- November 9, 2025
- 6:05 pm
Dealership savings — EV charging caps + lot-lighting policy
by Charles (Chuck) Tralka
Energy Strategy Consultant
Summary
Auto dealerships can cut 12–18% by managing EV charging and lot lighting—without hurting sales or customer experience.
Why dealerships overpay
- EVSE adds spiky demand—multiple Level-2 or DCFC sessions during on-peak.
- Lot lighting often turns on too early or runs at full power all night.
- HVAC & service-bay ventilation start together around opening.
The simple playbook
- EV charging caps & schedules:
- Cap total charging kW during on-peak; shift bulk charging off-peak; prioritize demo/test-drive cars; limit DC fast during peak.
- Lot-lighting policy:
- Align to civil twilight; two-stage schedule (e.g., 80% at dusk, 100% during sales hours); dim or shut back lot after close; motion/timed sweeps.
- Staged HVAC & ventilation:
- Stagger RTU starts 2–5 min; keep service-bay ventilation at minimum required ACH during peak.
Sample policy snippet
- EVSE: Off-peak charging window 9:30 pm–6:30 am; peak cap ≤ 15 kW; priority Demo > Loaner/Service > Inventory.
- Lighting: Dusk–10 pm 80% front/60% back; 10 pm–sunrise 100% front row, 40% back, service off.
- HVAC: Stagger starts every 3 minutes; pre-cool 30 minutes before on-peak.
10-minute checklist
- EVSE cap and schedule set
- Lot-lighting two-stage schedule live
- Staggered HVAC starts confirmed
- Service-bay ventilation aligned to peak rules
- Review after 30 days: peak time stamps lower/shifted