Commercial EV charging: what you need to know

What opportunities does EV charging offer to businesses? 

Installing EV charge points can help businesses to generate additional revenue in several ways. For retail, leisure and workplace environments, providing charging facilities makes these destinations more appealing to EV drivers. While drivers wait for their vehicles to charge, they are likely to spend money on food, drinks, and other services. This can boost overall sales and customer loyalty. 

The benefits of installing EV charge points for businesses 

• Retail - Attract EV drivers and encourage them to spend time and money at a location while their vehicle charges. 

• Workplaces – Making it easy to charge EVs at work can increase employee satisfaction and help support business sustainability goals. 

• Commercial properties - Attract and retain tenants by providing reliable EV charging services. 

Are there still grants for installing EV charge points? 

While individual homeowners may no longer have access to grants for EV charge point installations, there are still incentives available for landlords and commercial property owners.

EV charge point and infrastructure grants for landlords

EV charge point grant  

Provides either £350 or 75% off the cost of installing an EV charge point, whichever is lower. Each financial year, landlords can claim up to: 

• 200 grants for residential properties 

• 100 grants for commercial properties   

EV infrastructure grant 

Offers up to £30,000 or 75% off the cost of wider installation work necessary for installing multiple EV charge point sockets.  

This grant supports preparations for both current and future installations, covering expenses such as wiring and posts. The amount depends on how many parking spaces the work covers. 

Landlords can claim up to 30 infrastructure grants each financial year, but each grant must be used for a different property. 

For both these types of grants, the installer carrying out the charge point installation must be OZEV approved and the charge points must be approved models.  

Landlords must apply for the relevant grants online before the installer can start work. Once work is completed, the installer claims the grant and takes the amount off the invoice. 

Key considerations for installing EV charge points 

When planning to install EV charge points, you need to consider the following factors: 

• Usage patterns: Understand who will be using the charge points and when. Residential properties typically need overnight charging, whereas businesses with fleets may demand faster charging 24 hours a day.  

• Public vs. private use: Will charge points be available for public use and will access be restricted or unrestricted? Consider if certain vehicles will need to take prioritised charging times. 

• Access and payment: How will drivers access and pay for charging? 

• Management and maintenance: Who will be responsible for maintaining the EV charge points and fixing any issues? Some charge point manufacturers offer a package of support services. 

What type of EV charger is best for commercial use? 

For commercial use, the best type of EV charger depends on several factors such as charging speed, cost, and expected usage patterns.  

AC or DC charging: Which is the best choice? 

All electric vehicles use DC power stored in their batteries. When charging using AC power, the vehicle’s onboard inverter converts AC into DC power. Generally, this means that DC charging is quicker, but there are other advantages to AC charging. 

Benefits of AC charging for businesses 

• Lower installation costs: AC chargers are less expensive to install compared to DC rapid chargers. 

• Easier to install: AC chargers often require less complex infrastructure and electrical upgrades, making them easier and quicker to set up. 

• Lower and less frequent maintenance: As AC chargers are relatively simple to install and set up, they require less maintenance than DC chargers. 

• Ideal for locations where vehicles are parked for longer periods: AC chargers provide an efficient charging solution for workplaces, shopping centres, and residential areas. 

Drawbacks of AC charging for businesses 

• Slower charging: AC charging can take several hours to fully charge a vehicle, which may not be ideal for high-traffic commercial areas needing quick turnarounds. 

When is AC charging the best option for business? 

AC charging is ideal for businesses in locations where vehicles will be parked for several hours, such as hotels, workplaces, or shopping centres. It’s cost-effective and easier to install. 

Benefits of DC charging for business

• Faster charging: DC fast chargers can charge a vehicle up to 80% in 20-30 minutes, so are suitable for locations where there’s a demand for a quick turnaround to service multiple vehicles. Ideal for motorway services, fast-moving fleets, delivery or logistics. 

• Convenience: DC charging provides a speedy option for drivers in a hurry, potentially attracting more customers to businesses. 

• Higher revenue potential: Faster charging times mean more vehicles can be charged per day, increasing revenue through charging fees. 

Drawbacks of DC charging for business

• Higher installation costs: DC chargers are significantly more expensive to install due to the need for advanced infrastructure and higher power requirements. 

• Complex installation: DC chargers often need substantial electrical upgrades. 

• Higher maintenance: DC chargers often cost more to maintain compared to AC chargers due to their complexity. 

When is DC charging the best option for business? 

DC charging is a good choice for high-traffic areas where rapid charging is essential, such as motorway service areas or urban centres. Though it has higher upfront and maintenance costs, the fast-charging capability can attract more customers and generate more revenue. 

Ultimately, the best choice depends on business location, customer needs, and budget. Some businesses opt to offer both types to cater to different customer requirements. 

Fully funded EV chargers for your business customers 

Installing EV charge points commercially comes at a cost. But there are different funding options available to make it a more attractive option for business.  

Rolec EV and Wattif EV Partnership 

Rolec EV has partnered with Wattif EV to offer flexible, fully funded financing options to businesses ready to install smart commercial EV chargers. This means your customers can upgrade to Rolec's quality, smart chargers, without any upfront costs or financial risk. 

As their trusted electrician, you simply provide system design, installations, and maintenance while tapping into the high-growth EV charging market. 

There are three funding options available: 

• Fully funded: With no infrastructure costs the fully funded option offers businesses a turnkey or plug-and-go solution. Wattif provides full charge point site management and the business gets 20% of the revenue generated. Ideal for businesses that want to provide public EV charging without upfront investment. 

• Part funded: The business and Wattif share costs and revenue 50/50 and Wattif manages the charge point site. This scheme is eligible for OZEV grants, making it ideal for businesses that want to install commercial EV charge points and share the costs and revenue.   

• Monthly subscription: With no upfront costs, access to OZEV grants, and Wattif taking on full site management, this option is perfect for businesses wanting to offer EV charging but not looking to generate or share revenue. 

Shop our range of Commercial EV chargers

Helping you find the right commercial EV charging solution 

EV charging is always changing, so staying updated is important. Contact our Renewables team for expert advice to help you find the best commercial EV charging solutions for your customers. Visit cef.co.uk/renewables for more information or ask in your local branch.