OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)
The UK government's Workplace Charging Scheme provides grants of up to £350 per socket (max 40 sockets per applicant) towards the cost of installing EV charge points at workplaces. Eligible applicants include:
- Businesses (SMEs and large companies)
- Charities and not-for-profits
- Public sector organisations
- Sole traders (at business premises, not home)
Installation Costs
Typical costs per charging point:
- 7kW single socket: £800-1,200 (after WCS grant: £450-850)
- 22kW three-phase: £1,200-2,000 (after grant: £850-1,650)
- Load management system: £200-500 per site (one-off)
- Electrical upgrades: £500-3,000 if needed
For 10 charging points, expect total costs of £8,000-15,000 before the grant (£4,500-11,500 after).
Tax Benefits
Businesses can claim 100% first-year capital allowance on EV charge point installations. This means the full cost is deductible against corporation tax in the year of installation. Combined with the WCS grant, the effective cost is significantly reduced.
Employees who charge personal EVs at work don't pay benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax on the electricity used — a valuable perk.
Choosing the Right Setup
Employee Commuter Charging (7kW)
Most workplaces should start with 7kW chargers. Employees parked for 8+ hours can fully charge from these. They're the cheapest to install and put the least strain on your electrical supply.
Fleet & Visitor Charging (22kW)
For company fleets or visitor parking, 22kW chargers provide faster turnaround. A 22kW charger can fully charge most EVs in 3-4 hours.
Smart Load Management
Essential if installing 4+ chargers. Smart load management distributes available power across all connected vehicles, preventing overload without costly electrical upgrades. Brands like Easee and Ohme include this built-in.
Popular Workplace Charger Brands
- Easee — excellent multi-charger load balancing
- Rolec — durable commercial-grade units
- Pod Point — managed service option available
- EVBox — good for larger installations