EV charging at a car dealership serves several different jobs: preparing demonstration vehicles, supporting workshop operations, completing customer handovers and, where suitable, providing public charging. The right infrastructure starts with those jobs and the time available to complete them.
This guide explains how to compare public access with internal charging, select a practical charger mix and assess funding without letting a rebate determine the design.
Public access or dealership-only charging?
Public charging may introduce new drivers to your site, but it also creates an operating responsibility. Decide who can use each bay, when the forecourt is accessible, how drivers pay and who responds when a session fails. A public listing should accurately state opening hours, connector types, pricing and access restrictions.
Internal chargers protect capacity for stock, test drives and servicing. A split arrangement can work well: reserve some equipment for dealership operations and offer other bays to customers or the public during agreed hours. Public use should not prevent an agreed customer handover or workshop task.
Reserved charging: prioritise vehicles with a scheduled departure and assign staff responsibility for moving them.
Customer charging: explain whether charging is included, capped or paid, and whether a booking is required.
Public charging: establish payment, support, parking and after-hours access arrangements before advertising availability.
Explore our car dealership charging solutions and public EV charging services for the different operating requirements.
Match AC and DC chargers to the work
AC charging can suit vehicles parked for longer periods, such as stock awaiting preparation or staff cars. DC charging may be useful where a vehicle needs more energy within a short turnaround. Many sites benefit from a mix, but some can meet their needs with a simpler arrangement.
Charger power is a maximum rating, not a promise of the energy a vehicle will receive. Actual charging depends on the vehicle’s AC or DC limit, battery condition and state of charge, temperature, available supply and any power sharing. Calculate the energy required before departure instead of assuming every vehicle will be fully charged overnight.
Compare charger options against the intended vehicles, connection type, access controls, communications and software platform. Request a site-specific quotation covering installation and recurring costs rather than relying on a generic price per charger.
Assess electrical capacity before selecting equipment
An electrical assessment should review existing demand, supply capacity, switchboards, cable routes and the proposed charging schedule. Include future workshop loads and likely expansion. Larger installations may require network involvement or a supply upgrade; confirm the applicable process for the site.
Compatible load management can allocate available power among chargers. It does not create extra capacity or replace electrical protection. The design must still demonstrate that important vehicles can receive the required energy within their available charging windows.
Include communications coverage, protection from vehicle impact, cable management, bay access and commissioning in the installation scope. Our feasibility assessment and smart energy management services can help define these requirements.
DRIVEN funding: check the current rules
Programme information checked 23 October 2026. The Australian Government’s DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream 2026–2029 is open, with the current round closing on 30 April 2027, subject to programme conditions and available funding.
The published rules provide up to $3,000 per eligible fixed smart charging plug or portable DC charger, within a $21,000 charging-equipment cap per site. The wider programme also includes eligible EV workshop equipment, with a combined $50,000 site cap across categories and rounds. Minimum eligible expenditure and detailed applicant, purchase, installation and evidence requirements apply.
Read the current DRIVEN eligibility rules and application guidance before committing expenditure. Do not assume every charger, applicant or installation cost qualifies, or that a prior rebate leaves the full cap available. Applications are made directly through the programme; FCS cannot guarantee approval.
State schemes are separate. Check their current status and rules about combining assistance rather than assuming funding can be stacked.
Build a business case using site-specific costs
Separate operational value from public charging revenue. Reliable preparation and handover may be the main reason to install charging even when public utilisation is low. Public charging revenue does not automatically translate into profit or additional vehicle sales.
Estimate realistic sessions and energy delivered, including quiet periods.
Include electricity, demand charges where applicable, payment processing, software, communications and maintenance.
Allow for capital or finance costs, downtime, staff time and eventual equipment replacement.
Measure charging use, customer enquiries and completed sales separately; do not assume causation.
Solar and batteries can be assessed alongside charging where the generation profile, tariff and vehicle schedule support the investment. Savings depend on the actual design and use; solar generation may not coincide with the site’s peak charging demand.
A practical dealership charging checklist
Record daily vehicle movements, energy requirements and departure times.
Decide which bays are internal, customer-only or public.
Assess electrical capacity and compare feasible charger arrangements.
Confirm installation, platform, support and ongoing costs.
Check funding eligibility and retain the required evidence.
Commission the system, train staff and review performance after launch.
Related reading and next steps
Read about dealership charging risks and charging and the customer experience. For a site-specific plan, contact Future Charging Solutions with your vehicle workflow and existing electrical information.
