How to Set Up a Charging Station: A Guide for Entrepreneurs

The market: why now is the time

Brazil registered more than 250,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2025, with a projection of 400,000 for 2026. In the Curitiba region alone, there are more than 6,400 EVs — and the charging infrastructure isn't keeping pace. There are 445 stations in Paraná, of which only 125 are fast (DC). The demand for charging points is real, growing and underserved.

For the entrepreneur, that means: those who get in now secure a privileged position in a market that will multiply several times over in the coming years.

Types of charging station: choosing the right model

Before investing, understand the three main types of charging station:

Type	Power	Time 10→80%	Investment	Target audience
Slow AC	3.7-7.4 kW	6-10 hours	R$ 3,000-8,000	Condominiums, hotels
Semi-fast AC	11-22 kW	2-4 hours	R$ 10,000-25,000	Malls, restaurants
Fast DC	50-180 kW	20-50 min	R$ 150,000-500,000	Highways, gas stations, hubs

The ideal type depends on your business model, location and audience. A restaurant on the highway may benefit more from a fast DC (customers stop for 30 minutes and spend), while a hotel gains more from slow AC (overnight charging as an amenity). Before the type of charger comes another business-model choice: joining a franchise network, running the point yourself or investing and leaving the operation to a management company. The Velquia blog, the platform we created, compares the three paths across six criteria: a charging station franchise or setting it up alone, which to choose.

Detailed investment for each scenario

Scenario 1: AC wallbox at a commercial establishment

• Equipment: R$ 5,000 to R$ 15,000 (7-22 kW wallbox)
• Electrical installation: R$ 3,000 to R$ 10,000 (depending on the distance from the panel)
• Civil adaptation: R$ 2,000 to R$ 5,000 (signage, space, protection)
• Management software: R$ 100-300/month per point
• Estimated total: R$ 10,000 to R$ 30,000

Scenario 2: dedicated fast DC station

• Equipment: R$ 120,000 to R$ 350,000 (60-180 kW DC charger)
• Electrical installation: R$ 30,000 to R$ 80,000 (transformer, dedicated cabling)
• Space adaptation: R$ 15,000 to R$ 40,000 (canopy, lighting, cameras)
• Software and connectivity: R$ 300-800/month
• Demand increase with the utility: R$ 5,000 to R$ 30,000
• Estimated total: R$ 180,000 to R$ 500,000

Licenses and regulation

The good news: setting up a charging station is far less bureaucratic than opening a gas station. There is no requirement for a specific environmental license (you aren't dealing with flammable fuel). Still, some steps are necessary:

1. Active CNPJ: with an appropriate CNAE (e.g., 4789-0/99 — retail trade of other unspecified products).
2. Operating permit: with the local city hall. The process varies by municipality.
3. Electrical design: signed by an electrical engineer, especially for DC installations.
4. Request to the utility: load/demand increase with the utility (Copel in Paraná).
5. Fire Department: a safety report, especially if the charging station is in a covered area.
6. INMETRO: the equipment must have INMETRO certification (Ordinance 2019).

Unlike a gas station, a charging station does not require an environmental license from Cetesb/IAT. This greatly simplifies the process and reduces the opening timeline to 60-90 days in most municipalities.

The step by step for registration, CNAE, Simples Nacional, the permit and the contract with the location's owner is on the Velquia blog: how to open a charging station company.

Revenue models

There are several ways to monetize a charging station:

• Energy sales (kWh): the most direct model. You buy energy from the utility and resell it to the driver with a margin.
• Fee by time: charging per hour of connection. Simple, but it can cause dissatisfaction.
• Freemium model: free or subsidized charging to attract customers to your main establishment (restaurant, store, hotel).
• Subscription: monthly plans for frequent drivers (e.g., R$ 199/month with X charges included).
• Advertising: screens on the charger or at the location can generate additional revenue through ads.
• Cross-revenue: as Elektro Charge does with dining — the charging station draws the customer in, and spending at the restaurant generates an additional margin.

Return on investment (ROI)

The ROI varies enormously with the type of charging station and the location. Conservative estimates for 2026:

Scenario	Investment	Monthly revenue	Estimated payback
1 AC wallbox at a hotel	R$ 15,000	R$ 400-800	18-36 months
2 semi-fast AC at a mall	R$ 50,000	R$ 1,500-3,000	18-30 months
1 fast DC on a highway	R$ 300,000	R$ 8,000-15,000	24-36 months
Fast DC + dining	R$ 400,000+	R$ 15,000-30,000	18-30 months

The most important factor for the ROI is location. A charging station on a high-traffic road or near highway corridors will see much greater use than one in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Underestimating the electrical installation: the charger is 30-40% of the cost. The electrical adaptation can cost as much as the equipment.
2. Ignoring the software: without a management system (billing, monitoring, reports), you operate in the dark.
3. A bad location: a hidden or hard-to-reach charging station will see low use, regardless of quality.
4. Not considering the connector: CCS2 is the standard for DC in Brazil. CHAdeMO is falling out of use. Type 2 is mandatory for AC.
5. Forgetting the experience: EV drivers wait 20-40 minutes. If the place is unpleasant, they'll go to the competitor.

Already have the charger or want to put one at your point?

You already have the charger: Elektro Charge charging station management operates the point on our platform. We study the location, use AI for monitoring and check the transfer every month.

You want to receive a point from Elektro Charge: see the partnerships page, for those with an establishment where people sit in the space. The operation and support stay with us, and the agreement is set beforehand, in writing.