How Los Angeles Property Owners Can Install EV Chargers: Funding, Financing, and Practical Steps

Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing fast across the United States, and Los Angeles is no exception. Whether you manage an apartment building, own a retail property, operate a fleet, or run a restaurant, adding EV charging stations is increasingly expected by customers, tenants and employees. This guide explains the current funding and policy landscape, practical technical approaches, financing options, and how property owners in Los Angeles can move from planning to completion.

Why install EV chargers now?

EV adoption continues to rise. For businesses, installing chargers boosts customer dwell time, creates new revenue opportunities and future-proofs properties. For landlords and multi-family property owners, offering charging is a key amenity that helps attract and retain tenants. Fleets need reliable depot charging to meet schedules and reduce operating costs.

Beyond customer experience, public policy and incentives are making it easier to finance installations in many places. While federal programs and state incentives evolve, private capital and commercial partnerships are also driving rapid buildouts nationwide. Understanding both public and private pathways will help you pick the right approach for your site.

Current federal program status and what it means for projects

The federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has been a major source of funding for EV charging corridors and public fast chargers. Recent national headlines show the program experienced pauses and changes in eligibility rules, then resumed after updates to plans and priorities. For example, reporting from Vermont highlights how states paused and then restarted NEVI-funded buildouts once funding rules were clarified and applications were re-submitted (Valley News / VtDigger).

At the local level, that kind of federal activity means two things for property owners in Los Angeles:

There may be new public grant opportunities in the near term for publicly accessible fast charging, especially at key corridor locations or disadvantaged communities.

While public funds can offset costs, many real-world deployments today are happening because private owners and businesses choose to install chargers without waiting for grants.

Public funding is valuable but often competitive and time-consuming. Combining public incentives with private financing and smart site planning is the most practical route for many installations.

Private sector momentum and why it matters

Independent reporting shows that even when federal programs pause or shift, private investment keeps charger deployment moving. Local business owners, retail brands, and real estate operators are installing chargers to serve customers and tenants, not just relying on government programs. A recent analysis of a mid‑sized metro area found that private-sector projects accounted for much of the local charging growth, with public funds helping to fill strategic gaps (WESA).

For Los Angeles property owners, that means you can act now: there are established vendors, hardware choices and financing models that let you move forward without waiting for grants. Projects that combine private capital with available rebates or tax credits typically reach completion more quickly and provide revenue sooner.

Financing and procurement options

Large upfront costs for DC fast chargers or grid upgrades are often the biggest barrier. Fortunately, several commercial financing models let site owners avoid heavy capital expenditures. Leasing, equipment-as-a-service, and vendor financing can spread costs over multiple years and include maintenance or network software.

For example, equipment financiers are partnering with charging hardware providers to offer leases and flexible terms that cover hardware, installation and sometimes ongoing services. These programs can include 24–60 month terms with buy/return/upgrade options at lease end, giving property owners options to scale without locking in obsolete hardware (Equipment Finance News).

When you evaluate financing offers, compare total cost of ownership, uptime guarantees, network fees, payment processing fees and replacement/upgrade terms. Some key questions to ask vendors and financiers before signing:

Are maintenance and software updates included or optional?

What uptime or response SLA does the vendor guarantee?

How are revenue and billing handled (e.g., pay-to-plug, subscription, validation)?

Who is responsible for software/network interoperability and roaming partners?

What happens to the equipment at lease end?

Technical solutions for grid-constrained or remote sites

Not every site has spare electrical capacity for Level 2 or DC fast charging. Grid upgrades can be costly and time-consuming in dense urban areas or remote locations. Fortunately, new technical approaches minimize or avoid costly utility upgrades:

Battery-backed charging islands and energy storage systems: these use onsite batteries to buffer peak loads and charge vehicles faster without large grid upgrades.

Mobile or modular DC chargers: deployable units paired with battery systems can be used to pilot demand before committing to permanent infrastructure.

Smart load management: software-based load controllers and vehicle-side scheduling reduce simultaneous peak loads and let multiple chargers operate within existing panel limits.

