Using Load Management as the Foundation for Expanding EV Charging

Electric vehicle (EV) charging is becoming increasingly common across workplaces, multifamily properties and commercial facilities. As more drivers plug in, businesses need to consider which equipment to install and whether their existing electrical infrastructure can support the demand.

Organizations that successfully expand EV charging need to build a strategy around how charging demand affects their buildings, electrical infrastructure and day-to-day operations. Load management helps businesses distribute available power across charging stations, allowing them to add chargers while managing infrastructure requirements and costs.

Managing the Cost of EV Charging at Scale

When businesses add EV chargers, they introduce a new electrical load that can be substantial and challenging to predict because vehicles may plug in at different times throughout the day. In many buildings, especially older ones, there’s only a certain amount of capacity available at the electrical panel.

That constraint is most important during the times when buildings are already working hardest. In many settings, electricity use spikes during peak operating hours as lighting, HVAC and other building systems increase demand. When additional load adds to that demand, it can increase peaks along with energy costs.

Without a plan, even a small number of EVs can start to put pressure on infrastructure and budgets. Understanding when charging occurs and how much power is available can help businesses expand access without immediately investing in major electrical upgrades.

Understanding EV Charging Load Management

Load management, also known as load balancing or demand-side management, balances EV charging demand across a building’s existing electrical capacity rather than requiring charging to run at full power the moment vehicles plug in. This helps keep EV charging within the limits of available electrical infrastructure, allowing businesses to add charging without automatically triggering major upgrades.

From an operational standpoint, this is a practical shift because most EV drivers don’t need maximum charging speed as soon as they plug in. They need enough power for the vehicle to be charged by their planned departure time. Load management uses that time flexibility to distribute power across active chargers while accounting for other electricity needs across the facility.

Evaluating Alternatives to Electrical Upgrades

Without load management, organizations often think their options are limited to making major infrastructure investments, restricting charging access or delaying installation. Common concerns include:

• Investing in electrical upgrades: Adding transformers, panels or electrical service to accommodate the full combined capacity of new chargers.
• Limiting charging access: Installing fewer chargers than demand will require.
• Delaying EV charging plans: Postponing installation when the cost or complexity of infrastructure improvements becomes difficult to justify.

Load management offers a better path by allowing businesses to expand charging access while using existing capacity more effectively.

Comparing Common Load Management Configurations

There are several ways load management can be implemented, depending on how a site is wired and how charging is expected to grow. Three common configurations distribute power across circuits, dedicated EV panels or panels that also support other building systems.

• Circuit sharing: Multiple chargers share the limits of a single electrical circuit. Instead of each charger requiring dedicated capacity, available power is distributed across whichever chargers are active at a given time. This configuration can provide a practical starting point when electrical capacity is limited, and the goal is to expand access without extensive infrastructure changes.
• Dedicated panel sharing: EV chargers have their own breakers on a panel dedicated to charging. They can operate at full output until the panel reaches its threshold, at which point available power is balanced across active stations. This configuration can support consistent charging while allowing a site to install more ports than it could accommodate if every charger operated at full output at the same time.
• Mixed load panel sharing: Existing buildings, especially those undergoing retrofits, can use available capacity on panels that already serve HVAC, lighting, boilers or other equipment. This approach can reduce the need for new infrastructure, but it requires controls that monitor building electricity usage in real time and adjust charging accordingly. When demand increases, charging can temporarily slow to remain within capacity limits, then increase again when more power becomes available.

Each configuration offers a different way to expand charging based on available capacity, site infrastructure and anticipated demand. Evaluating these factors can help businesses determine which setup best supports current operations and future charging needs.

Maintaining Flexibility as Charging Needs Change

EV charging technology is evolving quickly. As businesses add chargers and charging needs grow, many want to avoid being locked into a single vendor or charging platform over the long term.

Selecting a charging system that can work across different technologies can provide businesses with more flexibility as equipment, software and business needs change. This is especially important when charging expands across multiple sites or connects with other energy management systems.

Building an EV Charging Strategy with Constellation

As EV adoption continues to grow, your business needs charging strategies that support both current demand and future expansion. Load management can help you use available electrical capacity more effectively while supporting charging needs across your facilities.

Constellation’s Flexible EV Charging solution is designed to help streamline the process from planning to implementation and expansion. Constellation works with you to help identify electrification opportunities, develop infrastructure and implement charging strategies that evolve with your operational needs.

Through Constellation’s collaboration with SWTCH, you can access a turnkey solution that includes installation, support and maintenance. By incorporating load management through Flexible EV, you can expand EV charging across your operations while aligning your plans with budget and operational goals.