What kind of aid is available for restaurants wishing to install recharging stations? The answer is simple and obvious: ADVENIR aid. To benefit from the ADVENIR subsidy, you'll need to take out the Supervision, Subscription and Maintenance options. To benefit from the Advenir subsidy, you'll also need to choose a certified installer, and thus call in an IRVE-qualified electrician to comply with specifications specific to each type of installation. The administrative formalities are quite onerous, but don't panic! Beev will take care of it for you!

The ADVENIR bonus covers supply and installation costs up to 30% for charging points in private parking lots open to the public (intermediate target). This will be valid for up to 5 charging points of 36 KVA or less, excluding charging network projects.

Good to know: the ADVENIR program, which was due to end in 2022, will be extended until the end of 2025.

ATTENTION: 

On August 1, 2023, ADVENIR incentives for recharging points open to the general public in private parking lots, including intermediate target groups(hotels, restaurants and shops), will be abolished.

As a result, only premium applications signed before August 1, 2023, and before the dedicated budget limit of 5 million euros, will be taken into account by the ADVENIR program.

First of all, don't be too greedy! To be more precise, you shouldn't install too many high-power charging stations. Why do you ask?

As you can imagine, installing several charging stations delivering 22 kW, or more if you prefer, requires a lot of power in terms of electricity.

Power requirements will be all the greater if bollards are used simultaneously. Make sure you don't exceed the power available in your parking lot. It's important to know exactly how much power your parking lot can handle, and adapt your needs accordingly.

Purchasing a charging station is not just a matter of buying one at list price. Other costs need to be taken into account, such as :

• installation: you'll need to call on the services of an IRVE installer. Decree n°2017-26, dated January 13, 2017, institutes the qualification requirement for any installer of charging points with a power rating of more than 3.7 kW. This qualification obligation is accompanied by a prior training requirement. The IRVE installer will have to manage the installation of thecharging infrastructure. You may be required to subscribe to a package that gives you more power to supply to the infrastructure,
• additional supervision costs (an average of €15 per terminal per month) and maintenance costs (€100 per year per charge point). You'll also need to install a signpost and an EF socket (IRVE requirement).
• a Consuel inspection (inspection carried out by an external body to verify the conformity and validity of the installation) will be carried out. The Consuel inspection is mandatory for all installations with a yellow or green power tariff (above 36 kVA).

In addition to being mandatory if you wish to have access to ADVENIR assistance, the bollard supervision software can make your life easier in the event of problems with your bollards. 

The Supervision service lets you manage your charging stations remotely via an application. It guarantees the maintenance of your recharging infrastructure through regular software updates, as well as fault detection.

The system also provides access to a wide range of data, such as : 

• Geolocation of your charging stations 
• Find out whether a terminal is free or occupied 
• You are aware of the consumption on certain terminals
• Access recharge history 

The supervision service also allows you to define charging rates in the event that you wish to charge for the use of your charging stations.

Find out more: terminal supervision - what's it for?

In-company terminals allow you to :

• Keep your customers and employees coming back: According to a 2017 Forbes report, 87% of consumers tend to have a positive image of a company that supports social or environmental initiatives. 88% are also more likely to remain loyal to these companies in the face of competing companies that care less about the environment.

• Acquire new customers for your restaurant or employees by becoming an added value: with the advent of electric cars and the end of diesel and petrol vehicles, recharging will become essential and will have to be accessible to everyone, anywhere, just like wifi. Seeing charging stations for your restaurant will help you stand out from the lagging competition. Many customers are now looking for charging stations when choosing their restaurants! 

• Electric car owners are a high-end clientele: It's also an opportunity because of the profile of electric vehicle drivers. They are generally very concerned about environmental issues. Having restaurants where customers can charge up hassle-free is a much appreciated and even expected service when you offer a high-end service and experience. It helps to attract new customers and, above all, to retain them over time by offering them additional services. 

• Boost your restaurant's customer traffic and be more visible via cards: By making charging points available, you'll increase your brand's referencing. Applications such as ChargeMap or Apple Map enable electric car users to plan their itineraries, find their charging points, and so on. So, by being referenced, you can acquire new customers! On ChargeMap, you can filter your search by ticking "restaurant", which makes it easier to find the charging point in a restaurant that's right for you. (You'll have access to information such as type of outlet, free or paid status, availability, etc.). Hardly any restaurants offer recharging in Paris, so if you've got a parking lot, go for it!

• Increase your income: This can help you recoup the cost of charging stations. We calculate that it takes around 2 to 3 years to recoup the cost of installing a recharging infrastructure by charging users (at €0.40/kWh, which corresponds to the average market price).
• Collecting DATA: with charging stations, you'll have access to a wealth of data, such as CO2 savings, energy costs, kWh usage and station activity. You can use this data for your CSR policy, communications and tax returns.

One of the only drawbacks will be the annual maintenance costs, which are not compulsory, but are necessary to qualify for the ADVENIR bonus. 

• 24/7 supervision with Hotline troubleshooting, RFID identification card, direct payment by credit card, supervision software, integrated 3G card communication ≃ 250 € HT/year/borne
• Maintenance contract with annual inspection ≃ 250 € excl. tax/year/borne

There's also the significant investment cost of installation. Today, however, there are LOA-type financing solutions available to ease the investment. Beev can offer this service.

For public charging stations, there are also external investors who can finance the entire installation in return for a monthly or quarterly dividend on paid charging.

The benefits are very clear, so as you'll have understood, putting charging stations in your restaurant parking lot can be a real advantage (once again, if you have a parking lot)! 

As mentioned above, charging stations can increase your income! It's up to you to decide whether or not you want to make recharging chargeable in order to get a return on your investment.

You have 2 options:

You can charge for charging sessions on a fee-for-service basis, by the hour, or per kWh of electricity consumed. There are no set rules, so it's up to you to define what suits your restaurant's customers best.

• Time-based invoicing reduces the number of "buffer" vehicles that remain connected when they have finished "topping up" their battery. 

• kWh billing is recommended to avoid penalizing users whose vehicles recharge more slowly. 

There are various ways of billing for recharging: you can manage the billing yourself or automate it, but in any case, it's done via the recharging station's supervision system. 

A kiosk supervision system provides data feedback for automatic billing of users. (Recharging history, consumption, displaying the status of free or occupied terminals, defining tariffs and managing invoicing, geolocation...)

The investment you make in charging stations means you gain customers and make financial savings. What's more, your CSR policy and compliance with future measures will be satisfied by the installation of charging stations. 

It's not forbidden to offer refills to your restaurant's customers. It's up to you to decide what strategy you want to adopt. Perhaps the acquisition of these new customers will make it possible to offer the top-up? It's up to you to do the math!

The cost of a charging station varies according to the power it delivers. Why do you ask? First of all, a more powerful charging station will inevitably cost more, but installation will also be different. For the charging stations we've suggested, you should expect to pay an average of €2,500 plus VAT.