Preparing Your Property for the Next Wave of EV Charging: A Practical Guide for Los Angeles Owners
Preparing Your Property for the Next Wave of EV Charging
Preparing Your Property for the Next Wave of EV Charging: A Practical Guide for Los Angeles Owners
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption keeps climbing across the U.S., and California remains at the forefront. For commercial property owners, retailers, multifamily landlords, and municipalities in Los Angeles, now is the time to prepare sites for reliable, scalable EV charging. This guide explains recent federal and state momentum, on-the-ground reliability and customer expectations, key technical and business considerations, and practical steps to move from planning to installation.
Why now? Federal funding and state initiatives are accelerating installations
Federal programs and state investments are reshaping the landscape for EV infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation relaunched the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program after revised guidance, reopening access to roughly $5 billion intended to expand fast chargers across the country. That relaunch means states and local partners will again be able to apply for NEVI funds to build highway and corridor charging, which drives demand for local distribution upgrades and site-level work that contractors and property owners will need to coordinate on.
Reporting on the NEVI relaunch highlights how the program’s guidance has changed and what that means for state implementation: some requirements were streamlined and guidance adjusted to speed deployment. Property owners with corridor sites, travel centers, retail locations, and municipal lots should watch state-level programs closely because NEVI funds flow through state plans and priorities (see the coverage summarizing the program relaunch for more detail).
Source: Utility Dive: DOT relaunches EV charging fund with stripped-down guidance
State and local action: examples that matter for Los Angeles
States are moving on fast chargers and publicly accessible networks even while federal guidance evolves. Some states are adding state-funded charging projects to supplement federal programs and make sure key corridors and rural links are built out. These state-led projects often act as catalysts for private investment and create immediate demand for qualified electrical and general contractors who can do planning, power upgrades, site work, and permit-ready installations.
One recent example outlines a state’s decision to move forward with state-funded fast chargers alongside future federal funding, showing the variety of ways public agencies are advancing infrastructure and creating opportunities for site owners to participate in charging networks or host chargers on their property.
Source: The Colorado Sun: Colorado moving ahead with fast EV chargers despite pause in federal funding
Customer expectations and reliability: what your EV drivers will expect
EV drivers care about uptime, convenience, and a smooth charging experience. Recent industry reporting shows that while overall reliability of public EV infrastructure is improving, customer satisfaction can lag because of inconsistent reliability, payment friction, and availability. That means a well-planned installation that emphasizes robust electrical design, good network and payment integration, and clear site signage will attract more users and reduce support headaches.
Key reliability factors include proper electrical service sizing, resilient panel and distribution design, smart load management, and working with networks and software providers that maintain responsive back-office operations. Facilities that plan for operations and maintenance up front—rather than treating O&M as an afterthought—see better uptime and higher customer satisfaction.
Source: EV Infrastructure News: U.S. EV infrastructure reliability improving although satisfaction down
Why convenience retailers, parking operators and landlords are investing now
Retail locations and convenience stores are increasingly prioritizing EV chargers because charging customers often spend time in-store, generating ancillary revenue. The convenience-store sector’s reporting notes that integrating chargers thoughtfully into the customer experience—safe locations, visible signage, easy access to amenities—helps capture this incremental revenue and builds repeat business. However, retailers must weigh real estate constraints, power availability, and potential costs of utility upgrades.
If you operate retail fueling or convenience sites in Los Angeles, look at how to convert parking stalls into productive charging locations without blocking high-turnover parking or creating traffic conflicts. Thoughtful placement and a plan for progressive upgrades (Level 2 today; add DC fast when demand justifies it) is often the most cost-effective path.
Source: Convenience Store News: EV charging grows in convenience, though challenges remain
Practical technical steps to prepare a site
Whether you manage a small storefront lot, a multi-family garage, or a public parking structure, these technical steps will help you move from concept to a reliable charging installation:
Site assessment and load study: Start with a professional site assessment and electrical load study. Confirm the existing service capacity, main panel availability, transformer capacity, and potential need for a utility upgrade or a new service. Early coordination with the utility can minimize surprises and timeline delays.
Choose the right charger types and count: Match charger power level (Level 2 vs DC fast) to your site’s use case. Retail locations with dwell times benefit from Level 2 chargers; corridor and travel locations typically need DC fast chargers. Scale deployments so you can add capacity in phases without redoing major infrastructure.
Infrastructure for future growth: Even if you install a limited number of chargers today, build conduit runs, raceways, and electrical rooms sized for future additions. Pulling conduit and placing stub-ups during initial construction saves thousands versus retrofitting later.
Distribution and transformer planning: Larger deployments often require pad-mounted transformers or upgraded service. Factor utility lead times into your schedule. In dense urban areas like Los Angeles, transformer space and load redistribution are common issues that require planning and coordination.
