Charging-use brief
Document expected users, time on site and target service needs. Separate the number of connectors from the number of vehicles expected to charge simultaneously.
DC Fast Charging
Start Your DC Fast Charging Project with Site Feasibility
Align the charging need, utility supply and equipment layout before setting the construction scope or a target opening date.
What & Why
The charger is only one part of the site.
DC fast charging projects need a coordinated plan for electrical supply, equipment and the way drivers use the location. A charger’s advertised output does not establish the power available at a property or the charging performance of every vehicle.
YKCA helps define the electrical and construction work with the site owner, utility, design team and equipment provider. Equipment selection, utility commitments and operating responsibilities are resolved as part of that coordination.
Four feasibility questions
Use case
Public stops, destination use or fleet needs
Power
Supply available for the proposed demand
Equipment
Stations, power cabinets and connectors
Operation
Network, support and maintenance plan
Project Scope
From site brief to a coordinated installation.
Define the dependencies before treating an equipment purchase as a complete project.
Utility feasibility
Engage the serving utility on the proposed load and required supply work. Confirm the information and approvals needed before scheduling energization.
Equipment integration
Coordinate the selected charger package, distribution equipment and design requirements. Verify actual product interfaces with the manufacturer or provider.
Site & civil coordination
Plan station access, equipment footprints, vehicle protection and underground routes. Coordinate applicable accessibility and site approval requirements.
Installation & inspections
Define electrical and civil responsibilities, equipment delivery dependencies, inspection stages and the process for utility connection.
Commissioning & operations
Agree who verifies charging operation, configures the network and accepts the site. Name the party responsible for ongoing service and customer support.
Decisions That Matter
Resolve these before committing to a launch date.
Usable site power
A nearby transformer or a large existing service label does not answer the project’s capacity question. Obtain a site-specific review.
Operating costs
Assess the applicable electricity rate and operating model with the utility and provider, alongside construction and equipment costs.
Service responsibility
Decide who handles a station fault, failed payment or damaged cable. Construction handoff and long-term operation are distinct obligations.
Before Your Consultation
Bring the site and the charging objective.
A preliminary discussion can start before a charger brand is selected.
Property and utility information
Provide the site address, site control, available electrical records and utility correspondence.
Charging goal
Describe likely users, expected parking duration and the intended number of stations and simultaneous sessions.
Project team
Identify the owner, designer, charger provider and eventual operator, including any roles still to be selected.
FAQ
DC fast charging planning questions.
The answer depends on the selected equipment’s input requirements, existing site load, simultaneous charging, and utility supply. Obtain a project-specific electrical design and utility review before final procurement. A station’s output rating alone does not establish the required service or construction scope.
No. Actual DC power depends on battery voltage, accepted current, vehicle conditions, and the charger’s current, power and shared-output limits. For example, 400 V at a hypothetical 500 A limit is 200 kW, even at a station labeled 350 kW. The actual equipment specifications and charging curve control the result.
That is a feasibility question. Review existing loads, the proposed equipment and available utility supply before deciding whether the current service can support the project.
Utility design and supply work, permits, site approvals, equipment delivery and inspection all create dependencies. The project schedule should state which dates are confirmed and which remain assumptions.
Network operation and maintenance are included only when the agreement assigns the providers, coverage, recurring fees and repair duties. For California commercial chargers, name the CEC reporting agent and inventory-reporting responsibilities even when privately funded, then allocate any additional funded-charger reliability duties that apply. Specify evidence of a restored customer charging session; an online dashboard or hardware warranty alone does not establish restoration.
The hardware price does not establish the installation scope. Distribution, utility work, underground routes, foundations, site restoration and commissioning need their own review.
Planning references
DOE’s guidance explains capacity review, equipment, construction planning and operating considerations. The utility supply and installation requirements are established for each site. The CEC’s adopted standards define California charger reporting and reliability duties, including applicability conditions and exemptions.
- U.S. Department of Energy: EV readiness and utility coordination (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of Energy: charging equipment and charging rates (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Department of Energy: charging operation and maintenance (opens in a new tab)
- California Energy Commission: adopted EV Charger Data and Reliability Standards (opens in a new tab)
Related project planning
Your Next Step
Establish whether the site fits the charging plan.
Share the property, intended users and equipment information you have. We’ll identify the next feasibility decisions.
Frequently asked project questions
Work through the difficult decisions.
Explore the causes, choices and practical next steps behind common project questions.
How can we tell whether low usage reflects weak demand or a charging-site problem?
Compare relevant arrivals, attempted starts, completed sessions and repeat use over a stated observation period. Few arrivals call for a location and discoverability review; arrivals that leave without starting or after failed starts call for access, price, payment or reliability corrections. Test one suspected barrier and measure again before expanding.
Read the full guide: A fast charger is barely used: find where prospective customers drop out ↗What should be checked beyond electrical operation at a public fast charger?
Review California CBC accessibility scoping and layout, the applicable payment methods under HSC 44268.2, retail energy-price and measurement requirements, cable reach, hours and fault reporting. Test the full customer journey. Passing an electrical functional test does not establish that these separate requirements are satisfied.
Read the full guide: A working fast charger can still be unusable: access, cables, and payment ↗- Why a 350 kW charger may deliver far less to a vehicle
- A fast charger is barely used: find where prospective customers drop out
- Before buying a fast charger, confirm the power the site can actually receive
- A fast charger warranty is not an uptime plan
- A working fast charger can still be unusable: access, cables, and payment
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