If the Wright brothers only knew, right? From single plane hangars to massive international airports across the country, the shape of air travel has changed drastically. And, along with those changes came drastic alterations to airports as well. From a single bar to Michelin star restaurants and retail shopping opportunities, airports have changed drastically over the years.
It’s all about the amenities. One amenity growing increasingly popular, and in demand, at airports of all sizes is EV charging. An airport EV charging solution can offer significant benefits to all stakeholders, but understanding the demand and considerations is an important first step.
Quick Links
- Is There Demand for Airport EV Charging?
- Are Airports Meeting the Demand for EV Charging At the Airport?
- Airport EV Charging Considerations
- Implementing an Airport EV Charging Solution
Is There Demand for Airport EV Charging?
In 2018, passenger transportation methods were responsible for nearly 81% of greenhouse gasses which contribute to a warming planet. And while flying doesn’t rank as high on a carbon footprint scale as a single person driving in a car, it doesn’t mean that travelers aren’t exploring ways to decrease their carbon footprint and improve sustainability efforts when they travel.
In fact, 76% of travelers say they want to find ways to travel more sustainably and the demand for convenient and accessible EV charging at airports is on the rise.
Whether it’s sustainability efforts or increases in EV adoption, more and more airports, both international and regional, are beginning to consider installing EV charging stations. And not to say you should keep up with the airport “Joneses” but when travelers have airport options, finding an airport with EV charging stations is becoming increasingly important.
For airports, EV charging demands mean big business too. In fact, market research suggests
The airport EV charging market is expected to generate $4.1 billion (with a B) dollars by 2031.
The demand is there, but is it being met?
Are Airports Meeting the Demand for EV Charging At the Airport?
There are nearly 5,200 public airports in the United States with most major airports now offering some version of EV charging. That wasn’t always the case.
Portland (PDX) was the first to add airport EV charging stations in 2015 and, today, Los Angeles (LAX) is on track to increase their EV charging station count to feature 1300 charge points. Sounds great, right?
Consider two facts:
- On peak travel days, like Thanksgiving weekend, LAX can see up to 92,000 cars per day.
- In the state of California, the number of EVs quadrupled in five years with the total count now topping 1.1 million.
Granted, California is much larger than the Los Angeles area, but suddenly 1300 charge points doesn’t seem as significant. For example, if even a fraction, say .25% or 2,750 EVs visited LAX, possible on a peak travel day, there aren’t enough charge points. And, while this is a major step forward and a significant investment in EV infrastructure, is it meeting potential demand?
Airport EV charging station density is similar to what we see in other areas– making improvements but not quite there yet. EV drivers arriving at airports, hoping to charge while away or while they wait, reserve charging stations, or top up before they head home, may struggle to find available EV charging stations.
Airport EV Charging Considerations
Airports are unlike other potential EV charging locations for a variety of reasons. While some commercial EV charging locations can rely on regional electric vehicle registrations to gauge demand, airports can and do serve a much wider population. Further, EV charging stations that are reliable and available can increase an airport’s range when it comes to attracting travelers.
Still, for many, determining how many EV charging stations an airport might need goes beyond registered EV drivers. Implementing EV charging stations at airports presents a unique set of challenges that stem from various factors.
Because airports attract a diverse range of vehicles, from compact electric cars to larger electric SUVs or multi-passenger vans, power management is a huge concern. Ensuring charging infrastructure supports power demands is crucial and, for some airports, may require infrastructure upgrades.
Those upgrades, along with installing EV charging stations may involve significant construction work and electrical upgrades, which can disrupt normal airport activities. The challenge lies in minimizing disruptions while efficiently integrating charging infrastructure into existing airport facilities.
While Level 2 charging stations will be great for visitors or travelers staying for an extended period, the nature of travel means fast charging options may be in higher demand. Travelers with tight schedules, ride services or shuttle buses, and other quick turn charging needs will necessitate DC fast chargers.
