Benefits of providing workplace EV charging

According to a recent report from property firm, Knight Frank, the number of registered Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Scotland rose 115 per cent between the third quarter of 2018 and Q3 2020, taking the total number to 22,095 at that point – slightly ahead of the 103 per cent increase seen across the UK over the same period.

With this in mind, it is easy to see why more and more workplaces are opting to install charging stations at their premises for the use of staff, visitors and even company vehicles.

How does the technology work?

While battery technology continues to evolve and new EVs are coming to the market with a 300+ mile range from a single charge, the majority on the road still have a range of around 150 miles, which for most people will be sufficient for the daily commute, but for others will mean a top up away from home is needed.

This is where the company can provide something really meaningful for staff – by providing free onsite charging, staff may be more likely to make the switch to electric cars, benefiting them financially but also having a positive impact on the environment.

It is true that EVs can charge through a regular ‘3-pin’ outdoor socket, but this is slow and puts additional strain on the electrical system of your building. A dedicated charger will charge faster and installed with a separate circuit-breaker meaning if it were to trip, the building and vital systems such as fire alarms, security systems and IT servers would be unaffected.

What kind of charger do we need?

Most chargers on the market today are ‘smart’ meaning they can be controlled remotely via an app, or set on timers so they will only charge within working hours for example – meaning your premises don’t become a free filling station in the evenings.

There are two main types of charger you will come across – tethered and untethered. A tethered charger has the charge lead hardwired into it meaning it can’t be removed. These have the benefit of not requiring drivers to have their own cable in the boot, however with most newer vehicles and chargers having a ‘Type 2’ plug, and some older EV’s (particularly from manufacturers such as Nissan and Kia) having ‘Type 1’ plugs, these would be incompatible.

An untethered charger, with a Type 2 socket will tend to be cheaper and more flexible meaning pretty much any car can use it.

There are other features you may wish to consider too – if your building has Solar PV, the Zappi charger from MyEnergi is designed to work seamlessly with your solar system, whereas others such as the Rolec EV SecuriCharge has two sockets in one, meaning you can provide double the charging ports without having to invest in double the infrastructure – a good rule of thumb would be one charger per 3 EVs that may use it.

How much do workplace chargers cost?

While many businesses may see the benefit of providing workplace chargers, the costs involved may seem prohibitive – particularly with many companies likely to move to a blended working environment post-Covid.

A double charging unit is likely to cost around £2,000 fully installed, however there is financial support available across the UK, but even more so in Scotland.

To help with the cost of installing workplace chargers, there is financial help and incentives available from both the UK Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV ) and the Scottish Government (via Energy Saving Trust – EST) totalling around £600 per unit with funding for up to 40 sockets per business available.

If workplace EV charging is something you are considering, we are an OZEV and EST approved installer, meaning we can apply for UK Government funding on your behalf and your project will be eligible for the Scottish Government grant too.

To find out more and discuss the options available, get in touch with us for a no-obligation chat.

Benefits of providing workplace EV charging

How does the technology work?

What kind of charger do we need?

How much do workplace chargers cost?

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