Workplace EV Chargers for Small London Businesses

More London staff and customers now drive electric cars, and a charge point in the car park is becoming a real reason to choose one shop, office or workshop over another. For a small business, a workplace charger is simpler than it sounds, as long as the electrics are checked first. This guide covers what to think about before you book an installation.

Who uses a workplace charger

• Staff who cannot charge at home, especially those living in flats without parking.
• Company vans and pool cars that need topping up during the day.
• Customers and visitors who stay for an hour or more, such as at gyms, salons, garages and hotels.

How many chargers and how fast

Most small businesses start with one or two 7kW chargers, which add roughly 20 to 30 miles of range an hour. That suits staff parked for a working day. Faster three phase chargers make sense where vehicles come and go quickly, but they need a three phase supply with enough spare capacity. Smart chargers that share the available power between several cars let you add points without upgrading the supply straight away.

Check the supply and the board first

Before installing we look at the size of the incoming supply, the existing load of the building, the distribution board and the earthing arrangement. Older commercial boards often have no spare ways or no suitable RCD protection, and some sites need a new sub main to the car park. An EICR of the existing installation is a sensible first step, and it is something insurers and landlords usually want anyway.

Grants and rules

Government support for workplace charging has changed several times, so check the current Office for Zero Emission Vehicles schemes before you budget. All new chargers must meet the smart charging regulations, which means they are connected, can schedule charging, and have security built in. If you lease the premises, get the landlord's written permission before work starts, especially for cable runs across shared car parks.

Planning the installation

• Choose bays close to the board to keep cable runs short.
• Decide who pays for electricity and whether to charge staff or visitors through an app.
• Think about future bays and lay ducting now, while the ground is open.
• Protect wall and post mounted units from reversing vehicles.

For homes, see our earlier guide to whether you need a new consumer unit for an EV charger.

Book a site visit

Energy North Ltd installs home and workplace chargers across North, East and West London. Our City & Guilds certified electricians check the supply, recommend the right number of points and handle the certificates. See our EV charger installation page to get started.