How Workplace EV Charging Works for Businesses

Workplace EV charging gives employees, customers, visitors or business vehicles somewhere convenient to charge while they are already parked.

For some businesses, it is an employee benefit. For others, it supports an electric fleet or gives customers another reason to visit and stay longer.

The technology itself is straightforward. The important part is choosing a solution that fits your site, available power and reason for installing it.

What is workplace EV charging?

Workplace EV charging means installing electric vehicle charging sockets within parking spaces connected to a business premises.

They can be used by:

• Employees
• Company cars and vans
• Customers
• Hotel guests
• Tenants
• Visitors
• Members of the public

A business can provide charging free of charge, recover the electricity cost or set a price that creates additional revenue.

How does workplace EV charging work?

The process usually follows six stages.

1. Decide who will use the chargers

Start with the reason you want them.

A small office providing employee charging will have different needs from a hotel, retail park or business operating a large electric fleet.

Consider:

• How many vehicles may charge each day
• How long they normally remain parked
• Whether charging is for staff, customers or both
• Whether drivers will pay
• How demand may grow over the next few years

This helps determine the number and type of sockets required.

2. Complete a site survey

An installer will assess the car park and electrical supply.

The survey should consider:

• Available electrical capacity
• Distance from the electricity supply to the parking spaces
• Cable routes
• Groundworks
• Charger positioning
• Mobile or internet connectivity
• Accessibility
• Potential future expansion

Some sites can install chargers using their existing supply. Others may need load management or an upgraded connection.

Government guidance explains the process for connecting EV chargepoints to the electricity network.

3. Choose the charger and access method

Workplace chargers are often designed around longer parking times. An employee may leave their car for the working day, while a hotel guest may charge overnight.

The right charging speed will depend on dwell time, vehicle demand and the power available at the site.

You will also need to decide how drivers access the charger.

Common options include:

• Contactless payment
• Mobile payment
• RFID cards
• An employee account
• Free access for approved users

PE chargers use a simple tap and pay system, allowing drivers to pay by card or smartphone without downloading a dedicated prepaid app.

4. Install and commission the equipment

Once the design is agreed, the installer completes the electrical work, fits the charging equipment and tests the system.

The chargepoints are then connected to the operating platform so usage, payments and charger status can be monitored.

New private workplace chargers are generally designed with smart functionality, allowing charging to respond to demand and helping sites manage available power. The Government provides further information on smart chargepoint regulations.

5. Drivers plug in and charge

The driver parks, connects their vehicle and starts the charging session using the access method chosen by the business.

Where payment is required, the system records how much electricity has been used and processes the charge.

The business can decide whether to:

1. Offer free charging as an employee benefit.
2. Recover the cost of electricity.
3. Apply a set price for visitors and customers.
4. Use different rates for different groups.
5. Generate revenue from each charging session.

6. Monitor and maintain the chargers

Connected chargers can provide information on:

• Energy used
• Number of charging sessions
• Charger availability
• Revenue
• Faults
• Peak charging times

This helps the business understand demand and decide when more sockets may be needed.

PE monitors its charging network through dedicated software and provides maintenance and technical support as part of its service.

How much does workplace EV charging cost?

The cost depends on the number of sockets, charging speed, electrical capacity and amount of installation work required.

Businesses purchasing their own equipment may be eligible for the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme.

From 1 April 2026, eligible organisations can receive support covering up to 75% of the purchase and installation cost, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites. The scheme is currently available until 31 March 2027.

You can check the current Workplace Charging Scheme guidance for eligibility and application requirements.

PE offers a different model for suitable sites. The chargers and installation are provided with no capital expense, subject to site eligibility and the agreed commercial terms. The business keeps the revenue collected from charging sessions while PE installs, operates and maintains the equipment.

What are the benefits for a business?

Workplace EV charging can help a business:

• Support employees moving to electric vehicles
• Prepare a company fleet for electric transport
• Improve the customer or visitor experience
• Generate revenue from existing parking spaces
• Increase customer dwell time
• Support sustainability plans
• Make a property more attractive to tenants
• Prepare for future charging demand

The best result comes from installing chargers for a clear reason, rather than treating them as a box ticking exercise.

Is your site suitable?

A site may be suitable where it has:

• Dedicated parking
• A suitable electricity supply
• Permission from the landlord or property owner
• Enough space for safe installation
• Regular vehicle traffic
• A genuine current or future need for charging

The final decision should be based on a proper survey.

Workplace EV charging with PE

PE provides business EV charging solutions for sectors including hospitality, retail, property, healthcare and commercial workplaces.

Our service covers charger installation, payment technology, monitoring, maintenance and technical support. Eligible businesses can offer convenient charging without funding the initial equipment and installation themselves.

Charging information can also be managed alongside wider utility data through Enfiniti.

Check whether your business is suitable for PE EV charging.

FAQs

How long does workplace EV charging take?

The charging time depends on the vehicle, battery level and charger speed. Workplace charging is often suited to vehicles parked for several hours.

Can employees charge for free?

Yes. The business can choose to provide free charging or charge drivers for the electricity they use.

Can customers use workplace chargers?

Yes. Chargers can be made available to customers and visitors where the site and access arrangements are suitable.

Does the business need a new electricity connection?

Not always. A site survey will confirm whether the existing supply is sufficient or whether load management or additional capacity is needed.

Who maintains the chargers?

This depends on the chosen provider and agreement. Under PE’s solution, PE manages and maintains the charging equipment.