EV Charger Installation On Your Business Premises – What’s Involved?

This guide walks you through what to expect when planning your charging setup. We cover everything from understanding costs to making smart decisions that future-proof your business.

• Book a site survey for expert guidance on layout, hardware, and feasibility
• Assess your power capacity to avoid costly upgrades
• Match charger speed to usage – fastest isn’t always best
• Plan for real-world demand from employees, fleets, or customers
• Consider installation variables, such as permissions, cable runs and groundwork

Book an EV Charger Site Survey

In 2023, a survey in the US by CBR[1] found that 30% of companies favour offices or premises with EV chargers, and that rises to 40% at large companies. As more employees return to the office, EV charger installation can be an excellent employee perk.

Likewise, if you operate (or plan to) a fleet of commercial EVs, on-site charging makes practical and financial sense. In fact, according to Imperial College London[2], the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) had already contributed to the installation of over 50,000 business EV chargers by January 2024.

Assuming that you have a fair idea of what you are looking for and what you need, you should contact a reputable charge point operator (CPO), such as Mer, to request a site visit before taking any further action.

The operator will be able to:

• Give guidance on the right hardware and charger speeds for your specific needs
• Identify ideal locations for your charging infrastructure
• Find out if any capacity upgrades or ground work are required
• Discuss requirements for load balancing
• Give you a quote for commercial EV charger units and installation
• Help you understand which EV fleet infrastructure ownership model is right for your business

Understand Your Site’s Electrical Capacity

An operator will need to assess your site’s maximum electrical capacity and the space capacity (the difference between the actual load used and the maximum available) to give you an accurate business EV charger installation​ quote. In some cases, your site may need a load balancer to support additional electrical load.

Choosing Your Commercial EV Charger Unit Speed

The number and type of EVs using your charging infrastructure will impact your choice of commercial EV charger, and how many.

Depending on power levels, your business will be able to install fast chargers 7.4kW up to 22kW or rapid/ultra rapid chargers up to 350kW.  And yes, fast and rapid chargers will mean a quicker charge time, but they will also increase the electrical load.

Remember that the number of vehicles being charged is closely linked to downtime. So specific business needs and operations may mean you regularly have a large number of EVs charging for a long time all at once.

So, if your business operates mainly during daylight hours and you plan to charge your fleet overnight, you will need more charge points, but they won’t necessarily need to be rapid/ultra rapid chargers. At the other end of the scale, if you’re operating around the clock, with vehicles coming and going, a mix of fast and rapid/ultra rapid chargers may be a better option.

Charge Points For Employees, Guests And Customers

If your charge points will be used by employees, guests and customers, you may not always know the EV model types. Instead, you should estimate usage based on what you do know or can find out. For example, how many employees have EVs? What’s your current customer and guest footfall, and can you estimate how many of those may use EVs?

The operator visiting you will be able to advise on the best speed of charger(s) to accommodate most vehicle models. At Mer, we tend to recommend starting off with a few chargers and assessing usage before expanding.

The Impact of Location on Electric Car Charger Installation Costs

Your final business EV charger installation costs will be heavily influenced by the distance between the charging station and the meter cupboard in your business premises. So location is very important. Even the length of cable needed underground will impact the price.

Likewise, the ground surface and existing infrastructure will also play a part. If complex earthworks and building work are required, costs will be higher.

Selecting The Right Commercial EV Charging Hardware

To work out what type of charging hardware you need, you’ll need to know the answer to the following questions:

• Where will your EV chargers be installed – outside or in a sheltered car park?
• Will you need the chargers to be pole mounted or wall mounted?
• Do you require tethered (with a cable) or untethered (without a cable) EV chargers?

Tethered vs Untethered Commercial EV Chargers

The advantage of choosing a tethered EV charger is that your employees won’t have to provide their own charging cable, especially now that many car manufacturers are moving to a Type 2 cable. However, having untethered cables allows for more flexibility for those EVs with a different connector.

Our commercial EV specialists will be able to give you further advice during your site visit.

Other Costs & Considerations

EV Charging Signage

If you want to mark out your charge stations, you may want to consider installing signage.

Council Permissions

In most cases, you won’t need planning permission for business EV charger installation, but you may if the installation is:

• Near a highway
• In a listed building over 1.6m in height (for ground-mounted units)
• More than 0.2 cubic meters in volume (for wall-mounted units).

Speak to your local council to ensure you have the right permissions.

Making The Right Choices During Installation

The majority of the costs connected to commercial EV chargers are often related to the day-to-day operating expenses, not the capital outlay. Understanding the points below in the early stages of getting set up will help keep your ongoing costs low.

• High installation costs: It’s important to choose experience over initial savings when it comes to installation. Some businesses have found themselves having to fund multiple site visits due to the use of inexperienced electricians. At Mer, we take care of you throughout the journey, from consultation to installation. We can guarantee a high level of customer service from experienced installers.
• Electricity connection costs: The costs of setting up a new electricity connection can be steep. Think carefully when it comes to installing your EV charge points. Are you able to select locations where a new charger can be installed and make use of an existing connection?
• Load balancing: If you opt for multiple commercial EV charge points, it’s possible the network will be planned for maximum load, which you will rarely need. Load balancing, provided by suppliers such as Mer, will prevent overloading of the electrical connection and help to lower connection fees and peak tariffs.

Electric Car Charging Points For Businesses

There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when it comes to EV charger installation at business sites. However, understanding more about the process and the impact of your choices, will help you make smarter decisions throughout and you’ll see the benefits long-term.

At Mer, we’ll work closely with you and your organisation to ensure you get the best commercial EV charging installation for your current and future needs.