EV Chargers for Airport Parking: 3 Business Benefits

In 2021, the federal government devoted more than $300 million to the electrification of airport ground vehicle fleets. That effort continues with the roll-out of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which promises $15 billion for improving airports — including sustainability projects like switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and installing charging infrastructure.

So far, however, most of the attention has gone to electric airport vehicles: shuttle buses, baggage tugs, belt loaders, and more. Replacing gas-powered ground support vehicles with electric alternatives will go a long way toward reducing emissions in the U.S. transportation sector, certainly. But ground support vehicles aren’t the only way airports can support a transition to emission-free transportation.

Operators can also update airport parking with EV charging stations — and they should. Here’s what airport administrators should know about EV charging stations both for electric airport vehicles and the EVs passengers will, increasingly, drive onto airport parking lots. 

Why Airport Parking with EV Charging Is Worth the Investment

Even with an influx of federal funding, administrators may balk at the cost of EV infrastructure. Not only must you buy EVs, charging equipment, and support infrastructure, you must make an institutional investment of time, attention, and wages. The commitment is not insignificant.

However, EV chargers in passenger parking areas deliver plenty of benefits. These may or may not add up to a financial return on investment, but over time, they’re likely to be worth the cost. Here are just three of the benefits of airport charging stations for customer use:

• EV charging stations are a powerful passenger amenity. The U.S. executive branch has set an official goal of making EVs represent fully half of new vehicle sales by 2030. Already by 2023, there were more than 3 million EVs on U.S. roads.  

More than 80 percent of passengers get to the airport in their cars, which are increasingly likely to be electric. This growing segment of the population expects to be able to charge their EVs at airports. Supporting them with airport EV chargers will lead to more public goodwill—and more passengers traveling through your facility. 

• Public EV chargers offer a new revenue stream. In 2022, U.S. commercial airports collected more than $5.5 billion in parking and ground transportation fees. This revenue could grow significantly with the option to charge an EV for a fee. According to one survey, most EV owners said they’d pay up to $3 per hour of Level 2 charging. Fees like that will add up quickly.
• Providing EV chargers improves brand reputation. The option to charge an EV communicates a commitment to sustainability, which consumers reward. In one study, brands that portrayed themselves as sustainable grew sales by 28 percent over a five-year period. Similar brands that didn’t make these claims only grew sales by 20 percent. It appears that a visible effort to reduce emissions strengthens the brand-consumer relationship.

Certainly, electric ground vehicles help to reduce carbon emissions associated with airport operation. That goal is well worth the effort. But electric ground fleets aren’t enough. To get the most benefits from EV charging infrastructure, offer passengers EV charging stations, too. 

Design Considerations for Airport EV Charging Stations

Airport parking lots have an advantage over other businesses considering EV chargers as an amenity: Drivers typically park there for much longer. That makes Level 2 chargers — rather than more resource-intensive fast chargers —  the ideal solution for airport passengers. In addition to purchasing EV chargers and the software that manages them, EV charging stations require several types of essential support equipment. These include:

• Charger stands. An EV Charger Pedestal from BHS, Inc. offers the greatest combination of space-saving design and protection for charging equipment. These steel posts support up to two Level 2 chargers to support more EVs without taking up more space. Welded steel construction with a weather-resistant powder coating provides decades of dependable use.

Read more: What Are EV Pedestals? Understanding EV Charger Support Equipment 

• EV charger cable management kits. The National Electrical Code requires EV cable management solutions for longer charging cables. Even with shorter cables, however, convenient cable management both protects charging infrastructure and provides a more convenient charging experience. EV Charger Cable Retractors from BHS use a spring-loaded reel to instantly lift cables out of the way between uses, and release them with a low-resistance pull.

Read more: EVSE Cable Management: Compliance With Safety Standards and Regulations

A combination of EV charger stands and cable management kits simplifies the construction of EV charging stations, and protects your assets during use. And because every BHS EV Charger Pedestal ships with integrated Cable Management Kits, it’s easier than ever to install EV charging stations in your airport parking lot.

Still have questions about EV charging stations for airport passengers? Contact the BHS sales team at 1.800.BHS.9500 to learn more about support equipment for EV chargers.