Why Every South Yorkshire Business Needs to Think About EV Charging

Whether you run a small workshop in Rotherham, a professional office in Sheffield, a retail unit in Barnsley, or a pub in the Dearne Valley, EV charging is becoming a business essential. Your employees, customers, and visitors are switching to electric vehicles, and businesses that offer charging have a tangible competitive advantage.

The numbers are compelling. Over a third of new cars registered in the UK in 2025 were electric or plug-in hybrid. By the time the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales arrives, the majority of vehicles on the road will need charging. Businesses that install chargers now — especially while generous government grants are available — will be well ahead of those who wait.

The Workplace Charging Scheme

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a government grant specifically designed for businesses, charities, and public sector organisations. It provides up to per socket towards the purchase and installation cost of EV chargers at workplace car parks.

Key details

The grant covers up to per socket, with a maximum of 40 sockets per applicant. That is a potential £20,000 of government funding towards your charging infrastructure. The chargers must be smart chargers (all current models are). The installation must be carried out by an OZEV-approved installer. The chargers must be installed at a workplace car park used by staff and/or fleet vehicles.

Who can apply

The scheme is open to businesses of any size (from sole traders with a premises to large corporations), registered charities, and public sector organisations (councils, NHS trusts, schools, universities). You do not need to own the premises — tenants can apply with the landlord’s written permission.

What counts as a workplace?

A workplace is any premises used primarily for business purposes. This includes offices, factories, workshops, warehouses, shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, surgeries, care homes, and any other commercial premises with a car park. It does not include purely residential properties — for those, the landlord or homeowner grant applies.

How to apply

Your OZEV-approved installer handles the WCS application. They submit the paperwork, and the grant is deducted from your installation bill. The process is straightforward and typically takes a few days for approval.

Types of Workplace Charger

The right charger depends on how long vehicles are parked at your premises and who will use them.

Destination chargers (7kW to 22kW)

These are the most common type for workplace installations. They provide AC charging at 7kW (single-phase) or 22kW (three-phase, if your supply supports it). Vehicles plug in and charge over several hours — ideal for staff who park all day, customers at hotels, restaurants, or leisure facilities, and fleet vehicles that return to base overnight.

At 7kW, a full day’s parking (8 hours) adds over 200 miles of range — more than enough to fully charge most EVs. For staff charging, this is perfect: plug in when you arrive, unplug when you leave, and the car is fully charged every evening.

Fast chargers (up to 50kW DC)

For businesses where vehicles need a quick turnaround — taxi firms, delivery companies, vehicle hire — DC fast chargers can add 80 to 100 miles of range in 30 minutes. These are significantly more expensive than destination chargers (both the unit and the electrical infrastructure) and require a substantial three-phase supply. They are typically only justified for businesses with high-utilisation fleet vehicles.

Rapid chargers (50kW+ DC)

Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (100kW to 350kW) are the ones you see at motorway services. They are not practical for most workplace installations due to the enormous electrical supply requirements, high equipment costs, and the fact that they are designed for drivers passing through rather than parking for extended periods.

Planning Your Workplace Installation

How many chargers do you need?

This depends on the number of EV drivers, how long vehicles are parked, and how quickly the proportion of EVs among your staff and customers is growing. A good starting point is to survey your staff about current and planned EV ownership, then install enough chargers for current demand plus 50 percent growth headroom.

For a small business with 10 staff and 2 current EV drivers, 2 to 4 chargers is a sensible starting point. For larger businesses, consider phased installation — install the electrical infrastructure (cable ducts, distribution board capacity) for future expansion even if you only install a few chargers initially. Adding chargers later is much cheaper if the groundwork is already in place.

Where to locate chargers

Position chargers where vehicles are most likely to park for extended periods (near the main entrance for staff, near the building for visitors). Ensure the cable route from the electrical supply is practical and cost-effective. Consider accessibility — at least one charging bay should be accessible for disabled users. Think about cable management — tethered chargers with well-routed cables reduce trip hazards in car parks.

Electrical supply

This is usually the most significant consideration for workplace installations. A single 7kW charger draws 32A — roughly the same as an electric shower. Ten chargers draw 320A. Your existing electrical supply may not have the capacity for this.

Options for managing demand include load management (sometimes called load balancing), which distributes the available power across all connected chargers. If 10 chargers are sharing a 100A supply, each gets approximately 10A (2.3kW) — slower charging, but still enough to fully charge a car over an 8-hour working day. When fewer cars are plugged in, each gets a larger share. This is the most cost-effective approach for most workplaces.

If load management is not sufficient, a supply upgrade from Northern Powergrid may be needed. This involves applying for additional capacity, which can take several weeks and may involve infrastructure costs depending on the distance from the nearest substation.

Smart features for business use

Workplace chargers need features that domestic chargers do not.

Access control — RFID cards, app-based authentication, or PIN codes control who can use the chargers. This prevents unauthorised use and allows you to track which employees or visitors are charging.

Usage reporting — detailed reports of energy consumption per user, per session, and per charger. Essential for cost allocation, expense claims, and understanding utilisation patterns.

