As more people buy electric vehicles, the country's charging infrastructure is expected to grow in parallel. This involves installing electric vehicle charging stations. It is essential to hire the services of professionals at this stage, and this is where MEP Engineers come in. Whether you are planning to provide charging points for private use or for commercial purposes, this article discusses the role of MEP engineers in designing EV charging stations.
However, we will start with what MEP engineers are.
What are MEP engineers?
MEP Engineering is the process of planning, designing, and managing a construction project's MEP systems (MEP stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing). The professionals who do this are known as MEP engineers.
The MEP is a crucial part of any project because it forms the central nervous system. It's what makes a building, for example, livable and pleasant, whether it's an apartment block or the tallest building in the world.
What is the role of MEP engineers in the design of electric vehicle charging stations?
The US currently has around 46,290 EV charging stations with over 113,000 charging points . However, the country needs at least one million charging stations so that half of all new cars are electric in the next ten years.
This shows that many EV charging station installations will occur in the next decade. MEP engineers will be in the middle of it.
When it comes to designing an electric vehicle charging station, there are many steps involved. These steps require MEP engineers to perform several tasks before completing the project. Some of the tasks are mentioned below.
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Site feasibility
Each location is unique and the MEP engineer must evaluate the location to identify what is needed to set up a charging station. For example, some locations may require electrical upgrades. Some locations are easy to work with while others are not, but MEP engineers ensure the location can host a charging station.
Due diligence
The MEP engineer is also responsible for due diligence when designing an electric vehicle charging station. This includes ensuring compliance with applicable building codes, conditions, restrictions, zoning, etc. He or she will also obtain all necessary licenses. This can become more complex if there are other facilities such as a car park.
Electrical project
This is another vital step in installing an electric vehicle charging station. The MEP engineer takes into consideration whether the location will have multiple charging points, whether AC or DC or both are needed and the power requirements, which may depend on the maximum power supplied to the car, the charging cable, etc. The electrical engineer's goal is to design a system that can withstand peak loads.
Development
At this stage, the MEP engineer determines the type of charging equipment that works best for the site, based on the requirements. The equipment can be Level 2, which works with 240V normally in residential applications or 208V in commercial applications, or Level 3, which generally works with a 208/408V AC three-sided input.
Collection of subsidies and incentives
The MEP engineer stays up to date on the charging grants and incentives available in the customer's location, which helps defray some of the installation costs. Sources include federal, state, and local governments, utility companies, and other organizations.
Customizable Services
An electric vehicle charging station has many components, which allow it to offer personalized services, and the MEP engineer takes this into account in the design. For example, the site operator may use electric vehicle charging station management software that handles payments using debit cards. Charging stations can also authenticate customers using RFID, while chargers can be listed on platforms that make them more discoverable.
MEP Engineering and Energy Savings with Efficient Electric Vehicle Charging Station Design
When designing an electric vehicle charging station, energy efficiency is an important consideration. This happens because a good part of the energy used to charge EVs comes from non-renewable sources, which means that the less energy is consumed when charging EVs, the less damage will be to the environment. MEP engineers can incorporate technologies that allow EVs to function not only as an energy sink but also as a source. By powering a building with batteries charged from enabled electric vehicles, engineers can increase a building's energy efficiency.
Conclusion
MEP engineers have a big role to play as the country's EV charging infrastructure grows.
New York Engineers has an experienced MEP engineering team that makes installing your EV charging station the most convenient experience. Contact us today.
