How a charging station earns money, and which models exist
Direct revenue comes from drivers paying for electricity and charging time. Indirect revenue comes from people who arrive to charge and then stay at your cafe, car wash or shop. For a small business the second effect often matters more: the charger gives people a reason to pick your location. So decide early whether the station is a product on its own or a way to strengthen a business you already run.
- Your own station: you own the equipment, the operations, the revenue and all of the risk.
- A station next to an existing business: a cafe, hotel, shopping centre or car wash.
- A partnership with a site owner: you install the equipment, the owner provides the space, income is split by contract.
- Corporate charging for company fleets, taxi services and delivery operators.
- Charging inside a residential complex, with access control for residents.
Site choice: where drivers are happy to wait
The most common mistake is choosing a plot by rent alone. What matters to an EV owner is what they will do while the car charges. Near a shopping centre, business centre, gym, cafe or service station, waiting time becomes a convenience. On an intercity road the priorities flip: fast charging and an easy entrance.
Walk the area as a driver would. Is the station visible from the road, is it easy to enter, will the bays stay free of ordinary cars, is it lit and safe in the evening? Study nearby stations too: how busy are they, and what do EV owners say about them in their Telegram groups? Competitors' occupancy is the cheapest demand indicator you will find.
Grid connection and charger type
This is the hardest stage, and it is where projects most often stall. DC fast charging needs substantial electrical capacity. Before buying equipment, ask the power utility whether your chosen site can be connected, on what terms, with which documents and how long it will take. Sometimes the capacity simply is not there, and extra infrastructure has to be built, which can change the economics of the whole project.
Slower AC charging is cheaper and suits places where cars sit for hours: offices, hotels, residential complexes. DC fast charging fits highways and short stops. Check connector types too. EVs from several manufacturers are on Uzbek roads, and a station supporting only one standard turns away part of your market.
Payments, software and maintenance
A driver should not have to learn anything: find the station, start charging, pay. You can join an existing charging network or run your own software. Either way, payment should feel familiar, through Click, Payme or a QR code. A complicated sign-up drives people away faster than a high price does.
A broken station collects bad reviews in Telegram groups almost immediately. Sign a maintenance contract in advance, set up remote monitoring, ask the supplier about spare parts and repair times, and warn drivers ahead of any planned work.
How to attract EV drivers to a new station
EV owners look for chargers on maps and in dedicated apps, so your station should be listed on Google Maps, Yandex Maps and relevant charging services, with an accurate status. The second key channel is Telegram communities of EV owners, where addresses, prices and impressions are shared. Do not push ads; be useful with photos, the exact address, opening hours and quick answers to questions.
- Partnerships with EV dealers and car service shops.
- Dedicated terms for taxi fleets and delivery services.
- Amenities nearby: coffee, a restroom, Wi-Fi, somewhere to wait.
- An Instagram page and a Telegram channel with station status and news.
Risks, and how to test the idea before a big investment
The main risks are a slow and costly grid connection, shifting technology and standards, changes in electricity tariffs and regulation, a competitor opening nearby, and bays blocked by ordinary cars. The number of EVs may also grow more slowly than your spreadsheet assumes, so model several scenarios, not one: cautious, base and optimistic.
A low-cost way to test demand is to put a slow charger where you already run a business. Watch how many EVs drive past and park nearby, and ask owners where charging is hard to find. If demand shows up, you have grounds to consider a fast station.
If you want help with the model, positioning and the channels for reaching drivers, markdev works on marketing strategy and consulting for businesses in Uzbekistan. Tell us about your site and your goal, and we can talk through where to start.
FAQ
Where should I start if I want to open an EV charging station?
With the site and a request to the power utility about connecting the capacity you need. In parallel, study nearby stations and talk to EV owners about what they lack.
Should I choose slow or fast charging?
Slow AC charging is cheaper and fits places where cars stay long, such as offices, hotels and housing complexes. Fast DC charging suits highways and short stops but needs more power and investment.
How do drivers find a new station?
List it on maps and EV charging apps, share it in Telegram groups of EV owners, work with dealers and service shops, and offer terms to taxi fleets.
How can I test demand without a large investment?
Install a slow charger at a location where you already operate and track how it is used. That gives you evidence for deciding on a fast station.
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