Payment systems — if you want to charge visitors or customers for electricity, some chargers integrate with payment platforms (contactless card, app-based payment). For staff charging, some businesses provide free charging as a benefit; others deduct the cost from payroll.

OCPP compatibility — the Open Charge Point Protocol allows your chargers to communicate with third-party management platforms. This is important for larger installations where you may want centralised management, billing integration, or compatibility with public charging networks.

Tax and Benefit Implications

Capital allowances

EV chargers installed at business premises qualify for capital allowances. Under the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), you can deduct the full cost of the installation from your taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the AIA limit. This significantly reduces the net cost of installation.

Benefit in kind

If you provide free EV charging to employees at the workplace, this is currently exempt from benefit in kind tax. Employees can charge their cars at work without incurring a tax liability. This exemption makes workplace charging a genuinely tax-efficient employee benefit.

Salary sacrifice schemes

Many businesses are offering EV salary sacrifice schemes, where employees lease an electric car through the company at a reduced cost (due to lower benefit in kind rates for EVs compared to petrol or diesel cars). Workplace chargers complement these schemes perfectly — the employee gets a tax-efficient car and free workplace charging.

Customer-Facing Charging

For businesses that want to attract customers with EV charging — hotels, restaurants, pubs, retail, leisure — the approach is slightly different.

Free charging as a draw

Some businesses offer free EV charging to customers as a way of attracting footfall. A pub or restaurant that offers free charging while you eat is a powerful incentive for EV drivers to choose your venue over a competitor. The electricity cost is modest (a 2-hour charge at 7kW costs roughly £3 to £4 at commercial rates) compared to the revenue from a meal.

Paid charging

Other businesses operate chargers as a revenue stream or at least on a cost-recovery basis. This requires chargers with payment integration (contactless, app-based, or RFID). Some charger management platforms take a percentage of each transaction, while others charge a flat monthly fee.

Visibility and marketing

List your chargers on Zap-Map, Google Maps, and other EV charging directories so drivers can find them. Many EV drivers plan their journeys around available chargers — having your business listed as a charging destination brings new customers who might not otherwise have visited.

Fleet Charging

If your business operates a vehicle fleet — vans, cars, or trucks — transitioning to electric vehicles can significantly reduce operating costs. Electricity is cheaper per mile than diesel or petrol, maintenance costs for EVs are lower (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements), and company car tax rates for EVs are much lower than for ICE vehicles.

Charging the fleet at your premises overnight or between shifts is usually the most cost-effective approach. Key considerations include having enough chargers for the fleet size (or using load management to share the available supply), scheduling charging to take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity tariffs, installing separate metering if you want to track fleet charging costs separately from general business electricity, and ensuring the electrical supply can handle the combined charging load.

For businesses with larger fleets, a dedicated EV charging management system is worth considering. These platforms schedule charging across the fleet to minimise electricity costs, ensure all vehicles are charged by their required departure time, and provide detailed cost and usage reporting.

Case Study: A Small South Yorkshire Business

A small engineering firm in Rotherham with 15 staff installed 4 EV chargers in their car park in 2025. They used the Workplace Charging Scheme to claim £2,000 ( per socket), reducing their net installation cost significantly. Two years later, 6 of their 15 staff drive EVs and use the chargers daily. The company offers free workplace charging as a staff benefit, and the electricity cost is around per month — less than they previously spent on the tea and coffee budget. Staff satisfaction has improved, and the company is now seen as a forward-thinking employer, which helps with recruitment in a competitive market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to install EV chargers at my business?

The cost depends on the number of chargers, the cable run distances, and whether any electrical infrastructure upgrades are needed. The Workplace Charging Scheme provides up to per socket (maximum 40 sockets) towards the cost. Your installer will provide a detailed quotation after a site survey.

Can I claim the Workplace Charging Scheme as a sole trader?

Yes, sole traders with business premises that have a car park can apply. The premises must be used primarily for business purposes. If you work from a home office, the domestic homeowner grant may be more appropriate.

Do I have to provide free charging to staff?

No. You can charge staff for the electricity used (via payroll deduction or a charging app), or you can offer it as a free benefit. Free workplace charging is currently exempt from benefit in kind tax, making it a cost-effective staff perk.

Can customers use the chargers?

Yes. You can make chargers available to customers on a free or paid basis. For paid charging, you need chargers with payment integration and a management platform. List your chargers on Zap-Map and Google Maps to attract EV-driving customers.

How many chargers can I claim the grant for?

The Workplace Charging Scheme covers up to 40 sockets per applicant, with a grant of up to per socket — a maximum of £20,000. You can install more than 40 chargers, but only 40 are grant-funded.

If you want to install EV chargers at your South Yorkshire business — whether it is 2 chargers for a small office or 40 for a large site — call me on 07817 171954 or get in touch here. I am Mat from MP Electrical, a NAPIT-registered, OZEV-approved installer. I will survey your site, design the right solution, handle the grant paperwork, and install everything to the highest standard.