How to get electric car charging points for my business

The move to electric vehicles is unstoppable and it’s a straightforward process to get electric car (EV) charging points for your business.

Workplace charging offers companies many advantages, from effective EV fleet management to supporting staff who have EVs, while encouraging others to join in the clean fuel revolution. Car charging manufacturers offer a wide range of commercial EV charging stations to meet business needs.

Electric vehicle charging companies

EV charging is not complicated – you are effectively simply plugging in the vehicle like a standard appliance, using the right charging cable, and there are a range of solutions from electric vehicle charging companies to meet every business need.

Companies can choose grant-funded workplace chargers, or commercial destination solutions which provide revenue streams, offering electric vehicle charging as a service to customers.

The commercial EV charging solutions provided by SaveMoneyCutCarbon are all Office of Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) approved, and grant fundable. They’re suitable for high usage environments as well.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon offers a full, end-to-end solution for commercial EV charging stations, including:

• Preliminary High Level Desk Based Design and Feasibility Study
• Required Site Surveys and Audits
• Full System Design and Specification
• Finance Solutions available to keep capital expenditure down.
• DNO Applications and Approval
• Associated Groundworks and Bay Marking
• Installation, Commissioning and Connections
• Back Office Support and Set Up
• After Care and Maintenance Contracts

EV options

There are very likely to be vehicles with different charging connectivity needs, so it’s worthwhile selecting an EV charge point from a car charging manufacturer that is likely to meet the widest range of needs.

In general, wall-mounted units cheaper to install but EV charging posts are also a good solution if this is needed. For businesses planning to make their charging point facilities  available to the public, access and payment solutions need to be considered. Charging point manufacturers in the main have units that use either a key or RFID card.

It’s also crucial to ensure that the EV charging point solution has back-office support that provides data on energy consumption, unit usage and other elements.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon partners with ABB to offer both the easy-to-use DC charger range and AC options. For example, the Terra DC54 wallbox is a great choice for commercial settings.

It’s ideal for all environments where faster charging is needed but where capacity may be limited. The smaller footprint ensures that the wallbox is also perfectly suited for multi-tenant properties and small residential communities such as retirement homes and care homes.

The range of Terra DC Chargers provide a choice of outputs – 50kW, 90kW, 120kW and 180kW – in both low-voltage and high-voltage configurations. They all provide quick, convenient and safe charging of all EV models, including those equipped with high-voltage battery systems.

The small footprint and all-in-one enclosure make the Terra DC range perfect for parking areas and fleet environments, as well as retail and shopping centres and motorway services. Options include including credit card payment terminal, custom screens and customised cabinets.

For a charging post solution, the Terra HP generation III is a perfect fit. It is a modular 175-350 kW high-power charger with a small footprint designed for a wide range of locations. It also features several authentication, payment and customisation options.

The ABB Dynamic DC power-sharing technology means that power cabinets can be connected to charge one vehicle at up to 350 kW and 500 A or two vehicles simultaneously at up to 175 kW and 375 A.

The ABB Terra AC wallbox 22kW range offer best value on the market with a broad range of connectivity options. The three-phase wallbox range deliver high quality value, futureproof flexibility, safety and protection.

Another option is the new Easee offering – a smart, simple and affordable solution for EV charging. Eesee products will become part of the future power grid, one that distributes power more efficiently and utilises existing capacity in the best possible way.

Easee Charge maximises the available electrical capacity in a building. When multiple Charging Robots are connected to the same fuse, the available energy on the circuit will be automatically and dynamically distributed between units.

Easee can charge on both 1 and 3 phase power and supports charging up to 22 kW. It has a Type 2 universal charging connector and several units can be connected in series, so allowing for simple expansion. The Easee Charging Robot is also 70% smaller than other solutions on the market.

Workplace Charging Scheme

The Workplace Charging Scheme run by OZEV provides grants for businesses, charities, and local authorities that cover 75% of the cost of installation, with a maximum £350 per socket and up to 40 sockets. And it’s not possible to apply for grants for EV charging stations already installed

These must provide a minimum of 3 kW, with the supply not diminished by charging multiple vehicles simultaneously. Companies cannot claim for existing EV charging points, as the grant is available only for new charge points yet to be installed. The company also has to have dedicated off-street parking for staff, visitors or fleet use.

It’s essential that the EV charging points are fitted by accredited OZEV installers (SaveMoneyCutCarbon is accredited).

Carbon goals

EV charging points also aid companies meet sustainability goals and keep ahead of evolving government regulations around the electrification of the transport sector.  EVs can reduce carbon emissions by more than 50% if the electricity used is from renewable sources.

The financial benefits are also very strong. For example, with an annual mileage of 19500, average petrol costs are currently around  £3,060 while for diesel it’s  £2,475. Compare that with EV, two charges a week on average tariff is about £827, and Eco 7 £275 a year.

As SaveMoneyCutCarbon’s EV specialist, I’m here to help, especially if you’re not sure where to start on your EV charging journey. We provide expert and easy EV charging point solutions along with advice for businesses and organisations. We are brand agnostic, so we’ll work with companies to find the right solutions for their needs, rather than just selling an own-brand charger. We only work with major manufacturers that meet our standards of quality and ongoing product support.