There are 17,500 new car dealers and 139,000 used car dealers in the US. Electric vehicles are coming.
Based on brand guidelines (Ford, et.al.) new car dealers will need at least 1 public fast charger and 1 fast charger for their own use, in addition there needs to be between 6 and 150 20KW level 2 chargers.
With 17 million new cars sold each year an average dealer sells 1,000 cars a year (the largest sell over 1,000 a month, the smallest 2 or 3 a month). An average dealer has 5 new vehicles a working day to prep and hand over a day, cars arrive with between 0 and 20 percent charge.
An F-150 lightning needs over 130 KWH and approximately 14 hours on a 20KW charger to charge to 100 percent and dealers have to deliver vehicles at 100% charge.
For an average dealer that is about 300 KWH per day, plus keeping all the inventory(when they have it) at a safe state of charge which is likely 200 KWH per day. Then there is service load to top up cars. All new load. Then add in the public fast charger, and what people stop to get 24/366.
Because of the fast chargers they will require 480V 3 phase power and likely a 1 MVA transformer - major upgrades for many dealers.
Auto Malls tend to have 10 plus dealers clustered (likely on the same circuit). Which means 10 MVA or more of new load all operating to the same schedule on the circuit.
In a few years the used car dealers will need chargers too, not to the same level as new car dealers, but it will be significant for the larger lots.
If you are a planner are you thinking about it?
Doug Houseman
Expert Member
Top Contributor