Electric Vehicles (EVs) are everywhere right now, dominating headlines and sparking conversations around office desks and dinner tables alike. The UK government’s recent announcement of the new Electric Car Grant will further fuel discussions. However, from an industry perspective, the bigger question is how will a scheme designed to accelerate EV uptake from 2027 impact the workplace?
It’s likely to raise concerns among employers and lead to questions from employees. In this blog, we take a practical look at what installing EV chargers at work really involves – from the benefits and barriers to the costs and key considerations every employer should weigh up before making the investment.
Should employees be charging cars at work?
According to the EVBox Blog, 34% of UK employees who drive electric vehicles already charge them at work. This figure is set to rise rapidly and for businesses offering workplace charging, it can deliver clear, tangible benefits:
- Boosted employee satisfaction: providing on-site EV charging shows you’re supporting your team’s travel needs.
- Stronger sustainability credentials: demonstrates commitment to ESG goals and green credentials.
- Access to government funding: The UK Workplace Charging Scheme (WSC) offers up to £350 per charging point (up to 40 sockets), helping reduce upfront costs.
Despite the many benefits, there are key challenges and costs that employers must consider before making the switch.
What are the challenges of EV charger installation?
EV charging points are still a relatively new thing. The first ever EV point installed in the UK was in 2009 but it wasn’t until 2019 when Tesco rolled out free charging at 100 of its stores that mainstream adoption truly began.
It’s one thing for corporate giants to install EV charging points, but the real challenge lies with SMEs. As employee expectations grow, how will smaller businesses keep up? Before giving in to staff demands, companies will need to carefully consider a number of constraints:
1. Electrical Capacity
Most workplaces, particularly SMEs, weren’t built with EV charging in mind. If your power supply can’t handle the demand, it may have impact on the system. Installing too many chargers could:
- Require more electrical supply than is currently available
- Slow charging speeds across the chargers
Sussex Facilities Management can help you by conducting an electrical load assessment to determine if your current infrastructure is suitable or needs upgrading with renewable sources such as solar panels and / or a wind turbine.
2. Installation and hardware costs with a policy on usage
Every business will be looking at the financial constraints EV chargers may impose. A standard AC charger costs between £1,000 and £1,500 with installation costs nearing 60 to 80% extra adding a significant expense if you’re planning to install several charges.
Additional equipment like load balancing tech or back-office systems may raise the total cost.
Businesses will also need to establish a clear workplace charging policy. Key questions will be asked about who can charge and when, will employees be charged to use it, and if so, how much? And how about visitors needing to charge-up. Ensure you have a policy that covers all eventualities.
3. Ongoing running and maintenance
Charging one car with a 60kWh battery could cost around £20 to £25 per session at commercial energy rates. Additionally, we recommend annual servicing, which we can incorporate into your FM plan, including PAT testing and condition checks.
What does the EV discount scheme mean for FM teams?
The new EV incentive scheme is expected to increase EV uptake, especially among private buyers and salary sacrifice users. You may be considering a fleet of EVs for your team as well.
For facilities managers, this means:
- Greater pressure to futureproof sites now
- Stronger demand for accessible, affordable charging infrastructure
- Increased need for internal energy and sustainability reporting
However, we hope that our practical checklist for FM teams will provide a useful starting point and answer some of the questions you may have. If you need further advice or support with planning, please get in touch with our team.
A practical guide for Facilities Management teams
- Conduct electrical load audits
- Estimate future demand (staff, fleet, visitors)
- Model impact on energy bills and grid capacity
- Explore grants and incentives (e.g. WCS)
- Install scalable smart-charging systems
- Develop clear internal charging policies
- Integrate into maintenance and capex planning
Workplace EV charging offers genuine benefits for staff and sustainability goals but the infrastructure challenges can’t be ignored.
Facilities managers are uniquely positioned to take the lead, ensuring sites are prepared, compliant and cost-effective.
Get in touch with Sussex Facilities Management today if you need our expert advice on this subject:
📞 01444 812 171
📧 admin@sussexfacilities.co.uk
