Parking and fast charging: a service that’s increasingly in demand among drivers

If there’s one place where drivers expect to find an efficient charging station, it’s the parking lot. Whether it’s a multi-story parking garage in the city center, an airport parking lot, a train station, or a private parking area, the synergy between parking and electric mobility is now inseparable.

Today, electric car drivers plan their stops based on the availability of charging stations. As a result, transforming a simple parking space into a state-of-the-art charging hub is no longer just a way to be “green,” but a strategic move to maximize the facility’s profitability and stay ahead of the competition.

The Time Factor: Why Fast Charging Can Make a Difference in Parking Lots

In public or commercial parking lots, the length of time users stay can vary considerably: from a few dozen minutes for a quick errand to a few hours for shopping or a business meeting.

Although alternating current (AC ) charging stations (AC to 22 kW), which are ideal for long or overnight stays, may be a good solution in some cases, the real game-changer for parking lot operators is the integration of fast and ultra-fast direct current (DC ) charging stationsDC 50 kW to over 150 kW).

Installing Fast and Ultra-Fast infrastructure offers significant benefits:

• Attracting new customers: Drivers will no longer use the parking lot just to park, but as a nearly unavoidable choice. It will become a preferred parking spot thanks to the charging service, which allows them to make the most of their time by combining parking and recharging in one go.
• Rapid turnover of parking spaces: Thanks to shorter charging times (often less than 30–40 minutes to “fill up”), the same parking space can serve many more customers throughout the day, increasing the overall flow of vehicles.
• Making the Most of Parking Time: A fast-charging service enhances the user experience, positioning the parking facility as a premium, modern infrastructure aligned with the needs of smart cities.

The Technical and Economic Challenges Facing Parking Operators

Implementing fast-charging solutions in a parking lot, however, requires a significantly greater financial and technical investment than traditional residential or business installations. The hardware costs for a Fast or Ultra-Fast charging station can range from €15,000 to over €100,000 per station.

In addition to this initial investment, there are costs associated with:

• Electrical Power Upgrades: Fast-charging stations require a very high amount of grid power, which often necessitates the design and installation of a dedicated transformer substation.
• Civil engineering and complex plant engineering: installation of large-diameter cables, dedicated safety systems, specific signage, and protective barriers for parking spaces.
• Parking Management and Fees: Integrating energy costs with parking payment systems (barriers, automated pay stations, cameras) can become a technological and bureaucratic headache.

Maximize the value of your parking lot: Powy custom solutions

Tackling the investments and technical complexity of a fast-charging hub on your own risks diverting valuable resources away from the core business of parking management. That is precisely why Powy various collaboration models to suit the goals and resources of each company. Depending on the option chosen, the partnership model can take different forms, while always maintaining a streamlined approach focusedon operational efficiency.

Powy support its partner on a path of shared growth, where investment and results are distributed in a balanced manner. Alternatively, it can take full responsibility for infrastructure development, allowing the partner to launch the service without any upfront costs and to directly benefit from a share of the revenue generated. Finally, Powy support the creation of an infrastructure owned exclusively by the partner, while still ensuring comprehensive and professional oversight of design, installation, and technical management.

Regardless of the configuration, the goal remains the same: to facilitate the integration of electric charging into existing environments, eliminating complexity and minimizing deployment time.

Want to take your parking facility to the next level? Contact us today for a free assessment of your facility and find out how to establish a strategic partnership for the future of mobility!

FAQ: Do the Charging Stations with parking payment processing?

Absolutely not. Most CPOs, like Powy, handle charging payments separately from parking payments, avoiding overlap with existing operational systems, such as barriers, automated payment kiosks, or dedicated apps. This reduces inconvenience for both the operator and the driver, who can continue to use their usual charging methods.

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About Powy

Powy a company that owns, develops, and manages Italy's leading independent network of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Founded in Turin, Italy in 2018, Powy is at the center of the transition to more sustainable mobility, offering an innovative charging infrastructure that uses only 100 percent renewable energy.

Powy 's network includes quick, fast, and ultra-fast charging solutions strategically placed in public and private parking lots, supermarkets, shopping malls, and transportation hubs to ensure maximum convenience and accessibility for EV drivers. Each station is equipped with advanced technologies to provide a reliable and efficient charging experience.

Learn more: wpowy.energy