As the UK transitions towards sustainable transportation, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to surge. With this increasing popularity, businesses across the United Kingdom are recognising the importance of providing convenient and accessible EV charging facilities across the UK.
In fact, commercial EV charging stations can bring multiple benefits; customer attraction and retention from EV drivers, increased foot traffic and revenue and showcasing a commitment to sustainability.
However, as with any infrastructure investment, it’s crucial to understand the costs associated with commercial EV charger installations. From charger manufacturers and installation costs to ongoing operational expenses, there are various factors that businesses need to consider when planning and budgeting for their charging infrastructure.
In this blog, we will delve into the details and uncover the key cost considerations for commercial EV charger installations in the UK.
Broadly speaking, a commercial electric vehicle charger costs around £1,500-2,000 per socket in the UK. However, it’s important to note that the total expense of installing a commercial EV charging solution can go beyond this base figure. With prices ranging from £2,000 up to three-figure amounts, the installation costs for commercial EV charging points can vary depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to customer-specific requirements, property types and the type of charger manufacturer.
Electric vehicles offer a range of charging speeds, each with its own charging rate; slow charging at 3kW, fast charging at 7kW or 22kW AC, and rapid charging at speeds of up to 150kW DC. The selection of the appropriate charging speed depends on the specific requirements of the company.
In commercial installations, the choice typically lies between fast and rapid chargers. However, it’s important to note that EV charging station costs increase as the charging rates go higher, particularly for DC commercial chargers. In fact, DC chargers are considerably more expensive than a 22kW fast charger, with costs starting from £30,000 and upwards, compared to 22kW AC chargers at prices of over £1,500.
Different manufacturers also factor into the equation of a commercial installation, with some EV chargers offering more advanced smart features, such as RFID card capabilities, or similar to the Sevadis unit – an LCD screen. Cleaner, sleeker aesthetics, apparent on chargers such as the Easee Charge, also cost more than their no-frills counterparts.
Learn more about the best commercial EV chargers on the market.
Naturally, the total cost of your installation will increase as you add more EV charging points. This ultimately depends on the specific needs of your business. Larger corporations that are likely to have extensive operations and higher demand for charging infrastructure may require an array of EV chargers to cater to their fleet or employee charging requirements.
Most commercial properties will have a three-phase electricity supply in place. However, if you’re a smaller business, such as a B&B or an independent shop, your property may have a single-phase electricity supply. If this is the case, you would need to upgrade your supply to be able to handle charging rates of above 22kW, or you’d be limited to a 7kW EV charger.
The DNO would have to undertake this upgrade, which can be time-consuming and costly (average cost of £4,500 – £6,000).
Groundworks, cabling, labour, and materials all factor into how complex a commercial electric vehicle installation cost will be. If the installation requires multiple days of work and involves a team of engineers, the expenses will be notably higher.
Additionally, if there is a need or want for bases or pedestals or if trenches need to be dug for cable routes, the commercial installation cost will increase accordingly. These factors should be taken into account when assessing the budget for a commercial EV installation.
Back-office systems are how companies manage the units and control the billing. Ultimately the costs vary from system to system, with some forgoing the initial fee but will subject you to ongoing subscription fees and/or transaction fees.
Some commercial EV charger manufacturers, such as the Sevadis and the Easee, come as standard with their own management software.
However, it’s important to note that if you want a more advanced billing solution, i.e., if you’re going to set different tariffs for different users, you will require a more advanced billing solution that will likely require an initial cost and or rolling payments.
Two government grants are available for those who want to invest in commercial EV charging facilities: the Workplace Charging Scheme and the EV Infrastructure grant.
Take advantage of the Workplace Charging Scheme, which offers government funding of up to £14,000 for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle chargers. This voucher-based program allows businesses, charities, and public sector organizations to receive up to £350 per socket, with a maximum of 40 sockets. Eligible entities can apply for this scheme, and it’s essential to act quickly, as the final application deadline is March 2024.
Prepare your business for the electric vehicle revolution with the substantial EV Infrastructure Grant, providing an additional £15,000 of funding. This grant can be utilised to invest in EV charging infrastructure now or to make necessary preparations for future charger installations.
