Make the Most of Your Parking Lot with Renewable Energy

Owners of companies and facilities managers are eager to maximize the potential of their buildings, however, they may be overlooking a valuable resource: the parking lot. The parking lot, which may initially be unappealing and costly, has the potential to become a valuable asset for the company. How can this transformation occur?

By incorporating electric vehicle (EV) chargers and solar panels into the parking lot infrastructure, you can unlock the otherwise untapped potential of your parking lots.

In this article, we’ll take a further evaluation and examination of electrifying your parking structures.

Why Should You Electrify Your Parking Lot?

Solar panels and EV charging stations add employee benefits, community support, property marketability, customer convenience, and financial returns. Integrating a solar array into your parking infrastructure will enhance your visitor and employee experiences while also reducing the overall cost of operating the EV charging stations and even other aspects of your business.

Parking lots generally have electricity, mainly used to power the lighting fixtures, but the existing electrification makes parking lots ideal for EV charging stations and solar panels.

The first concern when implementing these two technologies is the initial cost. While solar power arrays can be expensive, and installing EV charging stations may require additional infrastructure, you must recognize that the benefits will outweigh these costs.

The Advantages of EV Parking Lot Installations

How can a company benefit from installing EV charging stations and solar panels in the parking area? Look at EV charging stations, solar panels, and their combination.

EV Charging Stations in Parking Lots

EV ownership rates have skyrocketed recently, but a lack of public or even employee EV charging stations is one of the few downsides to EV ownership. Although many metro areas are adding EV charging station availability, suburban and rural areas are still underserved, and as the adoption rate of EVs continues to rise, the demand for accessible charging will only continue to rise.

The overall lack of charging stations presents a prime opportunity to install EV charging stations in your parking lot. An additional incentive for property owners is that while EV charging networks must negotiate for each new property, owners can contract EV charging station installation in the existing parking area, making it even easier to own and manage chargers in your parking spaces.

Benefits of Adding Employee EV Charging Stations to Your Parking Lot

EV charging stations improve employee relationships. In fact, EV charging stations are becoming a necessary perk for potential employees looking for their next employer. Employers offering employee EV charging also have reported better employee retention.

EV owners frequently build travel routes around charging locations, creating potent advertising possibilities for your company or property and attracting business from travelers as well as locals. Customers who are EV owners may visit your EV charging station and, by extension, your business. Meanwhile, nearby EV owners who are not customers may look more favorably at your company because of the EV charging station and environmental implications.

EV charging stations can also create a new income stream for your business. Currently, national networks build most public EV charging stations, but EV owners must have a subscription to use any given network. You can set up something similar by installing an EV charging station in your lot and creating a subscription plan to generate recurring business.

Additionally, you can offer charging options without having to buy into a subscription plan. Keep in mind that different times will have varying demands, and pricing can adapt accordingly. Utilities may charge a time-of-use rate based on this, impacting the rates you will also need to charge.

There is considerable income potential if your area lacks charging options for EV owners. While many companies offer EV charging for free to their employees, you could set a reduced access rate and do the same thing with customers.

How Do Solar Panels Fit In?

Like EV charging stations, solar panels, called solar arrays, are connected to the power grid and even potentially a microgrid. Parking lots offer large, wide-open areas with good solar exposure, and solar arrays could provide energy to power your EV chargers, building, and even your community, plus they will provide an added visitor convenience through covered parking.

You should note that solar arrays require construction costs, permits, and ongoing maintenance. Through careful planning and efficient use of the energy generated, well-placed solar arrays could easily pay for themselves. A quality solar array can offset a location’s electricity bill, improving a building’s resiliency during power outages, and you can even sell any unused energy to the grid utility at a premium when your business isn’t using that power and grid demand is at its highest.

Combining EV charging with these arrays becomes another potential income stream for your business by creating a synergistic effect beyond the two individual technologies. Together, they can reduce the costs and power requirements of EV charging station ownership.

How to Manage Your Transition to Electrified Parking Lots

Review the necessary equipment and software before you begin any installation work and contact professionals who can advise you on the most cost-effective options and explore alternate solutions that will best meet your needs.

Certified electrification professionals familiar with the latest industry developments and products can help you select the necessary equipment and ensure all components are capable of integrating into a combined solution. Certified installers should also be familiar with your local installation requirements and code compliance, as these technologies have different requirements than standard electrical work.

