By : XLR8 AmericaPosted on May 23, 2025June 2, 2025
The explosive growth of electric vehicles isn’t just transforming how we drive—it’s reshaping how infrastructure is built, powered, and managed. For wireless and telecom contractors who understand network design, power systems, and complex installations, this shift opens the door to a massive new revenue stream: EV charging infrastructure.
At a recent panel sponsored by ChargedUp! Media as part of the Wireless Industry Association’s annual Connect(X) conference, telecom professionals gathered to explore this very opportunity. Speakers from XLR8 America, PxT Infrastructure Solutions, DynaChrg, and other industry leaders outlined what it takes to succeed in this fast-evolving field. Here, we break down the key takeaways for contractors and real estate professionals alike.
The Front-End Matters: Site Selection and Smart Planning
“We provide turnkey charging to our customers,” said Jerry Denman, Chief Commercial Officer of XLR8 America. “Site selection is a huge portion of our process.”
Denman emphasizes the importance of matching charger type to site use. “If it’s a location with a long dwell time, like an apartment complex, we put in Level 2 chargers. If it’s a high-traffic location with a short dwell time, like a highway rest station, we use Level 3.” For reference, most Level 3 chargers can refuel an EV within 15 – 45 minutes, while Level 2 chargers can require between 4 and 10 hours.
This alignment is essential to get right because the cost implications are significant: “The difference in cost between Level 2 and Level 3 is massive. We could spend up to $1.5 million per Level 3 site, while a Level 2 site might only cost a few thousand.”
Contractors familiar with tower placements and fiber installations are already equipped to evaluate critical location factors like traffic, power availability, and grid readiness. But as Denman warned, even perfect real estate means nothing without utility cooperation: “We give power companies heart attacks when we show up asking for 4,000 amps.”
From Tower Crews to Charger Crews: The Construction Crossover
John O’Sullivan of PxT Infrastructure Solutions, a New Jersey EV infrastructure installer, explained how his firm partners with planners like Jerry to carry projects into construction. “We take Jerry’s site and use case—fast charge, Level 2, public or fleet—and handle everything from design to build.”
He stressed how similar this is to telecom deployment: permitting, zoning, utility coordination, and timelines all run in parallel. “You can’t get to 80% certainty without knowing the utility will actually provide the power.”
For contractors in the wireless industry doing these installations, this means safety protocols, heavy electrical knowledge, and project management experience are directly transferable to the EV charging space.
The Hidden Challenge: Connectivity
“If there’s no connectivity, nobody can use the chargers—and we don’t know what’s going on with the charger,” Denman warned.
That simple fact has enormous implications. Contractors must ensure cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity at the site. Jerry urged the use of multivendor SIMs, custom IoT plans, and network redundancy.
“We rely on people like you to solve those problems. We’re in the business of site placement and operation—we’re not good at permitting or connectivity.”
Hardware, Software, and the Reality of Uptime
When asked what causes most charger downtime, Denman replied: “The biggest challenge is usually around the charger hardware itself. Relays get stuck, for example. Vandalism is second.”
Of 19 chargers his team recently acquired, six hadn’t worked in over six months.
Allan Rakos, Executive Vice President of DynaChrg, noted that newer systems are more resilient. “We build modular chargers with remote diagnostics. We can reboot a charger remotely, track errors, and manage payments and energy from a single platform.” He liked their proprietary architecture designed for tight integration with the utility to optimize energy usage to Apple, with their very successful launch into the early PC industry.
For contractors, property owners and investors, this means benefits such as working with suppliers who have proven their systems can deliver the power management savings, end-to-end compatibility on the equipment side, and maintaining access to spare parts for rapid service.
Why This Market is a Natural Fit for Wireless Contractors
“We digitized the wireless industry after a decade of spreadsheets,” said Nexus1’s representative. “EV charging offers us a second chance to do it right from the start.”
EV infrastructure deployment is about more than pouring concrete and installing pedestals. It requires:
High-voltage electrical expertise
Connectivity troubleshooting
Software integration
Civil engineering
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance
Sound familiar? These are the same skillsets telecom contractors have used to build and maintain cellular networks.
The Broader Opportunity: Building Owners and Investors Take Note
The insights shared during this panel also hold major implications for real estate developers, building owners, and capital investors. EV charging is not just infrastructure—it’s a value-add amenity, a traffic driver, and in many cases, a revenue stream.
Jerry shared, “We usually drive one to two percent incremental revenue on a store with a charging station. It allows people to stay longer.”
For large parking facilities, hospitality venues, MDUs, and logistics centers, EV charging provides:
Higher property value
New revenue from usage or lease
Tenant and customer retention
Final Advice: Be the Partner, Not Just the Vendor
Denman closed with a message to the room: “We’re looking for people who can help us solve problems—people who understand safety, permitting, and connectivity.”
Whether you’re a telecom contractor or a property owner, entering the EV charging space isn’t just about adding new tech. It’s about forming partnerships that accelerate adoption, ensure uptime, and build profitable new infrastructure.
Want to learn how to get involved? XLR8 America offers Charging as a Service (CaaS), including partnerships with electrical contractors, real estate developers, and capital providers. Let us show you how to turn your experience into new revenue in the electrified economy. Schedule a consultation to learn more.
