What is workplace EV charging? Grants, rules and benefits explained
Want to charge your EV while you're in the office? Here's everything you need to know
Charging your electric car while you’re at work is becoming more common and popular. The convenience of charging the car’s battery while it’s parked and you’re working makes perfect sense, and it can save you and the company substantial amounts of money and time.
As many businesses look for ways to reward staff beyond a pay rise or bonus, workplace EV charging has grown along with the rapid rise in the number of EVs on the road. Companies also see this as a good way to encourage employees back into the office rather than working from home.
For employees, workplace EV charging can reduce costs and help some drivers make the switch to an EV if they don’t have handy home charging.
There are some conditions applied to businesses looking to offer workplace EV charging. Read our guide to find out all you need to know.
Why should a company install chargers at its workplace?
Many company car fleets have moved over to electric cars for the financial and environmental benefits they offer. As the public charging infrastructure can sometimes be patchy, it helps employees make a smooth transition to EVs if they can charge their car while at work.
This is a benefit a company can offer to employees either with a small fee to use the charger at work or for free to staff. Most businesses with workplace EV charging facilities provide it for free to employees as a further incentive to choose an electric company car.
Even providing the charging for free, businesses can still save money on their vehicle fuel bills as employees will not be putting in expense claims for EV charging at more expensive public chargers. There is also the reduced Benefit in Kind tax payments, plus workplace charging helps a business towards its environmental and sustainability targets.
What workplace EV charging grants are available?
Businesses can claim a grant from the Government called the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) that is offered by the Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). This reduces the cost of installing EV chargers for staff by up to £350 per charger, with a maximum of 40 chargers per business.
This allows for chargers to be installed at more than one site, so you could have 25 chargers at one location and 15 at another. A business will either need to own the land where the chargers are being installed or have written permission from the landowner.
To qualify for WCS, a business must have enough off-street parking dedicated to staff or fleet cars. It must not be used by the public during office working hours and must also be within a reasonable distance of the workplace.
To apply for the WCS, you do not need to have any EVs on your company fleet or staff using an EV, but the business will need to demonstrate an interest in EVs or the future need for the company.
If the application is successful, a voucher will be issued and this is valid for 120 days. When the business has chargers installed, the work must be done by an OZEV-approved installer.
What are the benefits for employees?
Whether you have a company EV, use an EV from a pool of fleet vehicles, or drive your own electric car, being able to charge up at work is a great advantage. It means you don’t have to worry about finding a suitable public charger that’s available and working, and you don’t have to pay for it - most businesses offer workplace EV charging for free to staff.
Employees who don’t have home charging are encouraged to switch to an EV if they can charge at work. A study by the Department of Energy in the US shows staff are six times more likely to choose an electric car if they have access to workplace charging. This has cost-saving implications for staff through reduced charge costs and lower vehicle running costs than an equivalent petrol, diesel, or hybrid car.
What about employees who work from home?
If you own a business and work from home you can still claim the Workplace Charging Scheme grant. Your business will have to prove the address is listed as your place of work with Companies House and is recorded on your business rate bill by your local council or Land and Property Services (LPS).
There are other requirements to qualify for the WCS if you work from home. There must be off-street parking where the charger is proposed to be installed, the charger must be eligible for business use, and must be fitted by an authorised installer.
A business can also install a chargepoint at an employee’s home for a company vehicle if the member of staff cannot charge their vehicle at work. This would apply to staff who work offsite, for instance. The business will need to supply the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) with evidence the employee works for the company and has given permission for the charger to be installed by an authorised fitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Even if companies charge a small fee to staff for using a workplace charger, it’s cheaper than most rapid public chargers that can cost up to 80p per kWh. However, most businesses provide workplace EV charging for free to staff.
If you can charge at work, it might also mean you don’t have to pay to have a home charger installed.
Thinking about making the switch to an EV? These are the best electric cars to buy...
