Your electricity tariff is usually the single biggest variable in a commercial charging pro forma, and the line that decides it, the demand charge, is the one most operators read wrong. This guide walks the anatomy of a commercial EV tariff sheet (fixed charge, energy rate, time-of-use periods, demand charge, and the subscription alternative that several utilities now offer in place of demand) and shows exactly where each line goes in the commercial ROI snapshot tool, with worked examples for SCE TOU-EV, SDG&E EV-HP, PG&E BEV, and a standard Georgia Power demand tariff.
Updated Jun 202620 min read
DC fast charging ROI is not Level 2 ROI with bigger numbers. Demand charges add monthly costs that L2 sites do not face, install runs $90,000 to $200,000 per port (real NEVI awards median about $183,000), public utilization sits around 16 percent on average, and most viable corridor sites depend on NEVI funding for 80 percent of cost. Three site types pencil today: NEVI-funded highway travel-stops, high-traffic retail anchors with a co-funding partner, and fleet depots where fuel and maintenance savings carry the case.
Updated Jul 202622 min read
Commercial EV charging ROI has two components: direct financial returns (charging revenue, incentives, demand charge reduction) and indirect returns (tenant retention, property value, competitive positioning). Direct returns rarely justify the investment alone in low-utilization scenarios. The strongest case includes both, with incentives doing most of the heavy lifting in the first 3 years.
Updated Jul 202615 min read
EV charging can increase commercial property value three ways: NOI enhancement (charging revenue capitalized at market cap rates), reduced vacancy in markets where EV owners self-select, and repositioning aging assets. The strongest evidence is in multifamily housing in high-adoption markets. Valuation is still inconsistent: appraisers and buyers treat it differently depending on market and asset type.
Updated May 20267 min read
EV charging affects tenant behavior in measurable ways: multifamily residents who use charging show significantly higher lease renewal rates; retail customers who charge spend more time on-site and make more purchases; hotel guests who charge are more likely to return and give higher satisfaction scores. The effect is largest in high-adoption markets and grows as EV ownership increases.
Updated May 20266 min read