................................................................................................. 17 Choosing an Installer, Contractor, or EV Service Provider ........................................... 19 Obtaining a Permit ......................................................................................................... 21 Installing a Charging Station 22 Selecting a Location for Charging ................................................................................. 22 Accessible Chargers ..................................................................................................... 26 Signage ......................................................................................................................... 28 Operating a Charging System 32 Access to Your Charging Station .................................................................................. 32 Maintenance and Oversight .......................................................................................... 33 Data Collection and Reporting ...................................................................................... 33 Commercial Charging Station Project Flowchart ........................................................... 35 Glossary 36 Common Terms ............................................................................................................. 36 Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... 37 Resources 38 Electric Utility Company Contact Information ................................................................ 38 County Permitting Agencies for Charger Installations ................................................... 39 Publications and Reports .............................................................................................. 40 Organizations ................................................................................................................ 40 Appendices 41 Appendix A: Hawaii Electric Vehicle Legislation and Laws ........................................... 41 Appendix B: Charging Level Standards ....................................................................... 43 Introduction This Guidebook is targeted to owners and operators of commercial properties interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations in Hawaii. Charging locations include businesses, retail stores, hotels, multiple unit dwellings (apartments, townhouses, condominiums) and both privately and publicly owned parking lots. Users of public EV charging infrastructure come from all walks of life, including employees, customers, tourists, fleet operators, and the general public. While the majority of EV charging will take place at home or the workplace, public charging stations can significantly increase the utility and comfort factor of electric vehicles for many drivers by providing a means to extend the range of the vehicle. About This Guidebook Successful charging station projects are the result of an orderly process of planning and installation, as well as the implementation of sound operating practices. To this end, topics in this Guidebook follow an intentional and logical flow. Starting at the beginning and working through the various aspects of electric vehicle charging in the order presented will enable you to follow best industry practices and to make good decisions during the course of your project. A summary flowchart depicting the process of planning, installing, and operating EV charging stations at commercial sites is shown on page 35. The most efficient route to getting a charging station in place is to follow the steps in this Guidebook, as summarized in the flowchart. Note that the online version of the Guidebook includes live links, both to listed webpages as well as to topics within the Guidebook itself. Using your pointing device to choose an entry in the Table of Contents will display that page. Page number references throughout the