https://robfreeman.com/evchargingst... EV charging station insurance and risks

Electric vehicle charging stations are being rolled out to office buildings, hotels, retail stores, and parking facilities nationwide… If you’re considering installing an EV charging station here are some EV charging station insurance and risk management factors to consider:

There are three types of EV chargers (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3), and the risks associated with each one are different:

Levels 1 and 2 use AC charging and Level 3 uses DC charging.

A Level 1 charger, the most common EV charger, is essentially a plugin wall charger that should be included with almost every EV.

Level 1 allows charging from any standard 120/230V wall outlet. If you own a hotel or office building, but don’t have a Level 2 or 3 charger, there are situations where EVs are on the road, but unable to charge at a Level 2 or 3 stations or where vehicles are parked overnight. In such situations, be aware of potential hazards of EV owners using your wall outlets in parking lots creating tripping hazards, which could result in a general liability claim. I saw this at a hotel I was staying at in California and snapped a photo.

A Level 2 may be a wall charger or a freestanding EV station. Level 2 is twice as fast as a Level 1, but requires a 208/240V outlet, such as for a washer/dryer and a Level 3 is DC fast charging which will be a freestanding EV charging station and is about 20 times as fast as a level 2.

For Level 2 and 3 chargers, there are other site risk management issues and insurance coverages to consider whether you’re an installer or an owner of the charging station.

For EV charging station owners, you consider a preinstallation checklist including site and physical design hazards that can impact your insurance coverage and premiums.

In addition to tripping hazards, level 2 and 3 chargers require security and physical protection of EV charging equipment. The most common physical damage to Level 2 and 3 chargers will be from vehicle accidents that damage charging cables or the charging equipment itself resulting in property damage. Consider roper placement of charging cable placement and cable management.

Also to be incorporated into your checklist is the required insurance coverage from the installer, and making sure that your insurance is adequate for the risks of adding EV charging stations.

Whether as part of an owned facility, or in a 3rd party lease or agreement, EV charging station owners need proper indemnification and property insurance, general liability insurance, umbrella insurance, cyber and technology errors and omissions insurance.

For owners, part of the preinstallation process is a review of installer insurance for acceptable coverage and coverage limits. Don't rely on a certificate of insurance because it does not represent proof of insurance, it's only a single page form as a summary to save time.