Atlanta EV Fleet Charging Infrastructure: From Permit Strategy to Fleet-Ready Operations
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Industry: Industrial & Manufacturing
Service: Infrastructure & Utility Modernization
The Situation
Atlanta EV fleet charging infrastructure was delivered for an autonomous-vehicle fleet operator through six coordinated engagements spanning permitting, multidisciplinary design, warehouse conversion, high-capacity electrical construction, and improvements at a companion charging area.
The program began with time-sensitive permit administration and coordination with local authorities. It then expanded into architectural, civil, mechanical, and electrical design for the conversion of an approximately 100,000-square-foot warehouse into a 101-space electric-vehicle parking and service hub. Two major construction packages followed, along with targeted safety, access, and site improvements at a second Atlanta charging location.
Throughout the work, the facilities remained active fleet environments. Construction zones, equipment deliveries, utility installations, inspections, and charging-equipment placement had to be coordinated around daily vehicle circulation and autonomous-vehicle mapping activities.
The Challenge
This was not simply a charger-installation project. Converting an existing warehouse for large-scale EV fleet operations affected nearly every building and site system: utility service, electrical distribution, standby power, ventilation, fire protection, overhead access, loading operations, interior traffic control, equipment protection, security, and parking configuration.
The later electrical expansion required coordination of a 2.5 MVA utility transformer, two 2,000-amp exterior shunt-trip switchgear assemblies, fifteen 400-amp charger circuits, automatic transfer equipment, generator connections, grounding systems, and underground conduit routes. Much of the new conduit had to be directionally bored behind the warehouse while active vehicles continued moving through the property.
Subsurface conditions added complexity. Directional boring encountered extensive rock, pit constraints, and reamer-recovery issues. The field team adjusted the installation approach using open-cut excavation and hand digging where necessary while continuing to protect existing utilities and maintain site access.
Inside the warehouse, charging equipment and vehicle lanes required substantial impact protection. HVAC and life-safety systems also had to be modified for the building’s new use, including smoke and exhaust removal, fire alarm work, sprinkler adjustments, specialized extinguisher coverage, and protected hazardous-material storage.
How We Worked
JBrennon first supported expedited permitting, city coordination, and on-site quality verification. The subsequent design engagements integrated architectural planning, code analysis, life-safety evaluation, civil utilities, ventilation, electrical load calculations, EV charging distribution, standby-power requirements, and permit-comment responses into coordinated construction documents.
The first construction package converted the warehouse for active fleet use. Three existing overhead doors were replaced with high-speed doors, and two dock-to-ground ramp systems were installed to improve vehicle access. Interior security enclosures were constructed for consumables, tires, parts, and hazardous-material storage. HVAC ventilation and smoke-removal systems were installed or modified, with associated roof penetrations patched and weatherproofed. Fire alarm, sprinkler, emergency, and specialty fire-protection provisions were also coordinated for the new occupancy.
Vehicle and equipment protection included 84 concrete-filled bollards at charging areas, 24 bolt-down bollards within parking lanes, and four bollards protecting exterior compressor equipment—a total of 112 bollards in the initial construction package. Fifty-four structural-column impact protectors were installed throughout the warehouse. Floor surfaces were ground and scarified before safety coatings, pedestrian egress markings, traffic lanes, and parking layouts were applied. Owner-provided charging equipment was also positioned during the fleet-mapping process to verify operational clearances.
The second construction package delivered the high-capacity power and exterior operating infrastructure. JBrennon coordinated the transformer pad, utility transformer setting and energization, switchgear anchorage, charger feeders, grounding, breaker and equipment terminations, and installation and wiring of 15 remaining owner-provided charging stations. Automatic transfer equipment and generator feeds were integrated into the new distribution system, and a battery-backup system was added for critical supporting equipment.
Site improvements included approximately 1,500 linear feet of perimeter chain-link fencing, privacy slats along most of the perimeter, entrance and egress gates, underground provisions for future gate operators, a modular guard station with power and communications pathways, protective bollards around transformer and generator equipment, parking-lot sealing and striping, and a new high-speed overhead door.
At a companion Atlanta charging area, JBrennon completed a focused safety and site-improvement package. Ten owner-provided protective bollards were installed across eight saw-cut work areas using 36-inch excavations, galvanized anchor bolts, and concrete restoration. Crews also cleaned and restriped the charging and parking zones, installed required pavement markings and signage, and created two landscaped islands with new willow oak trees.
The Outcome
JBrennon delivered an integrated EV fleet operations program extending from permit strategy and multidisciplinary design through warehouse conversion, utility energization, charging-equipment installation, site security, and final inspections.
The completed work provided the operator with a code-compliant, fleet-ready Atlanta facility supported by high-capacity electrical infrastructure, protected charging equipment, improved vehicle circulation, upgraded loading access, modern ventilation and life-safety systems, and infrastructure positioned for continued fleet expansion.
Six coordinated permitting, design, construction, and site-improvement engagements
Approximately 100,000-square-foot warehouse converted into a 101-space EV parking and service hub
2.5 MVA utility transformer set and energized
Two 2,000-amp switchgear assemblies and fifteen 400-amp charger circuits installed
Fifteen remaining charging stations set, wired, terminated, and commissioned during the electrical expansion
More than 150 protective bollards installed across the main facility and companion charging area
Three high-speed overhead doors and two dock-to-ground ramp systems installed
Approximately 1,500 linear feet of perimeter fencing, two vehicle gates, and a powered guard station completed
Electrical, building, and fire-safety inspections completed for operational turnover