There are hundreds of reasons why you should consider having EV chargers installed at your business.
Not only do you receive preferential Benefit In Kind rates, but businesses can also claim back the full cost of an EV as a capital allowance (providing criteria is met).
You have already come to the right place to get EV chargers installed, now you just need to decide how to manage them.
Do you need speed charge points?
Alex Bamberg, managing director of Engie EV Solutions, states, “Organisations must also ascertain what power is available to them, as rapid chargers providing 150kW+ will clearly require much more power than smaller chargers offering 22kW.”
For many employees, at-work charging may be their most frequently used method and so you must consider how much power is required.
If employees are going to plug their car into a charger in the morning and unplug it at the end of the working day, a slower charger may be more appropriate to save money.
Where should EV chargers be located?
Chargers should be easy for your staff (or intended user) to find, but keeping them out in the open can also help demonstrate your company’s commitment to clean motoring to potential customers.
It is, however, also important to consider the cost of installation. The further away the charge points are, the more digging needs to be done.
How can you manage your EV chargers?
Ensure you have adequate signage and floor markings dictating who can park in charge points. You want to avoid non-electric cars parking in a charging spot.
You will also want to give all of your employees the chance to charge their EVs. This is a problem if a car is charged to capacity, but is not moved by the owner. To prevent this, you could assign shifts to people or organise a shared calendar.
Can I install an EV charger on rented property?
Many businesses have landlords, which means rental contracts dictate whether or not you can make changes to the property.
However, some tenancy agreements allow for improvements to be made to the building, and charge points can certainly add value to the landlord’s premises. Make sure you seek permission before you undertake any work! This also applies to leasehold buildings.
Should employees pay to charge their EVs at work?
Out of all EV drivers in the UK, around 40% charge their vehicles at their place of work and 20% would choose to if they could. This means EV chargers are valuable for hiring and retaining employees, saving you time and money in the long run.
There are much lower BIK payments for EV company cars (1-2% compared to an average of 24% in petrol/diesel cars) and charging an EV is often far cheaper than filling a diesel tank, so you save money as a business overall.
So, should you charge your employees?
If you do, it is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust that you charge it at a set rate for a set amount of time – e.g. £10 for 8 hours.
Charge & Recharge specialises in commercial EV charge point installations across the UK. Email us today at admin@chargeandrecharge.co.uk to get a free consultation!