DC fast charging infrastructure requires different planning than Level 2 deployments. Power requirements, site selection, and operating costs all scale accordingly.
Electrical requirements: DC fast chargers require 480V three-phase AC service. A single 150 kW charger draws major power; installations with multiple units often require dedicated transformer service or utility upgrades. Grid connection costs increase with distance from existing substations.
Installation costs: Expect $50,000-$100,000 per DC fast charging unit, excluding electrical infrastructure upgrades. Site preparation, trenching, and utility coordination add to this baseline.
Operating economics: Demand charges can account for nearly 74% of commercial electricity bills, according to NASEO research. Peak demand management becomes critical for multi-charger sites. Operators managing depot charging typically achieve energy costs under $0.15/kWh, compared to $0.40-$0.70/kWh at public stations.
Fleet sizing: For high-mileage shared-use deployments, one DC fast charger typically supports 10-12 vehicles per day. The Maven Gig ride-sharing deployment in California demonstrated this ratio across 223,000 charging events with approximately 1,000 Chevrolet Bolts. Fleets of 10-20 EVs often reach the threshold where dedicated DC infrastructure becomes financially compelling versus relying on public charging.