EV Charging Station Installation Guide for Businesses
Installing EV charging points is a positive step if you’re a business looking to boost your eco-friendly initiatives.
But how do you go about installing one at your employees’ home or your workplace? Well, we’re on hand with this feature guide into just that! Read on for the key EV charging station installation tips you need.
Who installs EV charging stations?
Qualified electricians. Plain and simple! You can’t install an EV charging station by yourself. You must have a qualified electrician to do it. Not only that, they also need training with EV manufacturers so they know exactly about EV charging needs.
It’s the safest choice available to your business and certainly the most convenient. The electrician will:
- Bring the hardware to the site you want and have all the relevant cables and tools needed straight away.
- Have experience of setting up stations, which’ll let them deal with any issues that arise during the installation.
It’s a tricky process. And not one you can do yourself. What, then, do you need before booking your electrician? Let’s get into it!
EV charging station installation step-by-step guide
Okay, think of these five steps as a business guide for installing EV charges at your workplace (we cover employee home installations further below).
Getting a charge point installed isn’t simply a case of buying it from a store and setting it up at home like it’s a barbecue. Think of it as:
- Assessment and planning.
- Getting your hardware.
- Installation.
And we’ll break those down into a five-step plan for you to follow.
Step 1: Choose your charging station
First off, you need to pick your charge station provider. There are many on the market and they all provide different benefits for different businesses.
Your best bet is to compare the market with us. It’s free to do and we’ll guide you directly to the charge point best suiting your business.
This’ll also save you a lot of time (as well as money), with tailored recommendations for the charge station with your business’ name on it.
Step 2: Pick tethered or untethered chargers
Okay, so what’s the difference? Pretty simple:
- Tethered chargers have a cable attached.
- Untethered chargers don’t.
The tethered chargers have a cable for type 1 or 2 sockets, which means you don’t have to store a cable in your EV. The downside here is you could end up with an outdated charge point should EVs move on from type 1 or 2s. Plus, there’s a fixed cable length you need to deal with.
On the flip side, untethered chargers keep things looking neat and tidy without a cable cluttering the place up. However, you’ll need to have a cable and keep it in your EV. Lose it? Well, it’ll cost you about £100 for a replacement.
Our verdict? Untethered gives you more flexibility, so it’s a popular choice. But it’s down to whatever suits your business the most!
Step 3: Choose where to put your charge point
Whether you’re installing units at your workplace or employees’ homes, you’ll need to have a think about where to put them.
You shouldn’t just pick anywhere on a random whim, think carefully about the right place. You’ll want to consider whether:
- The charger is hidden from view.
- You use tethered or untethered cables.
- You can get good access to the socket on your EV.
- The length of the charging cable is enough.
- You can get access to Wi-Fi.
Consider all of those points carefully before going ahead and booking your installation date. If you pick a bad spot, it’ll prove troublesome in the long run.
Step 4: Book your qualified electrician
There are full business services to help you out with this. Ultimately, when you’re sorting out buying your unit, you’ll get instructions from the providers on the best route to take.
Once you’ve got the initial planning sorted, the next thing you need is your specifically qualified electrician.
Again, it must be a qualified electrician and one with specialist knowledge with EVs. Don’t think you can skip the queue and do it yourself, or through unqualified services, because that can backfire badly for you.
It either won’t get done properly or you’ll potentially damage your EVs. Always take the qualified route! That way you can make the most of your electric vehicles.
Step 5: Get charging!
That’s it! Once the electrician gives you the all-clear, you’re ready to roll. Plug your EV and charge away.
But don’t forget to check out our EV charging best practices to make sure you’re keeping your electric battery healthy.
iCompario tip: Get a helping hand from charge cards
Want to cover all your bases? Then an EV charge card is another range anxiety destroying step for your business.
All you need to do for these is compare the market, pick your provider and then you’ll be covered across a network of 100s of EV charge points across the UK. You and your employees can then use charging stations and pay with the card. Simple!
EV charging station installation cost
The cost to install home EV charging stations differs for a few reasons. It depends on the provider. Plus, it’ll also depend on the charger power.
Here’s an example of the different costs to expect:
- 3kWh charger: £250-500
- 7kWh charger: £450-£800
Not exactly cheap, then, but it doesn’t break the bank too much. The energy tariff you’re on will also affect how much it costs in the long-term to keep charging EVs. Factor that in when you’re looking to install a station, otherwise you might end up going over your budget.
But remember, if you’re struggling with EV charging stations costs then you can turn to the UK government’s Workplace Charging Scheme.
iCompario tip: Take advantage of the Workplace Charging Scheme
UK businesses can use the Workplace Charging Scheme to help with the installation of charging stations at your business. You need to apply for this to get an OZEV voucher.
With this government scheme, you can cut back on the costs of installing charge points at your business premises or your employees’ homes.
EV charging station home installation
All of the above are super important if you’re installing stations at your employees’ homes. Naturally, you’ll want to speak to them to work out the best location for the station.
To install EV charging stations at home, it’s the same process as with your business. Five steps once again:
- Choose the charge station
- Pick from tethered or untethered
- Choose the installation location
- Book the electrician
- Start charging!
Only this time, you’ll have to have more open discussions with each employee about where they want the unit.
That means it’ll take a big longer to sort out. But think of the long-term benefits for your business and employee, not least as when staff charge at home they’ll use a cheaper energy tariff. You’re saving money this way in the long-term.
What’s the best EV charge point for your business?
Okay then, what’s your best EV fleet charging solution? You can read our full guide to EV chargers on that link back there. But in summary, some of the best charge points are:
- EO Genius 2: Fast and reliable, this can charge at speeds of up to 22kWh. On a smaller budget? It’s also an ideal option to keep costs down.
- Easee Charge: Stylish and secure, this universal charger looks the part and comes with a three-year warranty.
- Teltonika TeltoCharge: Got a big budget? This premium charger is one of the best on the market and can charge at speeds of up to 22kWh.
Don’t forget to check out our guide to the best EV charging practices, too. It’ll make sure you don’t damage your EV battery life so your business can stay on the go for longer.
And you can compare the market to find the best deals for your business! It’s free to do and you’ll find deals in around 30 seconds.
Compare the market to find the best charge point deals
Are you ready to get on with EV charging station installation? Ready to pick your EV charge point? Compare the market to find the best deals for your business. All you have to do is:
- Enter a few business details.
- We search the market (it’s free!).
- Get your recommendations.
Pick from the providers you get for the very best charge point deals. It’ll save you time and money, while ensuring you get the best EV charges on the UK market.
