Ask the Experts: How Does Mer Handle the EV Charger Installation Process?

Darren, can you walk us through some of the responsibilities of an Installation Manager when working on an EV infrastructure project?

An Installation Manager acts as a central figure within the entire EV charging infrastructure project. In some ways, my role is like that of a foreman. I certify that health and safety standards are met throughout the installation, I oversee Mer’s relationships with subcontractors, and most importantly I ensure that the equipment we use for our installations is suitable.

What are the first steps you take once you’ve embarked on a public EV charger installation?

Once the designs have been approved and the pre-construction checks are complete, we immediately do our own site walks and inspections. This is primarily to determine any potential hazards, and we’ll engage with the client to identify things such as fire plans to ensure we do not block any fire muster points.

Next, we need to plan out the actual layout of the construction site and agree with clients where items such as skips, temporary cabins and washrooms will be located. This is also where we ensure the location’s security, mapping out where fences are placed, to prevent public access while guaranteeing that the construction site is secured at night.

What are the main hazards to consider when delivering an EV charger installation project, and how do you manage them?

The first and biggest hazard is traffic, as it is a balancing act between creating minimal disruption for the site and ensuring the installation team’s safety. A traffic management solution is developed, uniquely tailored to the site and its day-to-day needs. For instance, we might put in a temporary one-way system to ease the flow of traffic, or speed bumps to help improve safety.

Another important hazard is pre-existing underground infrastructure such as pipes or cabling. Digging without knowing what is under the ground is a recipe for disaster, so we consult with local authorities and utilities companies while also double checking with a ground penetrating radar. The land our sites are built on have centuries of history as well, and we often find things such as stone channels for drainage. We haven’t found any Kings in carparks yet though!

How has the process of EV charger installations changed over the years?

There has been a significant shift in where public EV infrastructure is being installed, partly due to a greater recognition in driver behaviours and increased levels of EV adoption.

Most of my early career at Mer was focused on small-scale installations of 50kW standalone chargers at local council carparks, as they were some of the earliest adopters.

However, as more people started driving EVs, destinations such as retail parks and garden centres suddenly became ideal places to install EV charging stations. This is due to their central locations, wide carparks and on-site facilities such as restaurants and shopping. Some of our best performing charging sites are at these locations. We particularly noticed the shift towards installing on these types of sites after COVID restrictions were lifted, as landowners were looking for new sources of revenue.

With most public charging now located at destinations such as retail parks and garden centres, are there any key differences to your approach to installation between the two?

Yes. Garden centres have fewer stakeholders and are generally located on the outskirts of built-up areas. This means that we have fewer traffic concerns, and our attention is placed more on securing the necessary grid connections.

Meanwhile, there is a greater amount of stakeholder management when it comes to retail parks, as you need to ensure that you do not impact the businesses and tenants that you share the carpark with. Often, they are near main roads, which means that a greater level of traffic management is required, while the larger number of on-site facilities means that there is more likely to be suitable grid connections.

How do you ensure the subcontractors and equipment are right for the job?

Ultimately, our aim is to build robust EV charging infrastructure that is future-proof. This means we need to ensure we work with suppliers and subcontractors that will deliver reliable solutions and services. We hold tenders regularly and look for the solutions that offer the highest quality, rather than basing our decision on costs alone. We have an approved contractor list, since they meet the correct International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards and regulatory requirements and will regularly work with them. This extensive list allows us the flexibility to quickly put together the right teams for the job.

When we work with subcontractors, I need to ensure we have an excellent working relationship. A large part of my role is making sure that equipment reaches them on time, and keeping clients well informed with updates on the project.

For equipment, Mer has suppliers that cover any eventuality. Every site and installation is unique and requires a blend of hardware based on the available power, space and accessibility.

What is the longest stage of an EV charging infrastructure installation project?

The longest part would be the civil works. After we’ve put the chargers in the ground and connected them, we need to tidy up afterwards! This entails filling in any trenches, installing bollards, repainting lines and seamlessly integrating the carpark back to how we found it. The process is different if we are working on a new development site! This is for health and safety reasons, but also to maintain the aesthetics of the site for our clients. It is a lot quicker digging a hole than it is to get it all back to normal.

What is the final stage of the installation process?

The commissioning process is the last part of the installation process. This involves the charger(s) ‘go-live’ and we carry out the final checks. We employ extensive testing procedures to ensure that the EV charging infrastructure works and takes various methods of payment.