How Can Individuals Invest in Charging Piles?
4 Answers
Consult the local Administration for Industry and Commerce regarding the standards for investing in and constructing charging stations. Register a company, verify the company name with the Administration for Industry and Commerce, and obtain a business license, organization code certificate, and tax registration certificate. Process the relevant certificates according to the standards for investing in and constructing charging piles set by the Administration for Industry and Commerce.
Last year, my family installed 3 charging piles in our residential parking lot. Now let me share some personal investment experience. It mainly involves three steps: first, sign a site agreement with the property management; then apply for a 380V dedicated meter from the power grid; finally, choose branded charging piles. In terms of cost, each slow-charging pile costs about 3,000 yuan, plus around 5,000 yuan for cable installation within 50 meters. I opted for a third-party profit-sharing model where the operator takes 15%, and the remaining electricity price difference and parking service fees go to me. On average, 4 cars charge daily now, earning a 0.3 yuan difference per kWh plus parking fee shares. The payback period is roughly 2 years. The key is to choose mid-to-high-end communities with many new energy vehicles, and offering discounted rates during off-peak hours can attract more car owners.
Recently helped a friend plan a charging pile investment. There are three ways for ordinary people to get involved: First, join big brands like TELD and Star Charge as a city partner by paying a 50,000 yuan deposit, where the platform handles operations and you get profit sharing; second, purchase equipment yourself and sign a revenue-sharing agreement with shopping malls or office buildings, typically with parking space owners taking 25%-35% of the revenue; third, act as an investor by buying shares in charging stations, with some platforms allowing investments starting from 10,000 yuan. Key reminder: calculate three major costs—potential meter expansion fees of around 2,000 yuan per unit, annual network communication fees of 600 yuan per pile, and maintenance fees accounting for 10% of revenue. It's best to choose fast-charging piles of 120kW or above—though they cost 20,000-30,000 yuan more, their turnover rate doubles.
Last year, I installed two fast charging piles at a suburban homestay and would like to share some tips to avoid pitfalls. Before investing, clarify three key points: What time-of-use electricity tariff is implemented locally? Industrial electricity is 30% cheaper than residential electricity. Can the site charge additional parking fees? Charging 10-20 yuan at night in urban areas is pure profit. Choose smart charging equipment that allows remote monitoring of charging status. The manufacturer I chose offers a 2-year warranty, but occasional disconnections during rainy days require manual rebooting. For the initial phase, I recommend opting for 30kW DC piles, with a total investment of around 28,000 yuan per unit. Based on the current daily average charging volume of 60 kWh, you can earn 500 yuan per month by leveraging the peak-valley electricity price difference. Remember to conduct a geological survey before installation—my neighbor Lao Wang suffered significant losses last year when his piles were flooded during heavy rain.
