If you're in charge of buying stuff for your company — like ordering office supplies, managing vendor contracts, and occasionally fielding weird requests from operations — you've probably been hit with this question lately: “We need to set up EV charging for the fleet. What should we get?”
Honestly, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Your situation depends on a few things: do you already have solar panels? Are you starting from scratch? Is the main concern upfront cost or long-term reliability? Over the past couple of years, I've helped my company navigate this exact decision, and I've made enough mistakes to know what actually matters. Let me break it down by scenario.
The Three Most Common Scenarios I See
Based on conversations with other admins and facilities managers, most businesses fall into one of these camps:
- Scenario A – “We already have solar panels, and we want to charge our EVs with them.” Usually you have a solar panel installer on contract, or you're looking to hire one.
- Scenario B – “We need to justify the investment in EV charging stations with a clear ROI.” Finance wants a number before signing off.
- Scenario C – “We already bought an EV (like a BYD Atto 3) and realized our current charging setup doesn’t cut it.” Now you're scrambling to find the right inverter or charger.
Each scenario leads to a different buying decision. Let me walk you through what I’ve learned.
Scenario A: Solar + EV Charging – What to Look For
If your company already has solar panels — or plans to install them — you're in a good spot. But from the outside, it looks like you just need a standard Level 2 charger and plug it in. The reality is trickier: the inverter you choose determines whether you can actually use solar power efficiently to charge your EVs.
Most buyers focus on the charging station brand and completely miss the inverter specs. The question everyone asks is “How fast does it charge?” The question they should ask is “Can this inverter sync with solar + battery storage to charge during peak sun hours and reduce grid draw?”
Take it from someone who had to reorder equipment after the first install: if you're pairing with solar, look for a BorgWarner inverter or similar that supports bidirectional communication. The BYD blade battery systems (like those used in the Atto 3) work well with BorgWarner's AC-coupled inverters. In fact, BYD and BorgWarner have a known partnership — the BYD BorgWarner inverter combo is pretty common in commercial setups. Just make sure your solar panel installer is certified for EV integration. That's a key hiring filter if you're posting solar panel installer jobs.
Scenario B: Crunching the EV Charging Station ROI
Finance will want numbers. So here's what I found after running the numbers for our fleet of 8 vans:
“In 2024, when I consolidated our vendor list, I built a spreadsheet comparing 4 different charger models. The biggest surprise was that the cheapest charger had a total cost of ownership 22% higher over 5 years because of maintenance and software subscription fees.”
The key to EV charging station ROI isn't just the charger price. It's about utilization: if you have solar, every kWh from the sun is effectively free after installation. Without solar, you're paying peak utility rates. So the ROI equation changes completely.
Here's a rough benchmark: for a business with 10 EVs driving 50 km daily (like delivery vans), a Level 2 charger (7.2 kW) will pay for itself in about 18-24 months if you charge at off-peak rates. If you add solar, that timeline drops to 12-15 months. Crunching the numbers for your own situation is worth a couple hours of spreadsheet work.
Scenario C: You Already Have a BYD Atto 3 – Now What?
Let's say your company bought a BYD Atto 3 as a test vehicle. The byd atto 3 energy consumption is roughly 15-18 kWh per 100 km (depends on driving conditions). That's about 4-5 miles per kWh — pretty efficient. But now you need to charge it at the office, and someone asks “how do you charge a power inverter?” Wait — that's a different thing: a power inverter (like a portable inverter for tools) isn't the same as an EV charger. But I get the confusion because both involve converting DC to AC.
To charge your Atto 3, you'll want either a 7 kW AC wallbox (using the onboard rectifier) or a DC fast charger. The onboard charger in the Atto 3 can handle up to 7 kW single-phase, so a basic Level 2 station is fine. But here's a blind spot: many buyers forget to check the connector type. The Atto 3 uses Type 2 (Mennekes) in Europe, and CCS Combo 2 for DC. In North America, it uses CCS1. Make sure your charger is compatible — don't assume “universal.”
Also, if you're asking “how to charge power inverter” — that likely refers to a separate device used in solar installations or backup power. A power inverter takes DC from batteries and converts to AC for loads. Charging it means feeding DC into its battery bank (usually via solar charge controller). That's a whole different product category. If you need that for a solar + storage project, your best bet is to ask your solar installer to spec a compatible inverter (like BorgWarner) that also integrates with EV charging.
How to Figure Out Which Scenario You're In
Take 10 minutes and answer these three questions honestly:
- Do we have existing solar panels, or are we planning to install them in the next 6 months? If yes → Scenario A.
- Is the main decision-maker finance, and they need a payback period less than 2 years? If yes, do Scenario B math first.
- Have we already bought the EVs, and we're just reacting to the need to charge them? If yes, Scenario C.
Most companies I talk to end up in a mix — they have solar and need ROI. That's fine. Start with the solar integration because that's the hardest to retrofit later. And if you're considering solar panel installer jobs to bring the work in-house, look for candidates who understand battery storage and EV charging integration, not just roof mounting.
Bottom line: don't overthink it. Start with your current reality, pick the right inverter and charger combination, and let efficiency drive your decision. Trust me — your finance team will thank you when the numbers add up.