Power management systems: Consider distributed power management/load balancing systems that allow multiple chargers to share limited feeder capacity. This can reduce initial utility upgrade costs while delivering acceptable charging speeds to users.
Permits and interconnection: Local building, electrical, and fire permits are required. We recommend engaging permitting experts and electricians familiar with Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) requirements to prevent rework.
Accessibility and user experience: Design bays for ease of use—straight-in parking when possible, clear signage, accessible walkways, and lighting. Include visible instructions and customer support contact information at each charger.
Business and funding considerations for property owners
Investing in EV charging can be a revenue stream, amenity, or both. Here are key commercial considerations:
Funding opportunities: Watch for federal and state grant programs. The NEVI program is one major source for corridor funding. Some states and local governments also offer matching funds, grants, or incentives for commercial and public installations. Fund availability changes—early engagement with grant administrators and working through eligibility can be decisive.
Ownership vs. network-hosted: Decide whether you will own and operate chargers or host chargers installed and operated by a third-party network. Ownership gives you control over pricing and customer relationships; network-hosted models may reduce upfront cost but limit operational control.
Payment and software: A seamless payment experience and reliable networking matter for customer satisfaction. If using third-party networks, confirm service-level agreements, uptime guarantees, and responsibilities for maintenance and software updates.
Operations & maintenance (O&M): Budget for ongoing O&M. Chargers are mechanical and electronic systems that need preventive maintenance and occasional repairs. Clarify warranty coverage and response times for out-of-service equipment.
ROI timeline: Expect multi-year returns depending on charger type, utilization, and electricity costs. For DC fast chargers in high-traffic corridor locations, ROI timelines may be shorter; for Level 2 chargers in low-utilization sites, consider the amenity or tenant attraction value as part of ROI.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Many installations slow down because of predictable issues. Avoid these common pitfalls:
Insufficient utility coordination: Delays and surprise upgrade costs often come from late-stage discovery of inadequate service. Start conversations with your utility early and include them in schedule planning.
Underestimating site complexity: Underground utilities, drainage, ADA access, and traffic flow can complicate installations. A thorough site survey prevents costly changes during construction.
Neglecting O&M planning: No SLA or maintenance plan leads to prolonged outages. Build maintenance responsibilities into contracts and consider remote-monitoring arrangements.
Poor customer experience design: Bad placement, unclear pricing, or confusing payment systems deter repeat users. Test the user experience and iterate before broad rollout.
How Shaffer Construction helps Los Angeles property owners
At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we specialize in electrical and general contracting for EV charger installations across Los Angeles. Our team handles the full lifecycle: site assessment and load studies, design and engineering, permitting and utility coordination, civil and electrical construction, network integration, and ongoing maintenance planning. We focus on scalable solutions that protect your budget while keeping future expansion straightforward.
What we bring:
Local experience with LADBS and utility interconnection in Los Angeles
End-to-end project management from concept to commissioning
Design for scalability so you can add chargers as demand grows
Strong partnerships with equipment manufacturers and network providers
Transparent pricing and realistic schedules
If you manage a retail property, multifamily building, parking structure, or municipal lot in Los Angeles and want to evaluate EV charging options, we can help you prioritize investments and avoid common pitfalls.
Next steps checklist for property owners
Schedule a site assessment and load study with a qualified contractor.
Open early discussions with your utility about capacity and potential upgrades.
Define the use case (amenity, revenue, corridor) to select charger types and quantities.
Prepare a phased plan that builds conduit and infrastructure for growth.
Explore available grants and incentives at the state and federal level and seek grant-readiness support if needed.
Plan for O&M and set performance expectations with vendors.
Learn more and get a free consultation
The EV charging landscape is moving quickly. Federal programs such as NEVI and state initiatives create new funding and deployment opportunities, and drivers expect reliable, easy-to-use charging. Proper planning, utility coordination, and an installer experienced in electrical and general contracting will reduce risk and shorten timelines.
Shaffer Construction, Inc. helps Los Angeles property owners turn EV demand into operational, revenue-producing infrastructure. Contact us for a free site evaluation and consultation.
Shaffer Construction, Inc. 323-642-8509 hello@shaffercon.com 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, CA 90004 www.shaffercon.com
Sources
Utility Dive: DOT relaunches EV charging fund with stripped-down guidance
The Colorado Sun: Colorado moving ahead with fast EV chargers despite pause in federal funding
Convenience Store News: EV charging grows in convenience, though challenges remain
EV Infrastructure News: U.S. EV infrastructure reliability improving although satisfaction down
Note: Links above point to reporting and industry coverage used to inform this guide. For site-specific recommendations and a clear roadmap tailored to your property, contact Shaffer Construction.