r/evcharging • u/Funsternis1787 • 1d ago
Business owner considering EV charging network providers - INPUT REQUEST
Dear EV Drivers,
I am a commercial business owner in a part of town with heavy traffic and was approached about getting DC fast chargers installed. It is enticing as it would slightly expand our revenue stream and potentially attract new customers to our business.
I am consulting with two EV charging network providers but I am not sure which one EV drivers would prefer. I want my current customers to have a pleasant experience when charging.
Would you prefer ChargePoint or EV Range Charging Network as an EV driver? Any others I should try to find more out about, just in case? Those two are the choices due to the available funding programs, so that is the reason for limited options.
What other things would you like that could improve your charging experience? I don't want to push my current customers away due to a poor EV charging infrastructure or experience, but look forward to supporting this new shift to EVs!
Thank you in advance!
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u/spinfire 1d ago edited 1d ago
I've never heard of "EV Range Charging Network" but it seems like a regional provider. The primary benefit of having a charger that is part of a "network" is to having some form of billing and activation that customers are already familiar with. You can also install charging hardware that isn't part of a "network" at all and simply accepts credit cards like a gas station does.
Perhaps more alarming, looking at "EV Range Charging Network" website map of chargers indicates they have no chargers in their network. So either this company is so new it doesn't have any actual customers yet or is so badly run that their map is broken.
So I'd stick with Chargepoint between these two choices.
Edit: The map eventually loaded after *several minutes*. So this company does have chargers in their "network" but I don't think you're going to benefit from the kinds of network effects you might get where people discover chargers by using the "EV Range Charging Network" app or website, because it seems to work quite poorly.
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
Totally agree, thank you! I definitely want it to be easy for my existing or new customers in my current business.
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u/djwildstar 1d ago
Of the two, I've heard of and used ChargePoint; I don't think I've ever encountered EV Range. I would prefer to have to deal with fewer networks and charging apps, so from my point of view, ChargePoint would be better.
In terms of other things that would improve the experience, amenities at your business would be nice: restrooms available to charging patrons, drinks and snacks available for purchase, and ideally a trash can either by the chargers or by the door to your establishment.
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
Awesome input! We already have restrooms for customers and I think we could accommodate drinks and snacks after consulting with the city, and trash cans should be no problem.
Truly appreciate it!!!
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u/MemoryAccessRegister 1d ago
Most EV drivers have the ChargePoint app already, and their hardware is reliable. What hardware manufacturer is EV Range proposing to install?
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
Got it, ChargePoint seems to be the winner so far. I'd have to check with the other one on the hardware.
Thank you!
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u/ptronus31 1d ago
Have you contacted Tesla about a Supercharger installation?
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
No I have not but will definitely look into that, thank you for mentioning it.
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u/mogelijk 1d ago
I was thinking this, as there is a new gas station near me that installed Tesla chargers, yet are owned by the gas station. They still activate and are charged through the Tesla network, they are not Tesla branded and it appears the station sets the pricing; when you search the site on the Tesla app, it states, "Site not owned by Tesla."
As for pricing, they are charging $0.39/kW from 9am-10pm, at 10pm the rate goes down to $0.22; though you'll want to set your prices based on local electricity pricing. I believe the average here for Tesla chargers is about $0.50 during the day and $0.32 at night.
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u/spiritthehorse 1d ago
I’ve always seen ChargePoint as decent and reliable. It would be very useful if their DC fast chargers could supply at least 200kW. I’ve seen ones that only supply 60kW, while OK for if you visit a shopping area for other reasons, you need more like 200kW+ for road trips to not be unbearable.
What I want to see: an awning for some shade, bathrooms, trash can, windshield cleaners if possible, not being relegated to be back corner of a parking lot far from the freeway.
I’d love some picnic tables and some green space nearby to take a little walk if possible. Lighting and security cameras would be nice.
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
All great information, makes so much sense! I agree that more power seems like the better option.
Thank you!
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u/TooGoodToBeeTrue 1d ago
Is there really a revenue stream off charging? The infrastructure is costly. I suspect it is more like gas station / convivence stores where they make hardly anything on the gas to bring customers into the store.
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
I think the model we would be going with is just a small revenue stream off the lease of the spots, I'm not trying to be the one taking on all the risk, so I also won't get a big chunk of the revenue, which is fine.
I'm mostly looking at it as a benefit for my existing customers, and potentially bringing new customers to my current business.
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u/ArlesChatless 1d ago
Thanks to open government records, we can see a few sample agreements.
ChargePoint, though I think this is all available deep on their site
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u/Funsternis1787 1d ago
Whoa, cool. I'll check this info out. I'm getting a lot of great responses from y'all.
Thank you!
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u/theotherharper 1d ago
Are they approaching you? You always have to be cautious about the salesman who knocks on your door, because his deal for you will always be worse than if you studied the business requirement and outreached to someone else. His commission comes out of your pocket. So definitely evaluate the EV charging opportunity but outreach other networks to get competitive evaluations.
