EV Charging Solutions
Our electric vehicle charging guide has everything you need to know about charging your electric vehicle and how to take advantage of EV charge points at work.
The Government is committed to reducing 80% of carbon emissions by 2050 and is putting more pressure on UK businesses to make environmentally friendly choices when choosing the vehicles they provide for staff.
Get exclusive energy deals from our panel of trusted suppliers:
How To Charge Electric Vehicles
To charge your electric car, you need to plug it into a charging point, which you can have at home, at work, in public locations like the supermarket, or at service stations.
Depending on your EV model or the charge point you intend to use, you might need to take a separate charging cable. It is also advantageous to charge your vehicle whenever you park up, most destinations should have a charge point nearby.
You can start charging by plugging in, through an app (depending on your model), contactless card, or RFID card.
How To Charge An Electric Vehicle At Home
Charging your electric car at home is the most convenient option if you have off-road parking, especially if you can leave it plugged in overnight and are on an economy 7 or 10 tariff.
For the fastest possible charging speeds for your EV, a 7kW unit is the most popular option, as it provides 10-30 miles of range per hour when plugged in. It has built-in safety features and an option for wifi ability, to provide access to smart features like energy monitoring and software updates.
Home chargers are typically installed on a wall, closest to where your car will be parked for the night, and you can plug the attached cable into your vehicle to start charging. Most home chargers are available with a universal type 2 socket that you can plug into your car or plug your car into if you have separate cables from the manufacturer.
How To Charge An Electric Vehicle At Work
Much like charging your EV at home, it is a good idea to charge your car whilst at work, as it will be parked for an extended period of the day. Many businesses are implementing charging stations as additional employee perks or for ESG requirements.
Typical universal type 2 chargers, similar to home chargers will be installed in the workplace, so all you would need to bring is the cable for your car. Some businesses choose to have stations that start charging by simply plugging in, however, you may come across an RFID swipe care or an app on your phone.
Workplaces that have an electric fleet tend to install high-powered 50kW rapid chargers.
Can I Charge My Electric Vehicle At Work?
Many UK businesses have adopted EV technology early to gain a competitive advantage and improve their green performance and reputation. It can also lead to many businesses becoming equipped to handle the significant expansion of the EV market and attract top talent, and convenience for clients and customers.
If you are a business owner looking to install charging stations for staff members or visitors for sustainability/ ESG requirements, as an additional employee perk, or to charge an electric fleet, there are a few energy providers who offer this service.
How To Get An EV Charge Station At Work
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a grant businesses can apply for to reduce the cost of installing EV charge points in the workplace. It is capped at £350 per station, up to 40 sockets per business. Businesses, Charities, Public Sector Organisations, and Small Accommodation Businesses can apply. The contribution is limited to 75% of purchase and installation costs, and all charge stations must be installed by a qualified OZEV installer.
The scheme will help cover the cost of the full unit, including the charging cable and pin plug. If you would like to integrate your charger with smart home devices, you will need to make sure they're compatible. The WCS is a voucher-based designed to provide eligible applicants with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points.
Types Of EV Charging Stations
There are currently three types of car charging points on the market. Each charging point has been designed for different scenarios. For example, a home charge point will typically be a lower voltage so that users can charge an electric car overnight. They'll also integrate with a smart home. Businesses will require a quicker charge. Here are the types of chargers available:
- Standard (3-7 kW) - This is designed for home use with a much slower charge time of 8-12 hours. Charging at home will typically be overnight and you will need a driveway for home charging.
- Fast (7-22 kW) - This charge point is great for offices, business parks or anywhere with frequent visitors for a few hours. Charging will take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours.
- Rapid (50 kW) - Rapid chargers are mainly used for public charging. They're great in retail environments. Charging takes around 1 to 2 hours.
- Ultra (350 kW) - Ultra-rapid chargers offer the fastest speeds available at 350kw. Although few chargers can charge at this speed, it is expected that this will change as technology progresses.
For more frequent use, the charging cable and pin plug may become worn more quickly. So it's important to keep up regular maintenance and servicing.
At this moment, whilst becoming more popular, EV drivers will have to plan longer journeys. UK charging stations can use Zap-Map. Electric car users without a driveway may find themselves relying on public charging as currently, home charging cannot be installed for street parking.
How Much Is An EV Charger?
The cost for a home charger is usually around £500-600. A home charger is much cheaper than a business charging point as it requires less power for a longer charge. The average cost for a business charge point is between £1,000 and £2,000 plus VAT. Businesses often require a much faster charger as their customers will only spend a couple of hours on the premises.
There are also other annual costs to consider, such as energy, maintenance and warranties. Each EV charge point manufacturer will have variable costs. To charge an electric car, you will need to ensure you're on the right energy tariff.
Scottish Power EV Charging Tariffs And Installations
Energy supplier Scottish Power is now offering a range of products and tariffs to help homes and businesses install electric vehicle charge points.
Homeowners can benefit from a complete EV charger package including the installation of a charge point at their home and an EV energy tariff.
They also offer direct supply and installation to businesses across the UK with the option of combining charging solutions with 100% green energy. This includes:
- A range of charging points from fast, and rapid, to ultra chargers
- No upfront costs
- End-to-end support to manage your EV charge points
Compare Gas & Electric Tariffs
Get a comparison and start saving now