EV Charging Station Installation Guide for Businesses
Installing EV charging points is a positive step if you’re a business looking to boost your eco-friendly initiatives.
But how do you go about installing one at your workplace? Well, we’re on hand with this feature guide into just that! Read on for the key EV charging station installation tips you need.
Who installs EV charging stations?
Qualified electricians. Plain and simple! You can’t install an EV charging station by yourself. You must have a qualified electrician to do it. Not only that, they also need training with EV manufacturers so they know exactly about EV charging needs.
It’s the safest choice available to your business and certainly the most convenient. The electrician will:
- Bring the hardware to the site you want and have all the relevant cables and tools needed straight away.
- Have experience of setting up stations, which’ll let them deal with any issues that arise during the installation.
It’s a tricky process. And not one you can do yourself. What, then, do you need before booking your electrician? Let’s get into it!
EV charging station installation step-by-step guide
Okay, think of these five steps as a business guide for installing EV charges at your workplace.
Getting a charge point installed isn’t simply a case of buying it from a store and setting it up at home like it’s a barbecue. Think of it as:
- Assessment and planning.
- Getting your hardware.
- Installation.
And we’ll break those down into a five-step plan for you to follow.
Step 1: Choose your charging station
First off, you need to pick your charge station provider. There are many on the market and they all provide different benefits for different businesses.
Your best bet is to compare the market with us. It’s free to do and we’ll guide you directly to the charge point best suiting your business.
This’ll also save you a lot of time (as well as money), with tailored recommendations for the charge station with your business’ name on it.
Step 2: Pick tethered or untethered chargers
Okay, so what’s the difference? Pretty simple:
- Tethered chargers have a cable attached.
- Untethered chargers don’t.
The tethered chargers have a cable for type 1 or 2 sockets, which means you don’t have to store a cable in your EV. The downside here is you could end up with an outdated charge point should EVs move on from type 1 or 2s. Plus, there’s a fixed cable length you need to deal with.
On the flip side, untethered chargers keep things looking neat and tidy without a cable cluttering the place up. However, you’ll need to have a cable and keep it in your EV. Lose it? Well, it’ll cost you about £100 for a replacement.
Our verdict? Untethered gives you more flexibility, so it’s a popular choice. But it’s down to whatever suits your business the most!
Step 3: Choose where to put your charge point
You shouldn’t just pick anywhere on a random whim, think carefully about the right place. You’ll want to consider whether:
- The charger is hidden from view.
- You use tethered or untethered cables.
- You can get good access to the socket on your EV.
- The length of the charging cable is enough.
- You can get access to Wi-Fi.
Consider all of those points carefully before going ahead and booking your installation date. If you pick a bad spot, it’ll prove troublesome in the long run.
Step 4: Book your qualified electrician
There are full business services to help you out with this. Ultimately, when you’re sorting out buying your unit, you’ll get instructions from the providers on the best route to take.
Once you’ve got the initial planning sorted, the next thing you need is your specifically qualified electrician.
Again, it must be a qualified electrician and one with specialist knowledge with EVs. Don’t think you can skip the queue and do it yourself, or through unqualified services, because that can backfire badly for you.
It either won’t get done properly or you’ll potentially damage your EVs. Always take the qualified route! That way you can make the most of your electric vehicles.
Step 5: Get charging!
That’s it! Once the electrician gives you the all-clear, you’re ready to roll. Plug your EV and charge away.
But don’t forget to check out our EV charging best practices to make sure you’re keeping your electric battery healthy.
iCompario tip: Get a helping hand from charge cards
Want to cover all your bases? Then an EV charge card is another range anxiety destroying step for your business.
All you need to do for these is compare the market, pick your provider and then you’ll be covered across a network of 100s of EV charge points across the UK. You and your employees can then use charging stations and pay with the card. Simple!
Compare the market to find the best charge point deals
Are you ready to get on with EV charging station installation? Ready to pick your EV charge point? Compare the market to find the best deals for your business. All you have to do is:
- Enter a few business details.
- We search the market (it’s free!).
- Get your recommendations.
Pick from the providers you get for the very best charge point deals. It’ll save you time and money, while ensuring you get the best EV charges on the UK market.