Measuring EV Charging Interest and Site Suitability

Look at your community’s EV charging station availability. If public charging stations are nearby, they may claim potential traffic. Consider your parking lot access and visibility. Can nearby drivers get in and out quickly? Is your business easily viewable from passing traffic, and will they also have access to other businesses with EV chargers in the area?

Consider seasonal changes and possible sunlight blockers. You might have a wonderfully sunny parking lot in summer but not winter, and solar arrays will not produce energy if tall buildings or trees block the sun.

If you have questions about your site, consult an EV or solar installer. They can measure your solar exposure and help you decide how to proceed best.

Creating a Microgrid With Your Parking Electrification

The combination of EV chargers and solar arrays is known as a microgrid and is becoming more common as electrification prices decrease. Schools, police stations, and hospital emergency services set up microgrids to maintain a constant power supply, but you can create one for your business as well.

They could partner with you in the future to build a clean energy community using solar arrays and EV charging stations.

Supply and Demand for EV Charging and Solar Arrays

Determining the need for EV charging stations is more than noting that charging stations are nearby — the number of EV owners you employ, and those in your area affect the market.

Survey your employees. You may need chargers if you employ a moderate to high rate of EV owners.

Also, compare the number of EV owners in your area to the number of EV charging stations. It’s good news if you find more EV owners than charging stations. Owners may need access to an EV charging station, and they may stop at yours if it’s available, accessible, and visible.

Finally, observe the amount of sunlight your parking lot receives and monitor your local electricity costs, which can vary widely from one location to another.

It’s also essential to consider your immediate community. If you are in a small town that frequently loses power during storms, solar arrays, and EV power stations could become critical power sources during outages.

How much does commercial EV charging infrastructure cost?

• Level 2 Charging Stations: Typically $3,500–$15,000 per port, including hardware and installation. 

• DC Fast Chargers: Costs range from $18,000 up to over $350,000 per port, depending on power, site prep, and tech features.

Related: How Much Does a Commercial EV Charging Station Cost? Top Factors to Consider

You can decrease installation costs by minimizing the distance between the new charging station and the electrical power. Recent reports estimate that each linear foot of trenching distance would cost $100. So each 50’ of trenching distance will tack another $5,000 onto the project.

Your site prep will include materials, trenching a channel for the electric cable, and required signage. Your installation project will also carry various related costs, such as materials, labor, permits, and taxes.

Are there financial incentives for EV charger installation?

Yes. Federal credits can offset up to $1,000 on residential charging equipment. Many states and utilities offer additional rebates. Qmerit helps ensure you qualify for available programs and maximizes your savings.

How much does a commercial solar canopy cost?

On average, installing a solar canopy over a commercial parking lot typically costs $2.50–$3.50 per watt, translating to around $15–$25 per square foot, or $6K–$10K per parking space. These numbers can fluctuate based on system size, geographic factors, structural complexity, and available incentives.

EV Charging and Solar Array Installation Incentives

The best news is that a variety of incentives exist to offset these costs:

• Your business can deduct 30% of commercial EV charging station costs from its federal income tax, up to $100,000 per EV charging port, thanks to the 30C tax credit.
• The Electrify America Plan is the official government method of distributing funds from the Volkswagen Clean Air Act.
• View Qmerit’s EV Rebates by State webpage which provides a list of financial incentives for EV charging station installation by state.

Keep in mind your existing infrastructure, charging needs, permitting fees, and other requirements will ultimately affect your individual EV project costs.

The Qmerit EV Charging Solution

When reviewing your budget for 2026, consider investing in EV charging stations and solar arrays for your parking lot. Adding EV charging will save money, improve employee satisfaction, and attract more customers.

With the proper research and preparation, you can make the transition to EV charging smooth and successful.

With the largest network of certified electrification installers in North America and over 770,000 electric vehicle charging stations installed, and more than 249,000 solar system integrations to date, there is a reason Qmerit is trusted by automakers, EV charging companies, businesses, utilities, and homeowners.

If you’re considering an EV charging upgrade, contact Qmerit today for a personalized consultation—we’ll help you assess your space and bring your vision to life.

Together, we can position your business as a leader to EV drivers.