Electric Vehicle Charging for Domestic and Commercial

The majority of private cars are usually parked overnight where they are based with most electric vehicle (EV) owners relying on charging at home to ensure that their vehicle is ready for use each day. The Government provides financial support for consumers to install a charging point at their home premises with the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which will cover up to 75% of the total costs.

What Charge Point Models Are Available?

There are several charge point manufacturers which provide charging units suitable for residential use, and here at GOS Heating we have a wide range for you to choose from to ensure it meets your requirements. Typically, the units are wall-mounted, and available either with a tethered Type 1 or Type 2 cable which can be plugged straight into the car, or with a Type 2 socket for use with the car’s charging cable. In total there are around 40 manufacturers providing approved charge point models.

Most suppliers provide two power rating options, either a “standard” 3kW or “fast” 7kW. Expect to pay more for the 7kW option, however it will reduce charge time significantly if the car has a faster- on-board charger. For example, a Nissan LEAF (with optional 6.6 kW on-board charger) plugged into a 3kW home charge unit will provide a full charge in 6-8 hours, whereas a 7kW unit will take 3-4 hours.

How Much Will It Cost?

To provide an accurate figure, we will need to ask a series of short questions and maybe conduct a home survey by one of our GOS electric vehicle charging specialists. You can call us on 01772 734 966 and ask to speak to one of our team.

Grant Schemes

For electric vehicle home charge points, the Government funded Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), updated July 1st 2016, provides a grant for people to reduce the cost of having a charge point installed at their home. The grant is set as a 75% contribution to the cost of one charge point and its installation and the grant cap is set at £500 (including VAT) per eligible vehicle. This is a reduction on the previous grant cap of £700. The new grant will bring the cost of a standard 3kW unit + installation to around £300 whilst a faster 7kW unit would be in the region of £400.

Customers must provide evidence of keepership, lease, be named as the primary user of an eligible electric vehicle (bought new or second hand) in order in order to be able to qualify for the grant. Customers must have off street parking facilities suitable for chargepoint installation. The expert team at GOS Heating can help you with questions on the grant scheme application, if you need further assistance.

Charging At Work

For employees, charging at work can be a convenient way to recharge an electric vehicle whilst parked during the day. From a business point of view, having a charge point at the workplace will become increasingly important as a facility for employees and visitors, while for businesses with an fleet of electric vehicles it can be an essential operating factor.

Similar to the EV home charges scheme, the Government offers businesses, organisations, charities, and local authorities financial support to have charge points installed at their premises under the Workplace Charging Scheme. The grant provides up to £500 per socket at 75% of the total cost of installation – up to a maximum of 20 sockets – to be installed on dedicated off-street parking for staff, visitor, or fleet use.

Funded by the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) provides a grant for businesses to reduce the cost of having an EV charge point installed at their premises.

The charge points are required to have a need declared for them on application, which could include: existing EV fleet vehicles, to add an incentive for the uptake of plug-in vehicles with staff, to provide a charging solution for visitors, or to charge EVs planned to be purchased by the business. Charging for customers (where applicable) is not eligible for WCS funding.

Standard three-pin sockets are not eligible for funding, and the EV charge points can only be fitted by accredited installers. These must provide a minimum of 3 kW, with the supply not diminished by charging multiple vehicles simultaneously. Companies cannot claim for existing EV charging points, with the grant available only for new charge points yet to be installed. The company also has to have dedicated off-street parking for staff, visitors or fleet use.

If you need further assistance, please call the team at GOS Heating on 01772 734 966 who can help you with questions on the grant scheme application.