What You Should Look for When Installing Your Commercial EV Charge Points

Installing EV charge points at your site is a smart move. It supports your business, your staff, and your customers.

But where do you start?

Here’s what to focus on when planning your commercial EV charging setup.

1. Power Supply and Grid Capacity

• Check how much power is available on-site.
• Speak to your DNO (Distribution Network Operator) early.
• Plan for both current and future demand.

Why it matters:
If your site only supports a few kilowatts, you’ll limit how many chargers you can install.

Ask yourself:
Will you need to upgrade the supply to add more charge points next year?

2. Charger Type and Speed

• Choose between AC (slow to fast) and DC (rapid) chargers.
• Match the charger to your users’ dwell time.
• Use AC for staff or fleet charging during work hours.
• Use DC for quick turnaround in retail or public settings.

Example:
A retail park with short visits needs rapid chargers.
A depot where vans park overnight can use 7kW or 22kW units.

3. Location on Site

• Place chargers where vehicles can park without blocking others.
• Keep cable lengths short to reduce cost.
• Allow space for vans or larger vehicles if needed.

Check this:
Will the charger location cause traffic flow issues?
Can you future-proof with space for more bays?

4. Charger Management System

• Pick a system that lets you control pricing, access, and energy use.
• Use smart load balancing to avoid supply overload.
• Monitor usage to make informed decisions later.

Look for:
OCPP-compliant systems that support multiple hardware brands.
This gives you more choice if you expand.

5. User Access and Payment

• Decide who can use your charge points: staff, public, fleet.
• Set up RFID, app-based access, or contactless payment.
• Ensure your system is compliant with new payment rules.

Question to ask:
Do you want to offer free charging to staff or charge per kWh?

6. Installation Partner

• Choose an OZEV-approved installer with commercial experience.
• Make sure they handle DNO applications and safety checks.
• Ask for references from similar projects.
• Confirm they can support multi-site rollouts under one contract.

Why this matters:
If you’re planning charge points across several locations—like offices, depots, or retail sites—you need one installer who can manage all of them.

Ask yourself:
Can this partner coordinate permits, grid checks, and schedules across different postcodes?

What to look for:

• A single point of contact for all locations
• Centralised reporting and charger management
• Proven experience delivering multi-site EV projects

Example:
If your business has ten branches across the UK, a scalable plan saves you time and avoids duplicated costs.

7. Ongoing Support and Maintenance

• Pick a supplier that offers full aftercare.
• Ask about warranties, callout times, and remote support.
• Track uptime and set service SLAs.

Why it matters:
If a charger goes offline, it affects your users and your business.

8. Grants and Tax Incentives

• Check if your project qualifies for OZEV or WCS grants.
• Factor this into your budget planning.
• Some businesses recover a portion of the cost through tax relief.

Action point:
Talk to your supplier about claiming the Workplace Charging Scheme.

EV charging at your site should support your business goals, not slow you down.

Plan it like you would any other infrastructure.
Start with clear requirements.
Pick the right equipment.
Work with the right partner.

That’s how you get value from your commercial EV charging setup.