Poweral Overcomes Roadblock to Install Workplace EV Charging

A 90,000-square-foot, three-story office building in Mahwah, New Jersey, is home to a diverse mix of businesses and supported by nearly four hundred parking spaces. Poweral installed twelve Autel Energy MaxiCharger Single Chargers at the property, after overcoming a roadblock.

The original plan for the property called for a new dedicated electrical service to power the EV chargers. However, once the project got underway, Poweral encountered a major roadblock: the utility would not approve a new electrical service at the property.

Rather than allowing the issue to stop the project, the team went back to the drawing board and redesigned the installation around the building’s existing electrical infrastructure.

It was not the easiest path, and a dedicated electrical service may have been the cleaner long-term solution. But waiting for the perfect solution could have meant the chargers never got installed.

Jay Jaffa, President/COO at Poweral, said: “When the plan changes, Poweral adapts and keeps moving. This building needs chargers, and we are going to get them one way or another.”

Poweral Is Making EV Charging Easier for Commercial Property Owners

Commercial property owners are facing a new infrastructure challenge: how to provide reliable EV charging without taking on the cost, complexity and operational responsibilities that come with installing and managing charging stations.

Poweral is addressing that challenge with a turnkey approach to commercial EV charging. The company works with property owners and businesses to assess their sites, develop charging solutions, manage installation and permitting, secure available incentives, and operate and maintain the charging infrastructure after it goes live.

Poweral provides charging solutions for a wide range of commercial properties, including multifamily communities, hotels, retail centers, office buildings, parking garages and public-use facilities. The company also works with corporations, real estate management companies, universities, hospitals and fleets looking to add charging where vehicles already live, park or work.

A Turnkey Approach to EV Charging

Installing EV charging can involve considerably more than purchasing chargers and connecting them to an electrical system. Property owners may need to evaluate existing electrical capacity, determine charger locations, coordinate with utilities, obtain permits and zoning approvals, work with contractors, apply for rebates and grants, and establish a system for managing the chargers once they are operational.

Poweral takes responsibility for those steps.

The company begins with a site assessment to understand a property’s existing infrastructure and determine appropriate charger placement. After developing a proposal and completing the contracting process, Poweral coordinates approvals with the applicable township and utility, including permitting, zoning and incentive applications. Construction then moves forward, with typical installation projects taking approximately one to three weeks depending on the scope of work.

The company also manages the charging infrastructure after installation. That includes uptime monitoring, utility billing, signage, charging-network visibility and customer support.

Reducing the Upfront Cost

One of the biggest barriers to EV charging deployment can be the initial investment. 

The company identifies available utility make-ready programs, grants and rebates that can offset installation costs. Where applicable, Poweral can invest its own funds to close the remaining gap, allowing qualifying projects to move forward with little or no upfront capital from the property owner.

Rather than treating EV charging solely as an expense, Poweral also structures projects around charging revenue. Property owners can receive a share of net charging revenue generated at their sites, creating the potential for an ongoing income stream while the charging infrastructure provides an additional amenity for residents, employees, customers and visitors.

According to Poweral, revenue-share payments are made quarterly, with the company providing a statement showing the applicable revenue.

Managing the Chargers After Installation

For EV drivers, reliability is one of the most important factors in determining whether a charging station is useful.

Poweral monitors charger performance and connectivity around the clock. The company manages site networking through Ethernet, Wi-Fi or LTE and can remotely troubleshoot many problems. When an issue requires physical intervention, Poweral can dispatch technicians to the site. Drivers and property teams also have access to 24/7 support.

The company also manages the visibility of charging stations on public charging maps and apps. This is particularly important for properties that want to make their chargers available to the public and attract EV drivers who may otherwise have no reason to visit the property.

Supporting Different EVs and Charging Needs

Poweral deploys charging equipment with J1772 and/or NACS connectors, providing compatibility across a broad range of electric vehicles. The company can help property owners determine which connector configuration makes the most sense for their location and intended users.

The charging strategy can also vary depending on the property.

An apartment community may need charging primarily for residents who park overnight. An office building may require workplace charging for employees during the workday. A hotel can use charging as an amenity for guests, while a retail center may benefit from publicly accessible chargers that encourage drivers to spend time at the property.

Parking garages and public-use facilities can have another set of requirements, particularly when charging needs to accommodate a larger number of drivers.

Replacing Aging EV Chargers

Poweral also offers a charger replacement program for properties where existing charging equipment is outdated, unreliable or no longer meeting the needs of drivers.

Instead of requiring a property owner to abandon an existing charging installation, the company can invest in replacing older equipment with modern chargers designed to support current EVs, including Tesla vehicles.

That can become increasingly important as early-generation EV charging equipment reaches the end of its useful life. Replacing unreliable hardware can improve the driver experience while allowing property owners to continue benefiting from charging infrastructure already established at the site.

EV Charging as a Property Amenity

For commercial property owners, EV charging can provide value beyond the charging session itself.

Residents increasingly expect multifamily properties to accommodate electric vehicles. Hotels can use charging as an additional guest amenity. Employers can provide workplace charging to support employees who drive EVs. Retail properties can attract drivers who want to charge while shopping.

Poweral positions charging as a property upgrade that can help attract customers, residents and guests while potentially increasing the property’s long-term appeal. Its model combines the infrastructure investment with revenue sharing, allowing owners to participate in the financial activity generated by charging.

The company also points to the potential competitive advantage for properties that install charging before it becomes a standard expectation.

Solving the Complicated Parts of EV Charging

A major part of Poweral’s value proposition is taking responsibility for the parts of EV charging that can be difficult for property owners to manage themselves.

That includes electrical infrastructure, permitting, utility coordination, zoning, incentives, installation, networking, billing, maintenance, driver support and charger visibility.

Poweral’s team works with property managers, asset owners, utilities, technology partners and electrical contractors throughout the process. The company says it works exclusively with licensed electrical contractors and emphasizes safety, engineering, installation quality and charger uptime.

The result is a model in which the property owner can focus on the property while Poweral handles the charging infrastructure.

Expanding Across the United States

Poweral currently operates across a growing number of markets, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Texas, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Many EV drivers will depend on chargers at places where they regularly spend time.

That makes workplaces, apartments, hotels, retail properties, parking facilities and other commercial destinations increasingly important pieces of the charging network.

Poweral’s turnkey model is designed around that opportunity. By handling the installation and ongoing operation while helping property owners minimize upfront costs and participate in charging revenue, the company is positioning EV charging as more than an infrastructure project.

For commercial property owners, it can become a managed property service that provides a new amenity, supports EV drivers and creates another potential source of long-term value.

Autel Energy Develops EV Charging Solutions for Homes, Businesses and Fleets

Autel Energy develops electric vehicle charging solutions for residential, workplace, commercial and fleet applications, with a product portfolio spanning Level 2 AC chargers and DC fast-charging systems. Its MaxiCharger lineup includes home chargers up to 50 amps, commercial 50-amp Level 2 units and DC fast chargers ranging from 60 kW to 240 kW. The company positions its charging technology around versatility, connectivity and practical energy management, serving applications ranging from individual homes to commercial properties and vehicle fleets.

Autel also provides software and connected charging capabilities through its Autel Charge mobile app, allowing users to monitor, manage and optimize charging sessions. Its commercial and fleet solutions are designed to help businesses meet growing EV charging demand while potentially generating revenue, while features such as dynamic load balancing, cloud-based services and V2X capabilities support more advanced energy management. Autel’s MaxiCharger products have also received iF and Red Dot product design awards, reflecting the company’s emphasis on both charging performance and product design.