Parking Garage EV Charging: Plan for Concrete, Cables and Fire Rules.
Multi-storey and underground car parks bring problems an open lot does not: limited supply on upper levels, cable routes through concrete, weak mobile signal and fire rules for covered parking.
What Kind of Garage Do You Run?
| Garage type | Typical stay | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| City-centre public garage | 1–4 h | 11–22 kW AC on most levels, a compact DC charger at ground level for short stays |
| Office or residential garage with permits | Workday or overnight | 7–11 kW AC on assigned bays, with card access |
| Airport & station long-stay | Days | Lower-power AC with scheduled charging across the stay |
| Hospital & event garages | 1–4 h, with peaks | AC bays sharing power through load management |
How Much Range Do Drivers Add While Parked?
Garages serve both all-day commuters and short-stay visitors. Match charging power to each group.
| Charging Power | 1-Hour Stay | 2-Hour Stay | 4-Hour Stay | Good Fit For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.4 kW ACSingle-phase wallbox | ≈ 41 km / 25 mi | ≈ 82 km / 51 mi | ≈ 164 km / 102 mi | Monthly and all-day commuter bays |
| 11 kW ACThree-phase, or 11.5 kW Level 2 in North America | ≈ 61 km / 38 mi | ≈ 122 km / 76 mi | ≈ 244 km / 152 mi | Mixed commuter and visitor bays |
| 22 kW ACThree-phase wallbox | ≈ 122 km / 76 mi* | ≈ 244 km / 152 mi* | Near full for most cars† | Bulk coverage for cars with 22 kW onboard chargers |
| 22 kW DCCompact DC | ≈ 122 km / 76 mi | ≈ 244 km / 152 mi | Near full for most cars† | Short-stay rapid zones |
Estimates assume average consumption of 18 kWh per 100 km (about 3.5 miles per kWh), and do not include charging losses; real results vary with the vehicle, temperature and battery level. *AC charging speed is capped by the vehicle's onboard charger. Many EVs accept 11 kW AC at most, so a 22 kW AC charger gives those cars 11 kW. DC charging bypasses the onboard charger. †Most EV batteries hold roughly 50–80 kWh, and DC charging slows down as the battery fills.
What Makes Garages Different.
Power per level
Upper and lower levels often have little spare supply. Check the rising mains and distribution boards before choosing charger numbers per level.
Cable routes through concrete
Plan cable containment along ceilings and columns, and get approval for any core drilling through slabs early.
Fire safety for covered parking
Rules for EV charging in covered and underground car parks are being reviewed in several countries. Agree the location, isolation switches and signage with your fire engineer and local authority first.
Wall or column mounting
Wallboxes mount on walls or columns, so bays keep their full width. Check column positions against bay markings.
Weak mobile signal
4G often drops underground. Plan Wi-Fi coverage or a signal booster so chargers stay online for billing and fault alerts.
Headroom and access for installers
Low ceilings and ramps limit equipment and floor-standing units. Wall-mounted AC avoids most of these problems.
Billing, Bays and Barriers.
Parking and charging on one bill
If you use ticketing or number-plate recognition, decide whether charging is billed separately in the app or added to the parking fee.
Assigned or shared bays
Permit holders want their own bay. Public garages work better with shared bays and an idle fee once charging ends.
Share power across levels
Load management lets many chargers share a limited supply, so you can equip more bays without a costly upgrade.
Monitor every charger
In a large garage nobody walks past every unit. Use OCPP fault alerts so staff know which charger needs attention.
Chargers That Fit Garages.
Specifications from our current product catalogue. Certificates are listed per model in every quote.
EV-ACT3204PE wallbox
- 22 kW, 32 A, 380–400 V three-phase
- Tethered Type 2 cable, CEE 5-pin plug
- RFID card, app and plug-and-charge start
- IP66
Best for public garage bays on wall or column mounts.
EV-ACT3208PE socket wallbox
- Up to 22 kW, 6–32 A, three-phase
- Type 2 socket: drivers use their own cable
- Over-current, over-temperature and control-pilot fault protection
- IP56
Best for permit holders who bring their own cable.
EV-ACT1602PE wallbox
- 11 kW, 16 A, 380–400 V three-phase
- Tethered Type 2 cable, CEE 5-pin plug
- RFID card, app and plug-and-charge start
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, 4G optional
Best for long-stay and permit bays with limited supply per level.
EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger
- 22 kW DC output, single tethered connector
- 380–415 V three-phase input
- OCPP 1.6J, RFID card and app start
- IP54, 5 m cable, floor-standing
Best for ground-level short-stay bays.
EV-ACT4001U / EV-ACT4001T
- Up to 40 A, 9.6 kW, 208–240 V
- J1772 (U) or NACS (T), 25 ft cable
- NEMA 14-50 plug, needs a 50 A breaker
- NEMA 4 / IP66, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Best for most US and Canadian garages.
EV-ACT5002U / EV-ACT5002T
- 50 A, 12 kW, 240 V
- J1772 (U) or NACS (T), 25 ft cable
- Hardwired installation
- App and plug-and-charge start
Best for US public bays that need the fastest Level 2 rate.
Final circuit sizing and permits must follow your local electrical code and be confirmed by a licensed electrician.
Rules to Check Before You Buy.
Chargers that are open to the public face extra rules on safety listings, connectors and payment. Use this checklist for your region.
United States & Canada
- Safety listing from a recognized testing lab (UL, ETL or CSA mark) for the exact model
- Installation to NEC Article 625 in the US or the Canadian Electrical Code
- Connectors: SAE J1772 or NACS (SAE J3400) for AC; CCS1 or NACS for DC
- Check local accessibility rules for public charging bays
European Union
- CE marking, with chargers built to IEC 61851
- Connectors: Type 2 for AC, CCS2 for DC
- Under AFIR, publicly accessible chargers must allow ad-hoc payment: below 50 kW by card reader, contactless device or secure QR payment; 50 kW and above by card reader or contactless device
- Billing per kWh may require calibration-law-compliant metering in some countries, such as Germany
United Kingdom
- UKCA or CE marking
- Connectors: Type 2 for AC, CCS2 for DC
- Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, new public charge points of 8 kW and above must accept contactless payment
- Public charging prices must be shown clearly in pence per kWh
Who Charges, and How They Pay.
Garages usually serve several groups at once. Set access and pricing for each one.
Monthly Permit Holders
Best for: Commuters and residents with regular spaces.
How it works: Charging is bundled with the permit or billed per kWh through RFID cards or the app.
Watch out for: Commuters leaving fully charged cars in shared bays all day.
Hourly Visitors
Best for: Shoppers, event-goers and other short-stay drivers.
How it works: Visitors pay per kWh, plus parking, by app or a supported payment method, with an idle fee once charging ends.
Watch out for: Public-charger payment and price-display rules in your market.
Fleet & Car-Share Partners
Best for: Car-share, rental and delivery fleets that use your garage.
How it works: Dedicated bays with access lists and monthly usage reports for each partner.
Watch out for: Agreeing peak-hour power limits so partner fleets do not crowd out public bays.
Send Us These 6 Details for a Tailored Plan.
This helps our engineers recommend the right configuration for your site faster.
Parking Garage EV Charging — Frequently Asked Questions.
Can EV chargers be installed in underground car parks?
Yes, in most countries, but covered and underground car parks often face extra fire safety requirements. Agree charger locations, isolation switches and signage with your fire engineer and local authority before installation.
Should chargers go on walls or columns?
Either works. Wall and column mounting keeps bays at full width and avoids floor-standing units on ramps or in low-ceiling areas. Check column positions against your bay markings first.
How do chargers stay online underground?
Mobile signal is often weak below ground. Plan Wi-Fi coverage or a signal booster so chargers can report sessions and faults over OCPP.
How do we bill parking and charging together?
You can bill charging separately through the charging app, or link it to your parking system so it appears on the parking ticket. Decide this before choosing the software platform.
Can one electrical supply serve chargers on several levels?
Often, with load management. Chargers share the available power and slow down when building demand is high, which can avoid or delay an expensive supply upgrade.
Is DC fast charging a good idea in a garage?
A compact DC charger works well at ground level for short stays. Higher-power DC units are heavier and need more supply and ventilation, so they are rarely the right choice for upper or underground levels.
Related EV Charging Solutions.
Scale Your Parking Facility With Intelligent Load Management.
Send us your floor plans, bay count per level and supply rating. We will suggest charger positions, cable routes and how much power each level can take.