Rolling out electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure can be a game-changer for businesses. It signals innovation, supports sustainability goals, and meets growing demand. But it’s not as simple as laying down some cables and plugging in a charger. Done poorly, it becomes a costly mistake that’s hard to recover from.
So what are the biggest pitfalls? Where do businesses go wrong, and how can those mistakes be avoided before they cause delays, extra expenses, or reputation damage?
Choosing the Wrong Provider or Installer
The most common mistake businesses make is rushing the decision on who installs or manages their EV infrastructure. Not all providers offer the same level of expertise or reliability. Some may offer a cheaper price upfront, but lack the certifications, long-term support, or scale to keep up as demand grows.
It’s tempting to go with the first option that promises fast installation or a low quote. But if the provider doesn’t understand your site’s electrical limitations, regulatory requirements, or user needs, you’ll end up paying more in fixes and upgrades. You want to get your EV commercial charger installation Auckland right from the very start, and this means choosing a company with care.
So, here’s what to watch for:
Do they have commercial-scale experience?
Can they handle both hardware and integration with your systems?
Will they offer support long after installation?
Are they familiar with local compliance standards?
Choosing the wrong partner at the start can slow the whole project down or lead to sub-par results that don’t age well.
Ignoring the Long-Term Load Requirements
Installing just enough chargers to meet today’s needs might feel sufficient, but it rarely holds up for long. EV adoption is rising fast. What works now will probably feel outdated or insufficient within a year or two, especially if your staff or vehicle fleet is transitioning to electric.
One of the most overlooked aspects in rollout planning is understanding load capacity. It’s not just about whether you can power a few chargers today, but whether your site’s infrastructure can support significantly higher demand in the near future. Without future-proofing, you could be forced into a major upgrade far sooner than expected, costing more time and money.
To avoid this, businesses need to consider how many vehicles might eventually require charging and whether the current electrical system can handle that load. Ideally, infrastructure should be scalable from the beginning, so expansion doesn’t mean starting over. Smart load management systems can also help distribute power more efficiently as usage increases, but only if they’re accounted for in the design phase.
Forgetting About User Experience
Some EV infrastructure projects look great in planning documents but fall apart in practice. The biggest issue? Poor user experience.
If charging bays are awkwardly located, constantly in use, or unreliable, people will avoid using them. That means your investment won’t get the usage or returns you expected. In busy sites, a lack of signage or unclear instructions causes unnecessary frustration. Some users might not know where chargers are or whether they’re allowed to use them.
Even things like overly complex access systems or inconsistent charger performance can have an impact. The system needs to feel easy, seamless, and reliable. If users don’t trust that they’ll get a consistent experience, they’ll stop engaging with it.
Designing for users means thinking through how they arrive, how they interact with the charger, and what happens if something goes wrong. Adding clear instructions, intuitive interfaces, and basic customer support options can make a big difference.
Overlooking Site-Specific Challenges
No two business locations are exactly the same. Still, it’s surprisingly common to see EV infrastructure rolled out with a copy-paste approach. What works in a suburban warehouse doesn’t necessarily apply to a city office tower or a roadside logistics hub.
Each site comes with its own quirks. Power supply capacity varies. Parking layouts affect where chargers can be placed. Exposure to weather might demand different housing or installation styles. Even access restrictions or hours of operation can affect when and how infrastructure is used.
Overlooking these differences often leads to wasted spend or poor performance. Instead, each site should be assessed individually, not just for technical feasibility but also for user behaviour, traffic flow, and environmental factors. That’s the only way to ensure the infrastructure is genuinely fit for purpose.
Not Factoring in Downtime and Maintenance
Many businesses assume that once EV chargers are installed, the job is done. In reality, they’re ongoing assets that need monitoring and occasional servicing, just like any other operational system.
If a charger stops working, and there’s no backup plan or service contract in place, the knock-on effects can be serious. Staff may be unable to charge their vehicles. Customers could be inconvenienced. Over time, frequent downtime chips away at the system’s reputation and perceived reliability.
To avoid this, maintenance planning should be part of the initial rollout. That includes knowing how faults will be reported, how quickly they’ll be addressed, and whether spare parts are readily available. If possible, having a remote monitoring system allows issues to be picked up before users even notice them.
A little planning here goes a long way in preserving trust and keeping the system running smoothly.
Installing Without a Clear Policy
The rules around who can use your EV infrastructure, when, and how often, need to be clear from day one. Without clear policies, you’ll end up with confusion, frustration, and even conflict between users.
For example, if staff are unsure whether visitors can use the chargers, or if there’s no limit on how long someone can stay plugged in, problems can escalate quickly. People start reserving spots unofficially, or chargers get blocked all day by vehicles that finished charging hours ago.
Your policy doesn’t need to be complicated, but it should be written, shared, and enforced. That might include time limits, access permissions, costs (if any), and expectations for unplugging after a full charge. Make it easy for users to understand and follow. Even a simple set of posted guidelines in the charging area can make a real difference.
Future-Proofing Starts with Better Planning
Electric vehicle infrastructure is not just a nice-to-have anymore. It’s becoming a core part of how businesses operate, attract talent, and meet sustainability goals. But getting it right requires more than just installing a few chargers and hoping for the best.
Avoiding the most common mistakes means thinking longer-term. Consider who’s using the system, how usage might grow, and what risks could undermine performance down the track. Strong partnerships, solid planning, and flexible designs all help ensure that the rollout adds real value rather than creating future problems.