Aligning Infrastructure with Vision: MCA’s EV Charging Station Implementation Program

The rise in Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Southeast Michigan presents both challenges and opportunities for municipalities and corporations to meet the increasing demand for EV charging stations.

As engineering consultants, our role is not just a technical matter of adding infrastructure somewhere; it’s also about aligning that infrastructure with a larger vision supporting our client’s goals and asset management programs.

In the following, we’ll explore our project with a Southeastern Michigan municipality and how understanding the community’s long-term objectives can make us better consultants with long-term impacts.

Understanding the Project’s Impact on the Community

The community we’re working in is focused on building a cleaner future both locally and globally. Its ambitious strategy to combat climate change includes promoting sustainable mobility and clean energy transportation to improve residents’ lives by reducing vehicle-emission-induced smog and internal combustion engine noise.

Additionally, the municipality is excited to support the innovation of modern vehicles and increase quality jobs and opportunities for the community residents.

The types of EV charging stations and selected site locations on this project reflect these goals.

Type of Chargers

Our project is focused on Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) for quick, efficient charges, as opposed to Alternating Current Level 2 (L2) EV chargers, which can take multiple hours to charge. DCFCs take roughly 30 minutes to raise an EV battery’s state of charge from 30% to 80%, which is the threshold at which DCFC stations throttle power output to protect batteries.

While they are more costly, it was important to implement DCFCs for this municipal program. With the consumers in mind, DCFCs clearly focus on providing a convenient option. Whether the driver is a resident out for lunch or a visitor spending the day in the community, this project is meant to provide chargers that seamlessly integrate into their day.

Site Selection

EV charging station sites were pre-selected by the municipality based on three key criteria:

1. Proximity to major highways: This ensures efficient ways for drivers to hop on and off the highway for a quick charge.
2. High-trafficked areas: Locating chargers where people frequently visit ensures convenience. It also reinforces safety, offering a location in a populated and well-lit public space.
3. Nearby amenities: Placing chargers near restaurants and recreation areas offers drivers interesting and convenient ways to entertain themselves while their batteries are charging. It also promotes economic growth for nearby businesses.

The State of Michigan EV Toolkit states that nearly 95% of EV charging locations are available for public use. This statistic aligns with our project, where all charging stations will be implemented in public spaces. The project’s site selection criteria are clear and easy to understand, as they highlight how each factor positively influences the public’s perception of these modern and innovative community services.

Planning for Long Term Programs and Asset Management

This EV charging implementation project is much more than infrastructure – it’s a prime example of how the municipality is addressing modernization, climate change, community needs, and economic growth.

Comprehensive and multifaceted projects like this require a deep understanding of a client’s larger goals and long-term needs. Engineering consultants ensure the project’s DCFC channel providers, station operators, and infrastructure owners are aligned with the end goals throughout the project. From the initial concept layout to the final implementation, consultants play a key role in translating critical details among stakeholders.

For clients looking to own the physical assets and the infrastructure’s operational data, such as our municipality example, additional programmatic needs must be considered upfront. To guarantee the infrastructure meets the long-term goals after the infrastructure is installed and commissioned, consultants can develop an effective asset management solution for municipalities and corporations alike.

From years of working within municipalities to unravel complex infrastructure challenges and tailor unique solutions to new projects, we at Metro Consulting Associates (MCA) realize the importance of translating a project into the client’s long-term impact. Contact us today to learn more.