An increasing number of businesses are installing EV charging units for employees and visitors with electric vehicles.
Workplace charging stations help make electric vehicles viable for business users with longer commutes and must be installed in the company’s car park or off-street parking.
While EV charging stations are similar to home based units, power ratings tend to be higher with more 7 kW and 22 kW units installed.
Business Units Are Often Double Socket, Allowing Them To Charge Two Vehicles At The Same Time. When Combined With Home Charging Workplace Charging Can Double The Daily Electrical Range Of A Vehicle, Making Use For Longer Distance Viable.
When Installing EV Charge Points In A Workplace It Is Important To Consider
- Differing charging connectivity needs: customer and visitor electric cars will have different charging connectivity needs, so it is important to install a charging point that is compatible with the widest range of vehicles possible.
- Type of charger: a wall-mounted Type 2 7kW charger is the most common charging point installed in a workplace because it is compatible with most of the best-selling electric vehicles and can charge a vehicle in around 3-7 hours depending on the model. However, if cost and space allows, a faster 22kW unit or rapid charger could be installed.
- Access protection: if you wish to install charge points in areas that are publicly accessible, prevent unwanted usage by installing a unit with either a key or RFID card.
- Back office management: most manufacturers offer a form of back office management to support reporting on energy use, charge point use and CO2 impact.
Benefits Of Installing EV Charge Points In The Workplace
-
Available funding – business owners can apply for a grant that will cover the cost of 75% of the installation costs as long as the charger and the installer are OZEV approved
-
New revenue – many EV charger providers have chargers specifically designed for commercial properties and include a ‘pay as you go’ feature installed.
-
Cost savings – a home charging point allows you to easily charge your car overnight while you sleep
-
Cost efficient – an electric vehicle is much cheaper to run compared to a standard petrol or diesel vehicle, helping you to manage a more cost-effective business fleet
-
Reduce carbon footprint - implementing electric vehicles helps your business reduce your CO² emissions and the amount of carbon tax paid on those emissions.
- Cater for a growing number of staff and visitors who need electric vehicle charging points