![EV Infrastructure Panel at Connect [X]](https://xlr8america.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ConnectX-Panel-841x400.jpg)
The explosive growth of electric vehicles isn’t just transforming how we drive—it’s reshaping how infrastructure is built, powered, and managed. For wireless and telecom contractors who understand network design, power systems, and complex installations, this shift opens the door to a massive new revenue stream: EV charging infrastructure.
At a recent panel sponsored by ChargedUp! Media as part of the Wireless Industry Association’s annual Connect(X) conference, telecom professionals gathered to explore this very opportunity. Speakers from XLR8 America, PxT Infrastructure Solutions, DynaChrg, and other industry leaders outlined what it takes to succeed in this fast-evolving field. Here, we break down the key takeaways for contractors and real estate professionals alike.
The Front-End Matters: Site Selection and Smart Planning
“We provide turnkey charging to our customers,” said Jerry Denman, Chief Commercial Officer of XLR8 America. “Site selection is a huge portion of our process.”
Denman emphasizes the importance of matching charger type to site use. “If it’s a location with a long dwell time, like an apartment complex, we put in Level 2 chargers. If it’s a high-traffic location with a short dwell time, like a highway rest station, we use Level 3.” For reference, most Level 3 chargers can refuel an EV within 15 – 45 minutes, while Level 2 chargers can require between 4 and 10 hours.
This alignment is essential to get right because the cost implications are significant: “The difference in cost between Level 2 and Level 3 is massive. We could spend up to $1.5 million per Level 3 site, while a Level 2 site might only cost a few thousand.”
Contractors familiar with tower placements and fiber installations are already equipped to evaluate critical location factors like traffic, power availability, and grid readiness. But as Denman warned, even perfect real estate means nothing without utility cooperation: “We give power companies heart attacks when we show up asking for 4,000 amps.”
From Tower Crews to Charger Crews: The Construction Crossover
John O’Sullivan of PxT Infrastructure Solutions, a New Jersey EV infrastructure installer, explained how his firm partners with planners like Jerry to carry projects into construction. “We take Jerry’s site and use case—fast charge, Level 2, public or fleet—and handle everything from design to build.”
He stressed how similar this is to telecom deployment: permitting, zoning, utility coordination, and timelines all run in parallel. “You can’t get to 80% certainty without knowing the utility will actually provide the power.”
For contractors in the wireless industry doing these installations, this means safety protocols, heavy electrical knowledge, and project management experience are directly transferable to the EV charging space.
The Hidden Challenge: Connectivity
“If there’s no connectivity, nobody can use the chargers—and we don’t know what’s going on with the charger,” Denman warned.
That simple fact has enormous implications. Contractors must ensure cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity at the site. Jerry urged the use of multivendor SIMs, custom IoT plans, and network redundancy.
“We rely on people like you to solve those problems. We’re in the business of site placement and operation—we’re not good at permitting or connectivity.”
Hardware, Software, and the Reality of Uptime
When asked what causes most charger downtime, Denman replied: “The biggest challenge is usually around the charger hardware itself. Relays get stuck, for example. Vandalism is second.”
Of 19 chargers his team recently acquired, six hadn’t worked in over six months.
Allan Rakos, Executive Vice President of DynaChrg, noted that newer systems are more resilient. “We build modular chargers with remote diagnostics. We can reboot a charger remotely, track errors, and manage payments and energy from a single platform.” He liked their proprietary architecture designed for tight integration with the utility to optimize energy usage to Apple, with their very successful launch into the early PC industry.
For contractors, property owners and investors, this means benefits such as working with suppliers who have proven their systems can deliver the power management savings, end-to-end compatibility on the equipment side, and maintaining access to spare parts for rapid service.
Why This Market is a Natural Fit for Wireless Contractors
“We digitized the wireless industry after a decade of spreadsheets,” said Nexus1’s representative. “EV charging offers us a second chance to do it right from the start.”
EV infrastructure deployment is about more than pouring concrete and installing pedestals. It requires:
Sound familiar? These are the same skillsets telecom contractors have used to build and maintain cellular networks.
The Broader Opportunity: Building Owners and Investors Take Note
The insights shared during this panel also hold major implications for real estate developers, building owners, and capital investors. EV charging is not just infrastructure—it’s a value-add amenity, a traffic driver, and in many cases, a revenue stream.
Jerry shared, “We usually drive one to two percent incremental revenue on a store with a charging station. It allows people to stay longer.”
For large parking facilities, hospitality venues, MDUs, and logistics centers, EV charging provides:
Final Advice: Be the Partner, Not Just the Vendor
Denman closed with a message to the room: “We’re looking for people who can help us solve problems—people who understand safety, permitting, and connectivity.”
Whether you’re a telecom contractor or a property owner, entering the EV charging space isn’t just about adding new tech. It’s about forming partnerships that accelerate adoption, ensure uptime, and build profitable new infrastructure.
Want to learn how to get involved?
XLR8 America offers Charging as a Service (CaaS), including partnerships with electrical contractors, real estate developers, and capital providers. Let us show you how to turn your experience into new revenue in the electrified economy. Schedule a consultation to learn more.
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