In the UK, every 5th new car sold is an electric vehicle (EV), and with increasing fuel costs, it’s hardly surprising! While it’s evident that there has been an increase in the number of electric cars on our roads, the availability of EV charging points still needs to catch up. It is estimated that there needs to be at least four times the number of public electric car charging points by the end of 2030 to cater to the forecasted number of electric cars.
Installing EV charging points at your business will not only help solve this issue, it can also generate additional revenue for your business. Whether you’re an SME with a small office space, a large enterprise with a car park or a retail premises, installing EV charging points can help improve efficiency, convenience, and cost-effectiveness for your business.
The cost of charging point installations
The prices of electric vehicle charging points will depend on a number of factors, including the location of the charging points, whether they are single or multi points, or how fast they charge.
The good news is, there are grants available for small to medium businesses to help with the upfront costs.. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) also has a Workplace Charging Scheme to provide financial support for businesses looking to install EV chargers.
Applying for funding is easy
Rawson EV-Power can claim the OLEV grant on your behalf to support the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of your electric vehicle charge points. The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:
- £350 per socket
- 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCA) is available to any business, charity, or public authority with some conditions:
- You must have sufficient off-street parking which is only used by staff or the fleet and which must be either on-site or a reasonable distance from the place of work.
- While you do not need to currently have electric vehicles as part of your fleet, you will need to express an existing or future need for the business.
- You must have the charging station installed by an OLEV-approved WCS installer like Rawson EV-Power.
Ways to increase revenue with EV Charging point
There are various models that businesses can adopt to generate revenue from EV charging points. The first and most obvious is that revenue can be generated from drivers who pay to charge their vehicle. You can set your charging fees, making a mark-up on the energy used, and adjust them at any time.
Secondly, you can offer EV charging for free for customers. In return, they are likely to return to your store/business, stay for longer and as a result spend more money with you.
Other benefits of installing an EV Charger at your business:
Convenience
EV chargers make it convenient for your customers and staff who may have to travel long journeys and need to top up their charge whilst working or visiting your premises. This can be particularly useful for employees who need to use their car for visiting clients. Having convenient charging points at the office will save them time and help reduce “range anxiety”.
Improved visibility
EV charging points can put your business on the map with EV charging Apps such as Zap Map, Project EV Pro and Monta which give electric vehicle drives access to locate nearby sites with electric charging points.
Demonstrates commitment to the environment
Social responsibility for businesses today is a huge topic, and many companies are making great strides in reducing their energy consumption in day-to-day operations, introducing electric vehicles in their fleets and looking at carbon neutral initiatives. Installing electric vehicle chargers sends a clear and visible message about your environmental commitment as a business.
Customers stay for longer
If you have a retail business, EV charging points can attract customers to your premises and stay for longer whilst their vehicle is charging. And longer browsing times can increase the amount a customer spends with you.
The demand for EV charging is only set to increase and as a business owner, EV charging points are a beneficial way to boost your green credentials and give customers and employees added convenience.
No matter the size of your business and your EV requirements, Rawson EV-Power can provide personalised installation solutions to suit your company’s needs. Call their team on 01978 808517 to find out more.
