Commercial EV Charging Solutions in Sacramento

Is Commercial EV Charging Right for Your Business?

The right charging strategy depends on who will use the equipment and how long their vehicles normally remain parked.

A workplace may need chargers that serve employees throughout the workday. An apartment community may need overnight charging with assigned-user access. Retail and hospitality properties may prioritize convenient charging for customers and guests, while fleet operators may require dependable charging schedules and greater electrical capacity.

Before choosing equipment, consider:

• Who will use the chargers
• How long vehicles typically remain parked
• Whether charging will be complimentary or fee-based
• Whether access should be public, private or restricted
• How many charging spaces are needed initially
• How demand may grow over the next several years
• Who will monitor, maintain and support the equipment

Answering these questions first helps determine the appropriate charger output, quantity, location and network features.

Commercial Properties That May Benefit

Workplaces and Office Buildings

Workplace charging can support employees who drive electric vehicles and provide charging for clients and visitors. Because vehicles may remain parked for several hours, networked Level 2 charging is often practical for this setting.

Apartments and Multi-Family Communities

Reliable charging is becoming an important consideration for renters and condominium owners. Multi-family projects may require additional planning for assigned spaces, tenant billing, shared electrical capacity, access control and future expansion.

Retail and Mixed-Use Properties

EV charging can provide added convenience for customers while they shop, dine or use services at the property. Charger output should be matched to typical visit length rather than selected solely on the basis of maximum power.

Hotels and Hospitality Properties

Overnight charging can be a useful guest amenity. Hospitality projects should consider how chargers will be reserved, how guests will gain access and what happens when a vehicle remains connected after charging is complete.

Fleets and Service Vehicles

Fleet charging requires close attention to daily mileage, vehicle dwell time, route schedules and required departure times. Load management may allow several vehicles to charge without requiring every charger to operate at maximum output simultaneously.

Begin With Electrical and Utility Capacity

Commercial charging can add a substantial electrical load. The planning process should include an evaluation of the property’s service, transformers, switchgear, panels and available capacity.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) may need to evaluate projects that require new or upgraded electrical service. Depending on the site, the project could involve additional distribution equipment, a panel upgrade or changes to the utility service.

A larger charger is not automatically the best choice. Lower-powered Level 2 charging may adequately serve vehicles parked for many hours, while load-management technology can distribute available power among multiple chargers. This can sometimes reduce infrastructure requirements while still meeting drivers’ needs.

Plan the Parking Layout Carefully

Charger placement affects installation cost, accessibility and everyday usability. A commercial site plan should account for:

• Distance from electrical equipment
• Trenching and conduit routes
• Vehicle circulation
• Pedestrian paths
• Charger protection from vehicle impact
• Cable reach and storage
• Lighting and visibility
• Accessible charging requirements
• Drainage, landscaping and irrigation
• Opportunities for future expansion

Charging pedestals should remain outside parking spaces and traffic lanes. Cables should reach the intended charge ports without crossing pedestrian routes, passing beneath vehicles or creating trip hazards.

Accessibility requirements should be evaluated during design rather than treated as an adjustment after equipment locations have been selected.

Permits and Project Documentation

Commercial EV charging generally requires more documentation than a typical residential installation. The City of Sacramento’s 2026 commercial EVSE requirements call for an application, architectural site plan, electrical plans, equipment information, single-line diagrams, panel schedules and electrical load calculations. A commitment letter from SMUD is also identified when new or upgraded service is required.

The plans may also need to document accessible routes, charger protection and the locations of transformers, service equipment, panels and controllers. Requirements outside the City of Sacramento can differ, so the applicable local jurisdiction should always be confirmed.

These requirements are summarized from the current City of Sacramento commercial EVSE checklist.

Networked Charging and Energy Management

Networked chargers can provide capabilities such as:

• User authentication
• Pricing and payment collection
• Energy-use reporting
• Remote monitoring
• Charger-status notifications
• Access scheduling
• Load management
• Usage limits
• Fleet or tenant account management

These features are valuable when several people share the equipment, but they may involve networking fees, payment-processing costs and ongoing service agreements. Property owners should evaluate the complete operating model—not only the initial hardware price.

Sacramento Commercial EV Incentives

SMUD currently offers commercial EV charging incentives for eligible projects, including support for Level 2 charging, DC fast charging, panel upgrades, transformer upgrades and charging infrastructure. Incentive amounts and eligibility vary by charger output, project type and whether a site qualifies under equity-program criteria.

Because programs, funding and technical requirements can change, property owners should review current eligibility before purchasing equipment or beginning construction. The current program is available on SMUD’s business EV page.

Some publicly accessible fast-charging projects may also qualify for California programs, but these opportunities generally have separate eligibility, readiness and application requirements.

Design for Today—and Tomorrow

Installing every charger a property may eventually need is not always practical. However, the initial project can be designed to make later expansion easier.

Future-ready planning may include:

• Additional conduit or stub-outs
• Space in electrical equipment
• Expandable network infrastructure
• Load-management capability
• Reserved locations for additional chargers
• Utility planning based on expected future demand

The objective is to create a system that meets current needs without forcing the property to repeat avoidable design and construction work as EV use grows.

Start With a Site-Specific Evaluation

Every commercial property has different parking patterns, electrical infrastructure and operational goals. A site-specific evaluation can help determine the appropriate charging level, number of ports, equipment locations, networking features and expansion strategy.

Use the contact form or call to discuss your Sacramento commercial EV charging project.