Recent industry developments pair battery energy storage with commercial chargers to enable rapid deployment in locations with limited grid capacity. These partnerships demonstrate how battery systems can power DC chargers during peak demand and recharge during off-peak hours, reducing or eliminating the need for immediate grid upgrades (Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International).

Retail and branded deployments: lessons from commercial rollouts

Retail chains and franchise properties are rolling out chargers to attract customers and provide convenience. A high-profile example is a national restaurant chain installing fast chargers across many locations to offer coast-to-coast coverage for guests. These deployments typically focus on:

Site selection tied to dwell time: restaurants, cafes, and shopping centers where customers spend 20–60+ minutes are ideal for Level 2 or moderate-power DC charging.

Visibility and signage: clear signage attracts EV drivers and turns chargers into marketing assets.

Partnerships with charging network operators: brands often partner with a reliable network operator for hardware, network management and billing.

One media report describes a nationwide program by a restaurant chain partnering with a charging company to install fast chargers across many stores to provide broad geographic coverage for customers (Yahoo Autos on Tim Hortons & Flo). For Los Angeles property owners, this model shows how branded locations can leverage foot traffic and predictable dwell times to maximize charger utilization.

Practical steps to install EV charging at your Los Angeles property

Follow this step-by-step approach to move from planning to operation:

1. Conduct a site assessment

Inventory existing electrical service, main breaker size and spare capacity.

Identify ideal charger locations for convenience, visibility and minimal trenching or conduit runs.

Assess parking layout, ADA compliance, lighting and CCTV/security needs.

2. Choose charger type and power level

Level 2 chargers (typically 7–19 kW) are ideal for workplaces, multi-family, and retail where vehicles park multiple hours.

DC fast chargers (50 kW and above) serve corridor sites, quick-stop retail or fleet rapid charging—but they usually require upgrades to the service and may trigger demand charges.

3. Evaluate smart management and energy strategies

Consider load management systems that allow multiple chargers to share available power without overloading service panels.

Explore energy storage or on-site solar pairing to reduce demand charges and improve resiliency.

4. Explore financing and incentives

Contact commercial financiers or equipment lessors about lease or equipment-as-a-service models that include maintenance.

Search for local and state rebates, tax credits, or utility programs that can lower upfront costs. Combining rebates with financing often delivers the best cash flow.

5. Permits, utility coordination and installation

Work with a licensed electrical contractor experienced in EV installations to prepare permit drawings and coordinate interconnection with the utility.

Plan for accessibility compliance, signage and ADA spaces if chargers are publicly accessible.

6. Operations, billing and maintenance

Decide whether chargers will be free, paid or validated for customers. Consider network billing options and roaming capability.

Set a preventive maintenance schedule and ensure remote monitoring for uptime. Contracts that include SLA guarantees reduce operational overhead.

Common questions we hear

How long does an installation take?

Simple Level 2 installs can be completed in days to weeks. DC fast charging and projects that require utility upgrades or trenching typically take several months due to permitting and utility lead times. Using modular approaches or leased chargers can speed early deployment.

Will charging increase my electric bill significantly?

Charging does increase energy consumption, but smart scheduling, time-of-use rates, and load management can reduce demand charges and shift charging to lower-cost hours. For commercial sites, meter-level billing and energy management are important considerations.

What about maintenance and uptime?

Choose hardware from reputable manufacturers and a network operator with high uptime and good customer support. Consider an uptime clause in service contracts and a remote monitoring platform to detect issues early.

How Shaffer Construction can help

At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we specialize in electrical and general contracting for EV charger installations across Los Angeles. We handle site assessments, permitting, utility coordination, infrastructure upgrades, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance. We work with property owners, mall operators, restaurants, multi-family residences and fleets to design practical, cost-effective solutions tailored to each site.

Contact Shaffer Construction to get a free consultation and site walk-through:

Phone: 323-642-8509

Email: hello@shaffercon.com

Address: 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Website: www.shaffercon.com