Workplace EV Charging: A Planning Guide for UK Businesses
Workplace EV charging can support company vehicles, employees, visitors and customers, but the right installation depends on how the site will actually use it. Starting with vehicles and parking behaviour—rather than simply choosing a charger—helps create a system that is practical today and capable of expanding later.
1. Decide who will use the chargepoints
Define the main use case before considering hardware. A site may need charging for:
- Company cars and vans
- Employees’ private vehicles
- Customers and visitors
- Shared or pool vehicles
- Delivery or operational fleets
- Guests at hotels or leisure venues
Each group may have different parking times, charging needs and payment requirements.
2. Understand parking behaviour
Record how long vehicles normally remain on site and how frequently bays turn over. A vehicle parked throughout the working day may not require the same charging speed as a fleet vehicle that must return to service quickly.
Consider shift changes, overnight parking, accessible bays and whether non-electric vehicles might block charging spaces.
3. Review electrical capacity
A professional site survey should review the incoming supply, distribution equipment, proposed cable routes and available capacity. Installing several chargers does not necessarily mean they must all draw their maximum power simultaneously.
Load management can distribute available power between connected vehicles and help avoid unnecessary increases in electrical capacity. Future solar panels or battery storage may also influence the design.
4. Select suitable charging speeds
The appropriate charger depends on vehicle compatibility, dwell time and site capacity. Faster is not automatically better. For many workplaces, a managed lower-power charger can replenish vehicles during a normal working day while reducing pressure on the electrical supply.
Fleet operations with short turnaround times may need a different solution and a more detailed review of routes, mileage and charging windows.
5. Decide how access and payment will work
Businesses should decide whether chargers will be restricted to approved users or made available more widely. Useful software features may include:
- RFID cards or mobile-app access
- User and energy reporting
- Tariffs or reimbursement records
- Remote monitoring and fault alerts
- Scheduled charging
- Load management
- Integration with fleet systems
Check the ongoing software, connectivity and support charges as part of the full cost.
6. Plan installation and future expansion
Groundworks and cable routes can account for a significant part of an installation. Even if a business begins with only a few active chargepoints, it may be sensible to prepare additional bays while the site is already being worked on.
Consider traffic flow, protection from vehicle impact, lighting, signage, accessibility and the ability to maintain the equipment safely.
7. Check current grant support before installation
The Workplace Charging Scheme is currently available to eligible businesses, charities and public-sector organisations across the UK. For qualifying installations completed from 1 April 2026, the scheme can cover up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across an applicant’s sites.
The scheme is currently scheduled to run until 31 March 2027. Eligibility and technical rules apply, an authorised installer must make the claim, and installation must not take place before the required approval has been received. Government grant rules can change, so current guidance should always be checked before committing to work.
Questions to answer before requesting a proposal
- How many vehicles need charging now and in the next three years?
- Who will use the chargers?
- How long does each vehicle remain parked?
- What daily mileage must be replaced?
- Is charging required overnight?
- Will users pay for charging?
- Are additional sites likely to need chargers?
- Is solar or battery storage planned?
Arrange a commercial EV charging review
ABSS can help businesses explore workplace, fleet, visitor and commercial EV charging options based on their premises and operational requirements.
Explore commercial EV charging solutions or request a free EV charging review.
Frequently asked questions
How many workplace chargers should a business install?
The answer depends on current and future vehicle numbers, parking duration, mileage and available electrical capacity. A phased design can allow expansion without installing every charger immediately.
Can employees pay to use workplace chargers?
Many networked systems support user access, tariffs and reporting. The required software and ongoing fees should be reviewed before choosing equipment.
How much is the Workplace Charging Scheme grant?
Current guidance allows eligible applicants up to 75% of qualifying costs, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites. The scheme and each site remain subject to eligibility rules.
Official guidance: GOV.UK – Workplace Charging Scheme guidance for applicants and 2026 EV chargepoint grant changes.
