Irvine, Southern California

Restaurant EV Charger ROI in Irvine

Tesla Supercharger host opportunities, grants, and revenue projections for restaurants in Irvine, California.

Utility

SCE

Avg sessions/day

15-28

Monthly revenue

$7K-$16K

Ideal chargers

2-6

Check eligibility for grants Open ROI calculator

Check your EV charger eligibility and ROI

Enter your property address to see incentive eligibility and estimated annual revenue and net income — results vary by location.

Step 1 of 5

Available nationwide — all 50 US states

Property Address

Pick a suggestion as you type, or enter the full address and click Continue.

Your address is used only to check potential incentive eligibility. We never share or sell your information.

Why restaurants in Irvine are a strong EV charger investment

Irvine is one of the highest EV-per-capita and most affluent commercial markets in the U.S.. With roughly 85,000+ registered EVs in Orange County and major demand drivers around the Irvine Spectrum and UCI campus area, EV charging sessions at restaurants here run 15-28 per day per Level 3 charger. That puts gross monthly revenue per typical restaurant site in the $7K-$16K range.

Restaurant sites combine 45-75 minutes of dwell time with the EV-driving demographic Irvine attracts. Local utility rates of about $0.28/kWh through SCE, paired with the property's dine-in dwell time perfectly matches a fast-charge session. make this combo one of the highest-ROI opportunities in Southern California.

Average dinner service exactly matches a 30-50 minute fast charge

EV apps surface restaurants with charging — Plug Share, ABRP, and Tesla in-car routing

Higher-income EV demographic correlates with premium check averages

EV charger grants available in Irvine

Irvine restaurants can stack federal, state, utility, and air-district programs. Estimated grant coverage: up to 80% of installation cost for qualifying sites.

Federal 30C Tax Credit

Up to 30% of installation cost (up to $100K per charger) in eligible census tracts.

SCE Charge Ready Transport

Make-ready electrical infrastructure for commercial and fleet sites.

NEVI I-5 & I-405 Corridor

Federal NEVI funding for DC fast charging along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors near Irvine.

SCAQMD Incentives

Air-district rebates for commercial EV charger installations in the SCAQMD region.

CALeVIP Rebates

California Energy Commission rebates for Level 2 and DC fast chargers, varying by region.

LCFS Credits

Ongoing per-kWh revenue from California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard credit market.

Eligibility, award amounts, and program availability vary and may change without notice. Charge ROI helps you check which programs your specific site may qualify for — we do not guarantee any grant award.

Project revenue for a Irvine restaurant

Recommended setup for this property type: 2-6 Level 3 DC fast chargers visible from the dining room. Adjust the calculator to match your site.

Interactive Calculator

Estimate Your Charging Revenue

Adjust the sliders to model revenue based on your site's unique characteristics. See how charger count, utilization, and pricing impact your bottom line.

Number of Chargers8

Avg Sessions per Stall / Day20 cars

Price per kWh (to Driver)$0.48

Electricity Cost per kWh$0.22

Solar Installed

Annual Revenue

$981K

Gross charging revenue

Annual Profit

$327K

33% margin

Daily Energy

5.6K kWh

~160 sessions/day

Monthly Breakdown

Charging Revenue$82K

Electricity Cost-$37K

Tesla Network Fee ($0.10/kWh)-$17K

Monthly Net Profit$27K

Long-Term Projections

Includes 7% annual EV demand growth

Annual Net Profit (incl. LCFS)$327K

5-Year Net Profit$2.8M

10-Year Net Profit$11.6M

Project Scope & Pricing

Requires Tesla NDA for price.

Tesla restricts hardware and installation pricing under NDA. Request a sealed quote and financing terms via the Fast-Track assessment.

Revenue grows with EV adoption

EV charging demand is growing ~7% annually. Long-term projections compound this growth year over year as EV adoption accelerates.

Lending Options Available

Flexible financing and lending programs may be available to help with equipment and installation costs.

Inquire for more information →

Restaurant EV charger FAQs — Irvine

What is the EV charger ROI for a restaurant in Irvine?

Restaurants in Irvine typically see 15-28 charging sessions per day per Level 3 charger, generating $7K-$16K in monthly gross revenue. With grants covering up to 80% of installation cost, payback periods are commonly 2-3 years. Actual results depend on site visibility, charger count, and utility costs (about $0.28/kWh via SCE).

How many EV chargers should a Irvine restaurant install?

Most restaurants benefit from 2-6 chargers. Recommended mix: 2-6 Level 3 DC fast chargers visible from the dining room. The optimum depends on parking capacity, electrical service, and expected dwell time at your site.

What EV charger grants can a restaurant in Irvine apply for?

Restaurants in Irvine can stack the federal 30C tax credit, SCE utility programs, SCAQMD air-district rebates, NEVI corridor funding for sites near I-5 or I-405, CALeVIP, and ongoing LCFS credit revenue.

Is becoming a Tesla Supercharger host viable for a Irvine restaurant?

Yes. Tesla evaluates Supercharger host sites on visibility, parking capacity, electrical service, and proximity to demand. Irvine restaurants near the Irvine Spectrum and UCI campus area typically score well on these criteria. Charge ROI helps fast-track the Tesla Supercharger host application and stack additional grants on top.

What does it cost to install 2 EV chargers at a Irvine restaurant?

Installation costs vary widely based on electrical service, trenching, and site conditions. Hardware plus install for DC fast chargers typically runs $80K-$150K per port. The federal 30C tax credit, SCE make-ready coverage, and CALeVIP rebates can reduce net out-of-pocket cost by 60-80% for qualifying Irvine sites.