Installing commercial EV chargers is a multi-stage project that combines electrical engineering, civil works, back-office software, and commercial strategy. Done well, it adds a visible amenity for customers and staff, provides a new revenue stream, and positions the business for the electric future. Done poorly, it creates a grid-connection bottleneck and a set of chargers that do not quite do what they were meant to.
This guide walks through the full commercial EV installation process for UK businesses.
Step One: Define the Use Case
Before any technical work, answer three questions about the use case.
One. Who is the charger for? Employees charging while they work (dwell time 8 hours), customers charging while they shop (dwell time 1-3 hours), or fast-turnaround travellers (dwell time 20-60 minutes)? Each drives a different charger power and count.
Two. How many vehicles per day will charge? This drives the throughput calculation. A rapid charger is wasted if only four cars a day use it. A slow charger is wasted if two dozen cars need fast turnaround.
Three. What is the business model? Free-to-use as customer amenity, pay-per-use as revenue, or mixed (customers free for an hour, then paid)? The model affects charger choice, software, and payment integration.
Clear answers to these three questions drive every subsequent specification decision.
Step Two: Site Assessment
A site assessment establishes what is physically possible.
Existing electrical capacity. What does the main incoming supply provide? What is the spare capacity after existing load? This is the single most important factor.
Proximity of chargers to the main distribution board. Long cable runs are expensive.
Civils: existing tarmac, curbs, drainage, and surface that needs to be crossed. Core drilling vs open-cut trenching is a major cost decision.
Parking layout. Can the proposed charger positions be served without rerouting traffic flow?
Planning and conservation constraints. Listed buildings, conservation areas, and some retail parks have specific requirements.
Fire safety and safety clearance requirements around chargers, especially in multi-storey or underground car parks.
Step Three: Size the Installation
Match charger power and count to the use case.
For workplace, 7kW chargers are usually sufficient. Most staff charge for 4 to 8 hours, and 7kW adds around 250 miles in that time.
For customer parking at retail, restaurants, and leisure venues, 22kW AC is a good balance of speed and cost. A 1-2 hour dwell gives 40-80 miles of range.
For customer parking at supermarkets and large retail, 50-75kW DC chargers support 30-45 minute dwell times.
For travel hubs (motorway services, hotel forecourts, fleet depots), 150kW or 350kW DC rapid is the standard.
Over-specifying power is a common error. A 150kW charger on a site where users average 20-minute stays delivers minimal extra benefit over a 50kW unit at three times the installation cost.
Step Four: Grid Connection Planning
For installations above a few 22kW AC chargers, the electrical supply becomes the binding constraint.
Check the main incoming supply capacity. The DNO will confirm the agreed capacity and any headroom.
If additional capacity is needed, submit a connection enquiry to the DNO. For small upgrades, a few weeks. For new HV connections with substations, five to nine months.
Consider smart load management to reduce the peak demand. Dynamic load balancing can reduce the required grid connection size by 30 to 50 per cent with minimal user impact.
Consider on-site generation and storage. Solar PV and battery storage can support charging demand, particularly for workplace and retail use cases with predictable daytime patterns.
Step Five: Charger and Software Selection
UK commercial EV charging is dominated by a handful of credible manufacturers. Pick based on:
OCPP 2.0.1 compliance for back-office interoperability.
After-sales support and firmware update policy.
Warranty terms (three to five years is standard).
Track record in the specific use case (retail, fleet, workplace).
Spare parts availability.
For software, choose a CPO (Charge Point Operator) platform that supports your commercial model. Pay-per-use chargers need payment integration, user management, and reporting. Workplace chargers may only need basic usage tracking.
Step Six: Planning Permission
Most EV charger installations do not need planning permission. Exceptions include:
Chargers in conservation areas or on listed buildings.
Very large installations that change the character of a site.
Sites where the local authority has specific planning policy.
Check with the planning authority early. Even when permission is not needed, some local authorities require notification.
Step Seven: Installation
Physical installation includes:
Civils: trenching, cable ducting, concrete pad construction for floor-mounted chargers.
Electrical installation: sub-main cabling, protective devices, charger termination.
Charger erection and connection.
Networking: charger communications to the CPO platform.
Testing and commissioning.
Typical installation time for a 10-charger site: one to three weeks on site, depending on civils complexity.
Step Eight: Commissioning and Handover
Each charger is tested, labelled, and commissioned. Standard compliance is BS7671:2018+A2:2022 (the UK wiring regulations).
Users are trained on any admin functions. A handover document lists the assets, their addresses in the CPO platform, warranty details, and support contacts.
Grants and Funding
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) provides up to £350 per socket for up to 40 sockets for eligible businesses. Application is through the OZEV portal.
The Local Authority Grant Scheme and similar regional programmes provide funding for local authority-led installations in residential streets and public car parks.
The Infrastructure Grant for Residential Carparks (EVICS) supports charger installation in flat developments.
Check current scheme terms because criteria change year by year.
Ongoing Operating Costs
Operating costs include:
Electricity consumption.
CPO platform subscription (typically £10-£30 per charger per month).
Payment processing fees for paid chargers.
Maintenance and servicing.
Insurance.
A well-run commercial charging site generates meaningful revenue on medium-to-high utilisation. A poorly-utilised site generates minimal revenue and may not cover its operating costs.
Typical Timeline
For a typical 6-charger commercial installation with adequate existing supply:
Site assessment and design: 3 to 6 weeks.
Equipment procurement: 4 to 8 weeks.
Civils and installation: 1 to 3 weeks on site.
Commissioning and go-live: 1 to 2 weeks.
Total: 10 to 18 weeks from start to live chargers.
For installations requiring a new HV connection, add 4 to 6 months for the DNO works.
The Bottom Line
Commercial EV charging is no longer an optional amenity. For many retail, hospitality, and fleet businesses, it is table stakes. Plan it as a proper engineering project: clear use case, accurate sizing, proper supply provisioning, and a well-chosen equipment and software combination. The installations that deliver value are the ones that match specification to demand from day one. The installations that disappoint are the ones that were specified in a rush against an arbitrary budget.