What does this ev charging station annual checklist cover?

15 items across 4 sections, covering before the shutdown, connections and heat, full function, space and access. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.

Who should run this inspection?

The licensed electrician on the annual service of the charging equipment.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

Once a year, when the unit can be locked out and opened, since the connection heat and torque checks need the enclosure de-energized and then loaded.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

9 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 12 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.

What most often fails an ev charging station annual inspection?

Feed lugs never retorqued after the first season of heat cycling, so a loose termination cooks under charge load. A full session never actually run, so a port that faults only at high current passes a visual and fails a real car.

Can I use this checklist in RTI?

Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

Free checklist

EV charging station annual maintenance checklist

The annual EV charging station service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against NEC (NFPA 70), manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Before the shutdown

Owner told and ports set unavailable before shutdown
Owner and any fleet or site manager told which ports go down and for how long, ports marked unavailable in the portal so no driver is cut off mid-session.
No photo
All feeds locked out and verified dead before opening
Every feed locked and tagged, or a plug-in unit unplugged and held under the tech's control, stored energy discharged per the manual and dead verified before the enclosure opens.

Connections and heat

Line and load terminations retorqued and inspected
Lugs and terminals torque-verified to the marked value with the unit locked out, re-torqued only where found loose, no discoloration, melting or corrosion.
Ground and bonding path verified continuous
Equipment ground and bonding connections tight and unbroken from the pedestal back to the panel, ground pin in the connector intact.
Enclosure interior cleaned and seals inspected
Interior vacuumed, no water tracks, insects or corrosion, door gasket and cable entry seals sound, drain or vent paths open.
Power contactor and relays checked for pitting and heat
Contactor and relay contacts viewed where the design allows, no pitting, welding or heat discoloration at the coil or terminals.
No photo
DC fast charger fans, filters and coolant serviced
Beyond the quarterly look: filters changed, fans spun free, heatsinks cleaned, and on liquid-cooled cables the coolant level and hoses checked per the manual.
No photo
Open-enclosure load survey run under the energized-work procedure
People clear, locks off by whoever hung them or the unit plugged back in, enclosure open only as the energized-work procedure allows, PPE from its arc-flash risk assessment; re-locked for any fix.
No photo
Connections checked for heat under charging load
Terminations and connector surveyed while charging, no hot spot at a lug, breaker or the handle compared to the rest of the run.

Full function

Complete charge session run through to a normal stop
Session started, held at rated current and stopped cleanly, delivered rate and any faults noted against the unit's rating.
Protective devices and disconnect functionally tested
GFCI/CCID trip and reset exercised, feeder disconnect operated, unit returns to a ready state after each.
Current limits, sharing cap and firmware confirmed with the operator
Each port's maximum current and any power-sharing cap matched to the design and breaker rating, firmware at the operator's supported release, updates only with the owner's agreement.
No photo

Space and access

Charging space clear and the unit accessible
Space not blocked or coned off, striping and signage legible, working clearance at the pedestal kept for service.
Enclosure closed, locks removed and each port ready
Enclosure closed and latched, any lock still on removed by whoever hung it, ports set available in the portal and each showing ready.
Per-port torque, heat and charge-rate results sent to the owner
Torque, thermal findings, delivered rates and settings changes recorded per port and given to the owner, with ports needing parts listed.
No photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Feed lugs never retorqued after the first season of heat cycling, so a loose termination cooks under charge load.
A full session never actually run, so a port that faults only at high current passes a visual and fails a real car.

Verified against

NEC (NFPA 70)

Common questions

6 answers

What does this ev charging station annual checklist cover?: 15 items across 4 sections, covering before the shutdown, connections and heat, full function, space and access. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
Who should run this inspection?: The licensed electrician on the annual service of the charging equipment.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: Once a year, when the unit can be locked out and opened, since the connection heat and torque checks need the enclosure de-energized and then loaded.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 9 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 12 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
What most often fails an ev charging station annual inspection?: Feed lugs never retorqued after the first season of heat cycling, so a loose termination cooks under charge load. A full session never actually run, so a port that faults only at high current passes a visual and fails a real car.
Can I use this checklist in RTI?: Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

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Run it with the Photo Gate

A checklist nobody can submit half-finished

Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 12 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.