Installers get EV charging equipment through three kinds of distributor: general electrical wholesalers that add chargers to their catalogue, specialist EV charging distributors, and importers that buy direct from a factory and often sell under their own brand. None is automatically the right one. What matters to an installer is whether the distributor keeps the models you fit in stock, can hand you the documents your customer and inspector will ask for, and can get a technical answer from the manufacturer when a unit misbehaves on site. This article explains how to check each of those before you open a trade account.
Key Takeaways
- Pick a distributor by the models you install most, not by catalogue size.
- Ask for the installation manual, certificates and declaration of conformity per model before you quote a job.
- Find out who handles a faulty unit — the distributor, the brand or the factory — and how long it takes.
- Factory-backed distributors can usually escalate technical questions to the people who built the charger.
The Three Distributor Routes Installers Use
| Route | Typical strengths | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical wholesaler | Same counter as your cable and protection devices; trade account already open | Which charger models are held in stock locally, and who supports them technically? |
| Specialist EV distributor | Deeper product knowledge; wider range of wallboxes and accessories | Is there a technical line, and does it reach the manufacturer? |
| Factory-backed importer or brand | Direct line to the manufacturer; own-brand products; consistent configuration between batches | What stock is held in your country, and what is the lead time on top-ups? |
Many installers use more than one route: a wholesaler for urgent jobs and a specialist or factory-backed distributor for their standard wallbox. How UK installers in particular weigh these choices is covered in EV charger suppliers in the UK: how installers choose who to buy from.
What to Check Before Opening a Trade Account
Stock of the models you actually fit
A long catalogue is less useful than two or three models held in depth. Ask which models are stocked in-country and how quickly they are replenished. A distributor buying direct from a factory should be able to tell you the factory lead time — for EVDANCE small batches that is 2–3 weeks before shipping — and how much buffer stock they keep.
Documents for every model
Your customer, the site owner or the inspector may ask for the installation manual, the certificates and the declaration of conformity. Ask for them per model before you quote, and check that the model number on the documents matches the label on the unit. Certification differs by model and market, so a single range-wide certificate is not enough.
Technical support that reaches the manufacturer
When a charger shows a fault code on commissioning, you need an answer the same day. Ask whether the distributor’s technical team can escalate to the factory engineers, and how. This is where factory-backed distributors often have the edge.
Warranty and fault handling
Find out who you send a faulty unit to, whether a replacement is shipped before the faulty one is returned, and what the warranty period is. EVDANCE products carry a three-year standard warranty according to their product pages; your distributor’s own terms are what you will actually deal with, so get them in writing.
Trade pricing and terms
Trade accounts usually come with tiered pricing and credit terms. See installer accounts with charger suppliers: trade pricing explained.
Which Models Installers Typically Ask Distributors For
Your site survey decides the model. As a reference, these are the EVDANCE models that cover the common installation types:
| Site | Supply | Model | Notes for the installer |
|---|---|---|---|
| European home or workplace, three-phase | 380–400 V, 32 A three-phase | EV-ACT3204E wallbox | 22 kW, hardwired, Type 2 tethered or socket, RFID and app, IP65/IP66 |
| North American home or small business | 208–240 V single-phase | EV-ACT5006T | 48 A / 50 A, hardwired or NEMA 14-50P, 25 ft NACS cable |
| Customer wants a portable plus socket | CEE 16 A 5-pin, three-phase | EV-ACS1605PE | Up to 11 kW; you install the socket and circuit |
| Customer wants a portable plus socket (NA) | NEMA 14-50 receptacle | EV-ACS4005T | Up to 9.6 kW, 10–40 A selectable |
For the hardwired-or-socketed decision on European wallboxes, read EV-ACT3204E hardwiring vs socketed wallboxes.
What to Prepare on Site and How to Quote the Job
Whichever distributor you use, the quote is only as good as the survey behind it. Before you price a job, confirm:
- Supply type (single- or three-phase) and available capacity at the board.
- Cable route and length from the board to the mounting point.
- Protection required by your local wiring rules for the charging circuit.
- Mounting surface and whether the unit will be outdoors (check the IP rating).
- Vehicle connector the customer needs: Type 2, Type 1 or NACS.
- Whether access control (RFID or app) is needed for shared parking.
Then price equipment, materials, labour and margin as separate lines — the method is laid out in how installers price EV charger jobs. If you sell supply-and-install packages, see how installers package the offer.
Distributors: How to Become the One Installers Choose
If you are a distributor reading this from the other side, the checklist above is your sales pitch: models in stock, documents ready, a fast technical line and clear warranty handling. Our main guide, wholesale charger partner: how distributors set up EV charger wholesale supply from a factory, explains how to build that offer with a factory behind it.
Stocking chargers for installers? Request samples or a mixed-order quote for wallboxes, portables and adapters through our EV charger OEM & ODM page, or see the portable range on the portable EV charger manufacturer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can installers buy EV chargers directly from a factory?
Some do, but factory orders start at sample or batch quantities and ship internationally. Most installers buy through a distributor that holds local stock; larger installation companies sometimes order small batches direct.
What documents should a distributor give an installer?
The installation manual, the certificates for that exact model and market, and the declaration of conformity where your market requires one.
Is a hardwired or plug-in wallbox easier to stock?
It depends on the market. In North America, units like the EV-ACT5006T can be hardwired or fitted with a NEMA 14-50P plug, which lets one stocked model cover both installation types.