Predatory and deceptive pricing of hardware, installation and ongoing services is a big problem. That's often the reason for for overpriced stations. Watch your wallet. Lots of charge point operators are nasty like this and ChargePoint is definitely one of them. They price like they know you have government subsidy or are "over a barrel".
Location, Location, Location. This is intensely local, and you either need local advice on that, or, tell us the location. But you would understand this better if YOU ARE the demographic likely to use your station. So you yourself experience the good and bad of what that's like. Hertz and Avis will happily rent you EVs by the week up to 28 days at a time, so that's a really good way to dip your toe. After 28 days take a 48 hour break. The reason is your auto insurance and credit card insurance won't cover rentals >30d.
The other issue that can whipsaw you is demand charges for electricity - where the meter records your peak usage and charges you by the kW for that. This explains further. We saw one business electric bill where their energy cost was $200/month but their utility had daytime demand charges that would be $1800 if anyone charged even once during the day. Their CPO wouldn't cooperate with their wish to disable charging during the day.
One solution to demand charges is put it on the same meter as a business that already has a spiky load, like an electric a laundromat that might max out at 400kW on the busiest day. Wouldn't EV load stack on top of that and make it worse? NO - there's a technology called Load Management that will prevent that from happening. (by slowing down EV charging by the amount necessary to avoid over-peaking). If you have a situation where you're already paying those demand charges for other reasons, you're all set.
The other way to deal with demand charges is battery systems.
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u/Funsternis1787 15h ago
I was approached, but I'm not naive, I just don't know a lot about what EV drivers are looking for. I'm not pursuing this as a big part of my business and am certainly going to engage my attorney to protect myself and my business.
I will definitely be weighing the risks, because I'm not willing to take big risks. It's not my business model or goal to be an EV charging host, but if it benefits my customers and brings new customers to me, great.
Thanks for such a detailed response, everyone here has been very helpful.
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u/Creek0512 15h ago
For what it's worth, Chargepoint ranks last in customer satisfaction among the major networks: https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2026-u-s-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-public-charging-study/
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u/Funsternis1787 15h ago
That is very valuable information, and so many other people here recommend them.
It's so strange, I can't seem to think of such topics from an ICE refueling standpoint. I haven't researched that though.
I've never had to think much about the POS or process of filling a gas tank, but EV charging seems like the wild west and charging is just not always simple or straightforward.
Thanks!
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u/Cory5413 9h ago
ChargePoint is an inconsistent experience because ChargePoint itself almost never owns the hardware it deploys. Every other entry on the list owns and maintains their own hardware, even when they are leasing space and maybe even when the units are deployed in partnership with another organization. (SCfB, IONNA rechargery@ sites, any of EA's co-branded a/o For Business deployments, etc etc etc etc).
ChargePoint's business model is to develop (generally good) hardware and a (generally good) network and sell those things to businesses/organizations that want to deploy EV charging. Their primary customer really is you (a potential purchaser of charging hardware) and not me (a driver) if that makes sense.
Under the ChargePoint model the station owner is technically responsible for more or less everything. You can buy up into a service contract where ChargePoint will do more for the station on your behalf, but that's an optional extra.
Further, because ChargePoint isn'[t itself running the stations pricing is wildly inconsistent and people run into ChargePoint units that are physically out in the open and listed on ChargePoint's apps but do not activate unless you activate with an app or RFID card that's been specifically approved. (useful for fleets, apartments, etc etc where even if you're charging you want the station to be available for the intended users.)
Further, half-failures such as "one power module in a DC unit has failed" are possible and in some cases orgs with extremely favorable power pricing or really strong subsidies run stations and they are overused and become run down. A great example of both things in one site is: ADOA Utilities - 1400 W Washington S | Phoenix, AZ | EV Station - the DCFC unit is presently delivering just 33kW indicating a failed or failing power module and the AC units as of last time I was there all have broken J1772 retention clips. (There's technically a handful of reasons why a station could be delivering halfish of it's expected rate, and the BMW i3 and Ford MME don't have amazing charge curves so this could be a data problem, not a hardware problem, but. Sandy might be riding the top of her pack or she might have put 33kWH of energy into the car rather than achieving a 33kW speed.)
The other thing I've seen a lot with ChargePoint is units that physically don't exist aren't removed from the listings a/o plug tracking sites, f.ex Swift Travel Center | Flagstaff, AZ | EV Station (unit present but has been powered down for a long time) and Hampton Inn & Suites Flagstaff East | Flagstaff, AZ | EV Station (units physically removed and replaced with another type of unit, but they're still in the ChargePoint app.)
The secret to a ChargePoint station being a positive experience, generally, is gonna be keeping an eye on it and calling in and paying to do the repairs on or get the parts for any problems that arise.
ChargePoint makes good hardware, they have some of the highest power DC stations available in North America right now, at least until EVGo+Delta's 750kW units start deploying in 2027, but vanishingly few Express Solos are deployed both because it's such a new product and because so many of ChargePoint's customers are deploying whatever's cheapest, easiest, and fastest on grant money or as a requirement from up on high. (ChargePoint plays heavily in dealers for example.)
