EV Charging for Small London Car Dealers and Used Car Lots

Independent car dealers, used car lots and small garages in London are selling more electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Customers expect them to arrive for a test drive with a charged battery, and to drive away with enough range to get home. That means having somewhere reliable to charge stock on site. This post covers what small dealers should plan for.

How much charging you need

Start with how many electric cars you usually have in stock and how quickly they need topping up. A small lot may manage with one or two 7 kW chargers that rotate between cars overnight. A busier forecourt may need more charge points, or a faster supply. See our guide on how long it takes to charge.

Supply and three-phase power

Many commercial premises have a three-phase supply, which allows faster AC chargers or more chargers running at once. If yours is single-phase, a survey will show what the supply can take and whether an upgrade from the network operator is worth it. See our post on three-phase EV chargers.

Where to put the chargers

• Near the bays where stock is prepared, so cars can be charged without being shuffled around.
• Where cables do not cross customer walkways.
• Protected from reversing vehicles by bollards or kerbs.
• With a cable long enough to reach cars with the charging port on either side.

Control who can use them

Chargers with RFID cards or app access stop passers-by from using them out of hours. Load management can share the available power between several chargers so the supply is not overloaded. Energy reporting helps you track the cost of preparing each car.

Also used by staff or customers?

If staff or customers will also charge their own cars, think about how you will charge for it. Our guide to workplace EV chargers covers staff charging, and our post on electric vans and trade fleets covers business vehicles.

Inspection and maintenance

Chargers used every day by different people wear faster. Include them in regular checks of the premises' electrical installation, and keep the installation certificate on file for your insurer.

Energy North Ltd installs chargers for small businesses across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EV charger installation page to book a site survey.