What is a charging hub?
Charging hubs optimize the EV-charging experience by making it more accessible and convenient.
August 19, 2022 | Emily Wong
A charging hub is a group of stations dedicated to electric vehicle (EV) charging. Charging hubs are most effective when built around core points of gathering, such as malls, park & ride lots, and big-box stores. These centrally located charging hubs allow EV charging to be integrated into our everyday living—No more scouring maps to find a working charging station! Imagine a charging hub at your local superstore, where customers, carshare users, and delivery fleets can all make use of accessible fast charging. With more charging hubs such as these, more EVs will be able to recharge quickly and conveniently.
Whom do charging hubs help?
EV drivers
Drivers need to park and charge their EVs while they work or shop
Carsharing
Carshare EVs need electrified parking stalls for customers
Last-mile delivery
Last-mile mobility services need a place to dock and charge
Logistics fleets
Logistics fleet drivers need stops with charging stations
Where should we build charging hubs?
Charging hubs are ideal for mixed-use commercial spaces. Because they connect condos, hotels, office buildings, and/or mall developments, commercial spaces bring together a variety of users. Mixed-use commercial charging hubs may also incorporate battery storage, solar rooftops, and charging infrastructure on multiple levels. Therefore, by fusing DC fast charging and level-2 AC charging, charging hubs accommodate diverse charging needs:
- DC fast charging provides a quick top-up for mobility fleets: taxis, public transportation, car rentals, carshare vehicles, etc.
- Level-2 charging is perfect for tenants or building users who have several hours to recharge their EV.
Fleet depots are great places to install charging hubs, as well. By building charging hubs designed specifically for fleet charging, businesses can prepare to fully electrify their fleets. With reliable and scalable charging hubs, it is easy to coordinate overnight fleet charging. DC fast charging hubs can also be installed at key locations along common routes, so electric fleet vehicles can top up before getting back on the road.
Similarly, charging hubs can be installed at transit depots. Because more and more municipalities are piloting electric buses, it is critical to build charging hubs that can scale up with ease.
What does the future look like?
The fleet industry is at a turning point. More and more fleets are switching to electric. As a result, businesses need to shift their focus from personal-vehicle charging to fleet-specific charging solutions. To meet increased power demand, charging hubs might include fast-charging cabinets, battery storage, and solar panels, as shown in the graphic below.
Until we can create scalable and convenient EV-charging hubs, we will continue to face significant barriers to electrification. Therefore, at Swyched, we’re expanding our network of resilient charging hubs to serve EV drivers today and beyond.