It’s not just infrastructure logistics either. Because airports often experience high traffic volumes, demand for airport EV charging stations may be concentrated during peak travel times. This will require strategic planning to prevent congestion. Easy in and out access for vehicles as well as reliable and seamless charging experiences are essential to keep EVs and drivers moving.
And, let’s be honest, none of this is free. For many airports, the initial investment can be daunting, even if the ROI is significant (remember that $4.1 billion market).
However, one great opportunity for airports is collaboration with stakeholders such as airlines, car rental companies, and local governments, all of which have a vested interest in both EV charging and the success of a regional airport. Across the board, they’ll reap the rewards so pulling them into collaborative programs is a great option.
These kinds of partnerships can help with both data and resources sharing, helping to create a more interconnected, efficient and reliable EV charging network.
Implementing an Airport EV Charging Solution
As with any other EV charging station implementation, airports need to start with a few important decisions. The first? Determining the best locations for charging stations.
Airport EV Charging Locations
For airports, there are the standard considerations for site selection including (but not limited to):
- Demand
- Sustainability goals
- Enough parking in a specific lot
- Power/Infrastructure access
- Space for hardware
- Station placement would not block or impede snow removal or large vehicles
- Easy in and out access (for heavy traffic)
There are, however, additional location considerations:
- Which airport parking lots will you use:
- Rental car lots
- Cell phone lots
- Rideshare/taxi lots
- Employee parking
- Short term parking
- Long term parking
- Shuttle bus lots
- Ground service equipment lots
- Proximity to rental car companies with EV rental fleets
- Will parking structures need charging stations?
- Is there infrastructure that may prevent network communications?
Beyond location, airport EV charging requires more logistics than other locations. While fast charging is in demand nearly everywhere, airports are similar to roadside service stations. Not only are rental companies with EV fleets looking to meet quick turn fleet needs, but travelers on the move or in a rush, will want fast charging.
Other Logistics for Airport EV Charging
As we all know, fast charging puts an extra strain on the power grid and airports already require a significant amount of power. Not only does this mean infrastructure upgrades are likely necessary or forthcoming, but EV charging program oversight is essential.
Before engaging with any EVSE provider, ensuring they have a charging platform management system (CPMS) robust enough to help you analyze usage, manage power loads, create flexible fee structures, and assist with monitoring station performance is vital.
Given the demands, the variety of potential EV drivers who need access and, potentially, their role in airport operations, having full visibility into your charging network can help all stakeholders manage usage, adapt policies or procedures, and determine needs for expansion.
Similarly, EV charging station maintenance will need to be monitored to ensure reliability and performance. You can simplify this by selecting an EVSE provider with a strong warranty and ongoing support, but you’ll still want networked machines that can be regularly monitored.
And, consider what kind of tools potential EVSE providers offer to help with Level 1 maintenance. As helpful as remote monitoring is, regularly having to tend to connectivity issues or problems resolved by a restart/reboot can be time consuming for operations teams.
AI features, like NovaCHARGE’s NovaBOT take that stress off your team and can resolve simple maintenance issues without human intervention.
Two factors will play most heavily into implementing an EV charging program at an airport. Big or small, logistics and funding are among the topic concerns and potential challenges. When it comes to logistics and operations, airports have significant strengths.
Thankfully, between government incentives, program partnerships, grants, tax rebates, and provider offers, airports can find a way to make an initial investment. As with fleet electrification, airport EV charging solutions need not be done all at once.
Slowly rolling out an EV charging program can help you gauge interest, get additional buy-in based on demand, and adjust to operational needs or logistical support demands. Step by step support is available from turnkey EVSE solution providers who can also help you scale as needed.
The final destination is clear, EVs and EV charging will be essential components of airport amenities moving forward and, for rental companies situated at airports, the future is already here. The only question is whether you’re on board.
We’re ready to help, so reach out to our team today and let’s take the next steps to an EV future at your airport.
