Consumers are looking to support businesses with social responsibility and sustainability goals. Even social media is tracking corporations’ responses. They expect a company to provide quality goods or services in a manner that protects the environment while also being socially conscious. Businesses failing to do so often find themselves facing consumer boycotts and governmental penalties.

While businesses have multiple ways to become more energy efficient, there is one method that is commonly overlooked. Adding public workplace EV charging can bring about several surprising benefits.

Let’s take a look at how businesses are going green with the help of EV chargers.

What is Business Social Responsibility and Sustainability

To understand how workplace EV charging can contribute to business social responsibility and sustainability, it helps to understand the two terms.

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a business model that helps a company become socially accountable to the public, shareholders, and employees. Businesses understand how their practices affect the environment, along with the social and economic landscape.

A few examples of CSR include,

• Decreasing the company’s carbon footprint
• Donating to charities
• Volunteering and giving back to the community
• Investing in environmental and socially conscious efforts, like EV chargers

• Business sustainability refers to how a company combines social, environmental, and financial demands when creating its goods or services. This type of business strategy benefits,
  • The Planet
  • People
  • Environment

The Benefits of Offering Workplace EV Charging

Even installing a couple of workplace EV charging units can benefit a company’s green initiatives.

Reduce Your Company’s Carbon Footprint

CSR plans often include reducing a company’s carbon footprint. Installing EV chargers at the workplace can help you meet your goals.

Electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions which help to reduce harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy states on average,

• Gasoline-powered vehicles are responsible for 12K of CO2 emissions
• Hybrid vehicles release around 6K of CO2
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce around 5.9K of CO2
• Fully electric vehicles release around 4.7K of CO2

Larger corporations with a high number of employees can dramatically reduce carbon emissions with EV chargers. The chargers can encourage workers to transition to EVs which dramatically reduces the Scope 3 emissions reported by your company.

Establishes Your Brand as Being Socially Conscious

EV chargers are a visible way to show your brand is socially conscious. It is demonstrating that your company is willing to embrace new technology. It also adds authority to your voice on socially conscious matters. An EV charging infrastructure indicates you are practicing what you preach.

Indicates Your Company Is Willing to Embrace Change

EVs are the future and it’s coming faster than many individuals may believe. The technology is continuing to advance and the market for electric vehicles is growing.

• 2 million electric vehicles were sold globally in 2018. By 2020, sales are expected to reach 3 million and reach 28 million by 2030.
• 77% of vehicles are projected to use EV batteries by 2030.
• Sales of fuel-powered vehicles are expected to continue to fall.

Car manufacturers are revising their production efforts to meet the rising demand for EVs. Ford is investing $11 billion in EV development and Volkswagen is committing $36 billion. Other automotive manufacturers are also setting aside funds for vehicle electrification.

By offering workplace EV charging, your company can show it is forward-thinking and ready for the future.

Attract and Retain Talent

The job market is competitive, and employees want to work for socially conscious companies. A 2016 study by Cone Communications is emphasizing how corporate sustainability matters to millennials.

• 64% look at a company’s environmental and social commitments before deciding to accept a job offer.
• 64% refuse to work for businesses that are not following strong CSR values.
• 83% are more likely to remain with a company this is contributing to environmental and social issues.
• 88% find their jobs more fulfilling when they are allowed to make a positive impact on the environment.

Adding EV charging stations at the workplace shows employees that you are concerned about environmental and social issues. By making the charging free to staff, it’s a perk that can help attract and retain your key talent.

Attract Customers

As mentioned earlier, EV chargers are a visible way to demonstrate your company’s commitment to environmental and social issues. An eye-opening survey by Forbes in 2016 indicates,

• 68% of millennial consumers purchase products with environmental or social benefits.
• 87% of consumers have a more positive view of businesses supporting the environment
• 88% are more likely to continue to support a company that shows initiative towards meeting environmental and social issue goals.
• 87% are more likely to purchase a product that benefits society or the environment
• 92% are more likely to trust a company that supports environmental and social causes.

Take Advantage of Financial Incentives

Energy-efficient companies can take advantage of local, federal, and utility provider incentives. These incentives help offset the cost of purchasing and installing EV chargers. Some businesses may receive enough financial incentives to offset the total project cost.

Is Your Business Ready to Go Green?

Workplace EV charging comes with multiple benefits, and it may be more cost-effective than you think. Contact us today to learn more about EV charging and how it can help propel your company into the future. To speak with an Apogee Charging Solutions expert about EV charging stations for your workplace, call 484-816-2076, email [email protected], or schedule a call that fits your need by clicking the button below.