Small to medium-sized businesses with a car park and no more than 249 employees are eligible to claim this grant. To qualify, the company must be registered at Companies House or VAT registered with HMRC. You can find the full eligibility criteria on our website.
By combining the EV Infrastructure Grant and the Workplace Charging Scheme, up to £30,000 of government funding is available to invest in EV charging facilities. Take advantage of these government grants to substantially decrease the cost of a commercial EV charging solution.
We offer comprehensive solutions for commercial EV chargers, handling every aspect of the process from start to finish. Whether it’s site assessment, back-office billing solutions, grant paperwork, installation, or ongoing support, we take care of all the technical details, ensuring a seamless experience for our clients. We work closely with businesses to understand their specific requirements and tailor solutions that optimise efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. No matter the size, whether it is one EV charger or one hundred, we can cater to your every need.
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This type of electric charger has it's own cable to charge your car.
This type of electric charger requires a seperate cable to charge your car.
Spread over a 60 month period.
Tenants and homeowners are eligible for finance.
You decide the amount of months.
Minimum of £1000.
We will contact you to process the credit application. Approval is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. 13.9% APR representative. T&Cs apply.
Your order is not confirmed until your application has been approved.
We lay SWA cable laid at 600mm deep, with a protective cable warning tape laid 150mm above the cable. These are laid on a sand or sifted sand soil bed then backfilled.
We position overhead cables at a minimum height of 3.5m and are run along a catenary wire. The cable run should not be accessible to vehicles.
Standard Installation
Our instant price is fixed if it falls within our standard installation package plus any additions that you have selected (extra cabling for example). This package covers the majority of homes in the UK. Before we undertake your installation we will carry out a digital survey to check that nothing has been missed. After reviewing the survey results some additional work may be required in order to complete your installation safely and to the required standards. If this is the case, we will contact you well before the installation date and advise the cost of any required work. You can then continue with your installation, or alternatively we will refund you in full if you do not want to proceed.
Included in our standard installation is :
• Fitting of a single phase charge point to a brick or plaster wall or other suitable permanent structure
• Up to 10 metres of cable, run and neatly clipped to the wall between the electricity supply meter / distribution board and the charge point.
• Routing of the cable through a drilled hole in a wall up to 500mm (20 inches) thick if this is needed.
• The fitting and testing of electrical connections and protections required for the charge point.
• An additional three way consumer unit, if required
• Installation of a Type A RCBO in an RCBO enclosure
• Up to 3 metres of plastic trunking to conceal interior wiring.
• An O-pen earth protection device if the charge point requires it. (This is NOT an earth rod)
• Up to 4 hours of labour from your installer to complete the work.
• Electrical testing of the whole installation.
• Handover and setup of the charge point and any app that may be needed.
Not included in our standard installation (additional work) :
• Where the installation requires additional cabling over and above the amount you have told us about.
• Upgrade/replacement of the main incoming supply fuse where the local DNO (eg Northern Powergrid) would need to attend site.
• If the charge point is to be mounted on a post/pedestal rather than an existing wall and where you have not selected a post as an extra cost option in your order.
• Installation of a charge point to a three phase supply.
• Where gas and water mains bonding (earthing) is not in place at your property. If this is not in place, additional work would be required before installation of the charge point.
• Any groundwork that has not been selected during the order process.
A Surge Protection Device is not included in our standard installation.
What else you need to know :
• On the day of installation, please ensure that the area around your consumer unit (fuse box), incoming electricity supply meter and proposed charge point location (including where the cable is expected to be run) is clear and free of obstructions.
• We will need your WiFi password as part of the installation process in order to connect your charge point to the internet. Please have this available for the installer. Details will not be kept.
• The charge point must be on your own designated off road parking.
• The charger will be fixed in line with current guidelines at a height where it cannot be hit by a vehicle.
• Our installers are not able to enter loft spaces; lift floorboards or flooring; take apart any furniture of work above a height of 2m. If you anticipate that any of this may be required, then please contact us and we can discuss in more detail and provide you with a quotation.
• Should there be extreme weather conditions our installers may not be able to continue with you installation if it is not safe to do so (for example flooding). They will always do their best to complete the work where they can.
If you have any questions then please contact our customer service team who will be happy to help. Please also read our terms and conditions.
