Key Takeaways
- The Workplace Charging Scheme grant increases to £500 per socket from April 2026 (up from £350)
- Businesses can claim for up to 40 sockets across all sites — the scheme ends March 2027
- Load management is essential for sites with multiple chargers to avoid expensive supply upgrades
- Three-phase power may be required for DC rapid chargers or large deployments
- Wire Now is an OZEV-authorised installer delivering commercial EV charging across London, Hertfordshire, and Essex
Why Should Businesses Install EV Chargers in 2026?
The business case for commercial EV charging in 2026 is driven by three factors: government grants covering a significant portion of installation costs, the accelerating transition to electric vehicles across UK fleets, and the growing expectation from employees and visitors that workplaces provide charging facilities.
With the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles approaching, businesses that install charging infrastructure now will be ahead of demand and can benefit from the most generous grant support before it ends in March 2027.
What Government Grants Are Available?
The UK government offers several grant schemes for commercial EV charging installation. The most significant for businesses is the Workplace Charging Scheme.
Read our detailed guide: Workplace EV Charging Grants 2026: How to Claim Up to £500 Per Socket
What Are the Installation Requirements?
Commercial EV charger installation involves several technical considerations:
- Electrical supply assessment — Determining whether the existing supply can support the planned number of chargers
- Cable routing — Running dedicated circuits from the distribution board to each charging point
- Load management — Implementing smart load management to share available capacity across multiple chargers
- Mounting and containment — Wall-mounted or pedestal-mounted units with appropriate cable management
- Signage and bay marking — Dedicated EV bays with appropriate signage
- Networking and billing — For sites requiring per-user billing or access control
All installations must comply with BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and be carried out by a qualified electrician. OZEV grants require an OZEV-authorised installer.
How Do You Choose the Right Charger?
Charger selection depends on your use case:
- 7kW (single-phase AC): Suitable for employee parking where vehicles are parked all day. Low installation cost, standard domestic supply compatible.
- 22kW (three-phase AC): Faster charging for shorter parking durations. Requires three-phase supply.
- 50kW+ DC rapid: For fleet vehicles or visitor charging where fast turnaround is needed. Significantly higher equipment and installation cost. Requires dedicated three-phase supply.
For most workplace charging scenarios, 7kW units with smart load management provide the best balance of cost and utility.
What About Electrical Capacity and Three-Phase Power?
One of the most common challenges in commercial EV charging is electrical capacity. Adding multiple 7kW chargers to a building can quickly exceed the available supply.
Read our guide: Three-Phase Power for Commercial Properties: When You Need It and What's Involved
Solutions include:
- Load management — Dynamically sharing available capacity across chargers based on demand
- Supply upgrade — Requesting additional capacity from the DNO (involves application, timelines, and costs)
- Solar PV integration — Using on-site solar generation to offset charging demand
How Do Multi-Tenant Buildings Handle EV Charging?
Multi-tenant commercial buildings present unique challenges for EV charging deployment, including shared electrical supplies, metering, billing, and the question of who funds the installation.
Read our detailed guide: Planning EV Charging for Multi-Tenant Commercial Buildings
What About Load Management and Smart Charging?
Smart load management is essential for any site installing more than 2–3 chargers. Without it, you risk overloading the electrical supply or paying for an expensive supply upgrade.
Load management systems monitor the building's total electrical demand in real time and dynamically adjust the power delivered to each charger. This means you can install more chargers than the raw supply capacity would suggest, because not all vehicles need maximum charging simultaneously.
How Long Does Installation Take?
Installation timelines depend on the number of chargers, electrical supply requirements, and site complexity:
- 1–4 chargers (existing capacity): 1–3 days
- 5–20 chargers (with load management): 3–7 days
- Large deployment (supply upgrade needed): 4–12 weeks (including DNO works)
How Wire Now Delivers EV Charging Projects
Wire Now is an NICEIC-approved, OZEV-authorised installer delivering commercial EV charging installations across London, Hertfordshire, and Essex. Our process:
- Site survey — Electrical supply assessment, cable route planning, charger positioning
- Design and specification — Charger selection, load management design, DNO requirements
- Grant application — We handle the Workplace Charging Scheme paperwork
- Installation — Professional installation by our directly employed engineers
- Commissioning — Testing, configuration, and user training
- Ongoing support — Maintenance and monitoring
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