EV Charger Foundations

When it comes to installing free standing EV charging points. Contractors face a choice between the tried and tested, but time-consuming wet pour concrete foundation; or the fast, efficient, and convenient pre-cast EV charger foundation.

Here we look at the reasons why contractors may choose either one of these solutions and the implications this may have on their EV charger installation projects.

Wet Pour Concrete EV Charger Foundations

The most frequently used installation method for a civils contractor is to create a concrete foundation using wet pour concrete.

This is a tried and tested method, but it comes with challenges that can cause significant delays and generate additional costs.

There is a need to wait for the concrete to dry before the installation is completed, meaning that contractors need to make a minimum of two site visits to complete the installation which can stretch between 48 hours to a week.

In winter this delay can be exacerbated by the cold weather preventing the concrete curing, making it harder to manage the installation and related projects.

Then there are risks around animal and accidental damage, human error and the inconsistent sizing that can come from a wet pour and the wooden shuttering used to contain it.

Pre-Cast EV Charger Foundations

The alternative to this is a precast EV charger foundation block that removes the need for wet pour concrete.

The system is designed to be suitable for same day installation as all that is required is the need to dig the hole, drop in the pre-cast foundation block and then connect the EV charger to the adaptor plate.

A pre-cast EV charger foundation is designed to be a quick, efficient, and reliable way of installing EV charging points.

Removing the need to wait for the concrete to dry, makes installations more consistent and easier to plan. The pre-cast base also provides a more consistent finish compared to the wet pour concrete base.

The adaptor plate can be changed in line with updates to EV charging technology, helping to future-proof the installation and reduce future costs.

Finally, an increased focus on reducing the carbon footprint of projects the hollow pre-cast block requires the use of less concrete than when a wet pour concrete base is implemented.

Cost Comparison

The costs associated with a wet pour concrete foundation are the materials along with the labour to dig the hole and then complete the installation. For the EV blocks there is a fixed cost for the block plus the time for the contractor, who may not need to be a civils contractor to dig the hole.

In the short term the costs are similar when using a wet pour concrete method to create a charger foundation compared to a pre-cast solution.

However, the risk of delays, damage and inconsistent finishes mean that the cost advantage can quickly be lost. Particularly if the charger needs to be changed in the future.

Overview

With the up-front cost of the base being mitigated by the risk of damage, error or bad weather leading to additional costs the choice is a straightforward choice.

Contractors have the choice between familiarity (wet pour concrete foundation) or convenience, consistency, and adaptability (Pre-cast foundation)