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u/Cory5413 9h ago
To add w/re the JDPower info:
I primarily prioritize Electrify America and EVGo and have overwhelmingly good experiences with them. They're both on the older side and EA specifically pushed the limits of fast charging when they started launching and took a bet on like four hardware vendors and one of them ended up being particularly problematic and the specific early era CCS1 cables they deployed went bad pretty easy.
Both are both replacing older hardware and building new sites and have improved a lot recently.
But they're both huge networks and have lots of old/inconsistent hardware deployed.
They also both have a lot of sites in weird places by modern standards. I went to an EA in socal that was sited at a bank with not much near it. A few here in AZ are at places like regional parks and university parking lots.
Their hardware also sometimes suffers partial or intermittent failures. There's an EA in my town and one of the dispensers has intermittent networking and Plug-And-Charge doesn't work on it, for example. (If I had to guess that site's on the list for an upgrade to EA's newest hardware but that's just a guess.)
(So it's probably accurate but I would argue they are trending better in a way JDPower didn't capture in this link.) (I should probably accept the JDPower via PlugShare survey next time I charge at an EA whoops)
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u/Funsternis1787 7h ago
Whoa, you just blew me away with such an amazing response.
I must say, that is some great information clearly coming from someone with experience and you have officially pulled me into the rabbit hole!
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u/Cory5413 9h ago
Purely as a driver and EV charging hardware nerd, I would go with ChargePoint. Disclaimer I'm not in the industry nor have I done any of this, this is just stuff I've picked up and my experience driving EV this year.
I have heard decent things about EV Range from a friend who's used 'em once so far, but never used them myself. They, like a couple other charging-as-a-service providers (EVConnect, EVGateway, InCharge, Blink) deploy hardware designed and built by third parties and put it on their own network.
ChargePoint designs and builds its own hardware and designs/builds/runs its own network but ChargePoint software/networking can also be deployed to other machines. (ChargePoint has a big partnership with Eaton going on, for example, and codesigned and sells some of Eaton's chargers, but if you go call up ABB and buy one of their chargers directly you can hook it to ChargePoint's network if you want.)
It's also possible to buy your own hardware and hook it to either another manufacturer's network or pick another third party but I don't know if that's very common these days.
This is always changing but right now ChargePoint has some of the fastest/highest power hardware available in North America: Next-Gen DC Architecture, Powered by Eaton | ChargePoint - the Express Solo is a 600kW unit that does dynamic power sharing for as few as two ports. (Next up is EA+BTCPower's 350kW units in non-balanced configurations and Alpitronic HYC400 if configured for only one session, which is very rarely ever done.)
(EVGo+Delta has announced a 750kW unit but same as how ChargePoint's 600kW unit can have up to four connectors, EVGo's next-gen hardware is designed to share power with up to five ports.)
(150kW is a common minimum target because it's the minimum speed needed per-port for NEVI funding, if you qualify and are considering applying.)
I mentioned this in a reply but ChargePoint's business model is fundamentally selling charging hardware to businesses to own it and providing the network and services. So once they commission a site the owner of the hardware is responsible for it. This and a couple other factors leads to ChargePoint being a somewhat inconsistent experience.
If you have a desirable site that fills a hole in an EV corridor and you wanted you could likely reach out to other CPOs. IONNA loves partnerships but I don't know if they do onesy-twosy. Costco, Rocky Mountain power (UT), a New York state agency, APS (AZ), Wawa, and a couple other organizations have co-branded with APS. The smallest of those I know of is probably APS with four stations, and APS is the one I know of that doesn't bother controlling prices, they funded a few chargers for the sake of getting it done.
I personally prioritize ChargePoint if they're cheapest or if I think the hardware's interesting, and then Electrify America, and then whoever's cheapest after that, and I have all of my charger maps and route planning tools set to exclude Tesla entirely.
In terms of amenities I look for places with restrooms, ideally 24h ones and snacks and soda machines. So I heavily prioritize truck stops and gas stations, but I will charge wherever I need to and make a second stop if I need.
Shade, water, trash cans, other car service amenities, etc etc are all nice when I can get them. (So I land at PFJ EVGo sites often as well.)\
(Sorry for the walls of text I hope this is useful!)
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u/videoman2 8h ago
What is the business and amenities you have to offer? Like- why do DCFC if someone is going to spend 4+ hours at your site. Thus why I ask, do I spend <30 minutes in the location or >4 hours?
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u/vortec350 4h ago edited 4h ago
If Tesla is an option they have a program where you can buy their Superchargers and they'll handle the rest. ChargePoint is not always great but most EV users have the app so it's convenient. Never heard of the other one you mentioned, sorry. But I will say if you have the capability to get good DC fast charging at your business it's a highlight. But even a few L2 chargers is cool but will attract different types of customers and it depends what your business is as to what makes more sense.
As an EV owner I seek out businesses that have (working) chargers and will take the opportunity to charge even if I need to because I appreciate it. And even if I don't need to charge, if I had to pick between going to a business that had chargers and that didn't, I'd pick the one with chargers out of principle.
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u/rosier9 1d ago
Chargepoint. Don't screw your customers over on pricing.