Business charging 

Business charging guide

The most cost-effective solution for charging your electric vehicles (EVs) is to install charge points at your business premises. You’ll then be able to take advantage of cheaper energy costs if you have them on your business tariff, whilst paying through your standard electricity bill will streamline the administrative cost of handling the payments. 

How much does it cost to install a charge point at my business? 

There will be an initial cost to installing them, but this will be made back in time compared to the cost of using public charge points. The cost of installation varies but is usually between £700-1000. 

It’s also possible to have this paid in part by the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) grant. Also called the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), the initiative reimburses 75% of the cost of both buying and installing a workplace charge point back to the customer, up to £350.  

If you have a charge point installed through us, we will process the grant application on your behalf and reduce the amount from your total bill. 

What type of charge points can I install at my business? 

There are three types of EV charging points available to install at your premises: 

• Standard (3-7kW) – best suited if you have one or two EVs. Charging takes approximately four to eight hours. 
• Fast (7-22kW) – best suited if you have multiple EVs or vans. Charging takes approximately two to four hours. 
• Rapid (up to 50kW) – best suited if you have larger fleets of EVs. Charging takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes. 

It’s also worth looking into the compatibility of each vehicle within your fleet before deciding which charging point is best for you. You may also need to buy extra cables to ensure your EVs can utilise these charging points. 

Are there any other benefits to installing them? 

Changing your fleet to EVs isn’t just cost effective in the long term, it also helps limit the environmental impact of your business. Switching to electric can be a vital part of increasing your business’ green credentials and achieving sustainability charters. 

It can also act as an employee incentive. If you have charge points and allow your employees to use them for their personal vehicles, you save them money. This can also be combined with green initiatives as part of a drive to encourage your employees to go electric. 

Will these charge points fulfil all the power for my business’ fleet? 

It’s worth remembering that for complete flexibility for you and your employees, charging EVs at your business premises is just one of your options. View our guides on how to make the most of both charging at public charge points and installing them at your employee’s home.

Can I earn extra profit from my charge points? 

Yes, as mentioned earlier, you can use your charge points as a revenue stream that either delivers a profit or contributes towards the cost of using them. How much you make depends on the tariff rates you set, which you will need to base on what is attractive for people to use.  Although not directly generating profit, you can also use your charge points to incentivise customers to visit your premises. This is particularly useful for destination businesses such as gyms and retail spaces.