Leisure-centre charging follows the class timetable. Members arrive in waves, stay for a workout, a swim or a class, and leave — a visit-length dwell that your own booking and entry data already measures. That pattern suits AC destination charging: one dual-connector EV-AC03201T charges two cars side by side at up to 22 kW per connector, so an hour plugged in can return roughly 20 kWh to a car able to take it — a useful top-up inside a single visit. Access splits by audience: members on RFID cards, visitors through your platform arrangement.
Key Takeaways
- Leisure dwell is visit-length: an hour at up to 22 kW returns roughly 20 kWh — a top-up inside one visit.
- Members identify by RFID; visitors pay through the operator’s platform — no payment terminal is built into the station.
- Size from the pre-class peak: connectors needed come from peak arrivals and visit length; one station adds two connectors.
- Pricing and turnover rules are the centre’s own policy; the station supplies access and records.
What an Hour in the Car Park Returns
Illustrations at the station’s stated ceilings, allowing about 10% for losses; the car has the last word, since its acceptance rate caps the session.
| Session pattern | Energy returned, approximately |
|---|---|
| One car on a connector, accepting 22 kW | About 20 kWh in an hour |
| Both connectors busy, both cars accepting 22 kW | About 19–20 kWh each in an hour (the 43 kW ceiling shared) |
| A car accepting 11 kW | About 10 kWh in an hour, on either connector |
| A 30-minute express visit, 22 kW acceptance | About 10 kWh |
Use your own visit length, not this table’s hour: the energy a member takes home is the session rate multiplied by how long your members actually stay. Our guide to charging for restaurants and retail works through the same dwell arithmetic for other venues.
Members on Cards, Visitors on the Platform
- Members. RFID access is part of this station’s stated specification, so member cards identify who is charging and feed session records to your platform — see our guide to RFID and user management.
- Visitors. Day guests charge through your platform arrangement — an app or account run by your operator platform. The station’s listing states no built-in payment terminal, so do not promise tap-and-pay at the post unless your platform provides it another way.
- Pricing is policy. Free for members, paid for visitors, bundled with a day pass — the prices are the centre’s own decision. The station’s job is narrower: identify the driver, run the session, keep the record.
- Staff. A third group with longer dwell; the same connectors can serve them outside the member peak if your rota says so.
Plan Around the Peak, Not the Average
Arrivals bunch before the evening classes, and that wave — not the daily average — sizes the installation. Cars served in the peak window equal connectors times sessions per connector, so count EVs arriving in your busiest two hours and work backwards: one station is two connectors, and growth comes in pairs of bays. Turnover rules, such as asking drivers to move on once a session ends, are the centre’s own policy to set and sign. The station’s IP54 enclosure suits outdoor siting; where it stands relative to the entrance is a layout call for the centre and its installer.
The Station Behind It
The EV-AC03201T is a floor-standing dual-connector AC station: two Type 2 connectors, up to 43 kW shared (22 kW per connector) with dynamic power allocation, OCPP 1.6J, RFID access, a 7-inch touchscreen and an IP54 enclosure. It is part of EVDANCE’s commercial charging range; EVDANCE is a Shenzhen manufacturer founded in 2011, and the station carries its 3-year standard warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is one hour plugged in actually worth it?
At up to 22 kW, the example above returns about 20 kWh in the hour. Whether that is a small top-up or most of a member’s weekly driving depends on the car and their mileage — the point is the session fits inside one visit, with no separate charging stop.
Can members charge free while visitors pay?
That split is an access arrangement, and this station supports the mechanics: RFID identifies members, and visitor sessions run through your platform, which handles payment on its own terms. The prices themselves are your policy — the hardware provides identification and session records, not a tariff.
How many stations does a centre need?
Start from your busiest two hours: EVs arriving, divided by the sessions each connector can turn in that window, gives the connector count; divide by two for stations. Begin with your entry data, and expect to grow in pairs of bays.
Related Reading
- EV Charging for Restaurants and Retail: Turning Dwell Time Into Visits
- How to Plan a Workplace EV Charging Program
- Hotel EV Charging: How to Plan Guest Charging That Pays Off
- What Is the Best Commercial EV Charging Station? How to Choose
