74 UTILITIES & SERVICES
person or online, and how long it takes to complete?
If you do go down this route, make sure the company you choose has a technical support team who can be available for your electricians, should they need guidance.
Some installers who work on developments are well versed in helping with technical drawings, install methods, and speed of job completion. Ask the manufacturer to pass on their recommended install partners details.
HIGH DENSITY
What about the ability to install multiple chargers on a single cable? The industry has many different solutions for commercial and high-density applications. While individual homes often use a small stand-alone unit, apartment complexes and other shared parking installations are more involved. For these applications, labour and material costs are essential to profitability – that means minimising the total time installing and reducing the required resources.
Some chargers provide a scalable solution for shared parking, including free backplates and simple bus box wiring. This means up to 30 chargers can be installed on a single cable making the scale-up easy, the resident can purchase
the charger and absorb that extra cost. The install method can cut labour costs by up to 60% and wire costs by up to 75%. Therefore, choosing the cheapest unit on the market will not always equate to the cheapest job quote overall.
HIDDEN COSTS
Ask suppliers how long it takes to install and commission a charge point, and can they commission before getting onsite? In this regard, there are typically unseen costs when selecting a unit with less capability. For example, many builders are unaware of the large differences in installation and commissioning times between products. This could come down to several factors like; how many screws the unit has, how many different tools you need, if there are specialist tools you need to do the job, and how fiddly and time consuming the unit may be to fit. Equally, some unscrupulous distributors may not provide an honest answer about how long each of these activities take. There are labour costs associated with each of these that can balloon the total price per unit. Then there is the risk of callouts and remediation should a unit fail within the six to 12-month rectification period.
Ask about the commissioning process – if it requires a call to the manufacturer or
if you can complete the install remotely. How fast is an average install for the product and type of project you are enquiring about?
RISK-AVERSE DESIGN
Ask how the unit’s design supports the installer and helps them avoid issues. Charge points can be completely sealed for weather and dust proofing after install, in conformance with IP54, but it’s important to ask how the unit and components are protected during the install. If components are exposed to rain, moisture or dust during installation, the sealed unit could trap the contaminants inside causing issues before the unit is even online.
CONCLUSION: ASK QUESTIONS When selecting a charge point, ask manufacturers for evidence-based information which you can fact check. While the advertised unit price may be attractive, a little digging can usually uncover issues that will inflate overall costs. It is especially important to remain compliant with all standards and legislation, something that is usually only achieved by reputable manufacturers.
Charlotte Stowe is UK marketing manager at Zaptec
HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER
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