The popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has skyrocketed in recent years; according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) EVs are now the second most popular type of new vehicle, behind petrol and beating out both diesel and hybrid powertrains.
Here at PSD Codax, we are industry leading providers of car wash access technology, in this article will outline the ways in which charging station owners can make the most of the fact that there is an increase in the demand for electric charging points in order to help boost their revenue and profitability.
What is an Electric Car Charging Station?
The term ‘charging station’ is a bit of a loose one; it can describe anything from a single charger in a supermarket car park, to a purpose-made charging forecourt – much like a traditional petrol station, but the petrol pumps have been swapped out for eight or more electric car chargers.
In some locations, you can find chargers on the roadside, be that single chargers sometimes fitted within lampposts, or a row of dedicated bollards with plugs for topping up your car.
On the other end of the scale are these charging forecourts mentioned earlier. These are run by companies like Shell or InstaVolt and hold the potential to provide things for EV owners to do while their car charges, such as coffee shops, retail stores, and car maintenance services including car washes.
How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car at a Charging Station?
Given the variety of electric cars and charging stations, it probably won’t surprise you to learn the time taken to charge an EV can vary too. The length of time an EV’s batteries take to recharge is determined by how many kilowatts the charging station can provide and how many the car can accept – the higher the wattage, the faster the charge. The charging rates for a full battery vary from 6 hours to just 20 minutes.
This means your customers are likely to be around for a while, meaning they are going to be open to utilising additional services while they wait compared to a conventional petrol station.
How to Boost Customer Spend with EV Charging
Once EV drivers stop to charge, there is an obvious cross-selling opportunity for add-on products and services. Whether it’s a parent charging while getting snacks for their family, or a taxi driver topping up while grabbing some lunch, EV charging points are a sure-fire way to increase your revenue.
For shops or petrol stations, offering your customers a convenient charging experience, you also encourage them to spend time and money at your location while they wait.
How EV Charging Can Attract Loyal, High-Value Customers
A study looking into the usage of EVs in the UK found that EV drivers have a higher income than petrol-car drivers. With more disposable income, your EV driving customers will not only spend more time at your location but also purchase higher-end items every time they visit.
So, not only will you be attracting more business with EV charging, having a range of services for your visitors can encourage them to spend more than just the cost of charging their car. By installing, vacuum stations, tyre pressure units, WIFI, and car washes you can provide a one stop shop for your customers and encourage them to spend more money while they wait for their car to charge.
Our car wash access technology allows businesses to provide flexibility and profitability to their car washes. With contactless payment systems and mobile applications businesses can serve clients 24/7.
Put Your Business on the Map with Electric Car Charging Facilities
EV charging stations also put your business on the map—quite literally. Popular navigation sites like Google Maps enable drivers to locate nearby public charging stations. By having charging stations at your site, you can boost your brand visibility on these platforms and attract new customers.
Having a wide range of facilities and services such as a loyalty scheme, to engage your customers and increase their comfort is likely to improve your reputation, with popular feedback through Google reviews and recommendations you can increase the footfall and profitability of your site.
How to Generate Consistent Revenue with EV Charging
Here at PSD Codax, we have been developing market-leading access control systems for the forecourt trade for over 25 years. Why not optimise your charging station by including further business models such as a nearby car wash, generating additional income while customers wait for their cars to charge. Within this timeframe, even fast-charging cars will be able to utilise the service.
As one of the leading car wash access technologies, PSD Codax consistently keeps you ahead of the market, bringing new ways for operators to improve the flexibility, security and profitability of how they sell car wash and valet services. Beyond access control systems, we also offer a range of display and smart POS systems.
Find out more about PSD Codax, or get in contact with a friendly member of the team to get the ball rolling towards an optimised EV charging station today.