Thinking about electric car charger installation at your workplace? In 2026, it is more than a nice perk for employees with shiny new EVs. Workplace charging can support fleet electrification, improve staff benefits, reduce reliance on public chargers and make your business look considerably more forward-thinking than the office that still has one kettle labelled “Dave’s”.
The good news is that the numbers have become more attractive, too. The Workplace Charging Scheme now covers up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs, while smart energy tariffs can help you schedule charging when electricity is cheaper.
Here is what UK businesses need to know before installing workplace EV chargers.
Why install EV chargers at work?
Workplace charging is useful for more than employees topping up their cars during the day. It can support several different business needs:
- Charging company cars, vans and pool vehicles
- Helping employees who cannot charge at home
- Providing a valuable workplace benefit
- Supporting sustainability and fleet transition plans
- Reducing dependence on expensive public rapid charging
- Improving recruitment and retention
- Preparing for future demand as more drivers switch to EVs
A 7kW smart charger can add roughly 25–30 miles of range per hour, depending on the vehicle. For someone parked at work for six or eight hours, that is usually plenty for the commute home and much more besides.
Most workplaces do not need a bank of rapid chargers. Rapid charging is useful when a vehicle needs to get back on the road quickly, but employees and company cars are often parked for several hours. In that situation, multiple 7kW chargers are generally a more cost-effective and practical solution.
The 2026 Workplace Charging Scheme
The biggest change for businesses installing chargers in 2026 is the improved Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grant.
From 1 April 2026, the scheme increased from £350 to £500 per socket. It covers up to 75% of the purchase and installation cost, including VAT, subject to the per-socket limit.
You can claim support for up to 40 sockets across all your sites, giving a maximum possible grant of £20,000 per applicant. The scheme is currently open until 31 March 2027.
| WCS detail | 2026 position |
|---|---|
| Grant contribution | Up to 75% of eligible costs |
| Maximum grant | £500 per socket |
| Maximum sockets | 40 across all sites |
| Maximum total grant | £20,000 |
| Scheme closing date | 31 March 2027 |
| Installer requirement | OZEV-authorised installer |
| Voucher validity | 180 days |
For example, if you install four sockets at a total cost of £2,400, 75% would be £1,800, so the grant could cover up to that amount. If you install eight sockets at £12,000, 75% would be £9,000, but the £500-per-socket cap limits the grant to £4,000.
You must use an OZEV-authorised installer. The installer claims the grant after completing the work and deducts the approved amount from your invoice. You should not install first and hope to claim afterwards.
Once your application is approved, the voucher is valid for 180 days. The installation must be completed and the grant claim submitted within that period. If your project involves several sites or significant groundwork, allow plenty of breathing space rather than treating day 179 as a project deadline.
You can read the official Workplace Charging Scheme guidance or see our guide to getting the most out of the Workplace Charging Scheme.
What does a workplace installation involve?
A proper workplace installation starts well before the charger is fixed to the wall.
We assess the parking layout, cable routes, electrical supply, charger locations and likely usage. Where several chargers are installed, we may also consider load management so the system does not place unnecessary strain on the building’s electricity supply.
Your project may involve:
- A site survey and electrical assessment
- Charger selection and system design
- Load balancing or smart charging controls
- Groundworks, bollards or cable protection
- DNO notification or approval where required
- OZEV grant administration
- Installation, testing and certification
- User guidance and handover
The right number of chargers depends on how many EVs are already arriving, how quickly demand is growing, how long vehicles are parked and whether you are charging a fleet or offering employee access.
As a starting point, one charger may serve several vehicles per day if you introduce a simple booking, sharing or charging policy. It is usually better to install a scalable system properly than to fill the car park with chargers that the electrical infrastructure cannot comfortably support.
Smart chargers, Octopus tariffs and charging costs
Smart charging gives your business more control over when energy is used. Depending on the charger and tariff, you may be able to schedule charging, monitor usage, restrict access and allocate costs between departments or drivers.
Intelligent Octopus Go for Business
For businesses using compatible equipment and arrangements, Intelligent Octopus Go for Business is designed to schedule charging through the Kraken platform. Charging can be moved into a cheaper overnight window, with typical overnight rates often discussed in the region of 7–10p per kWh in 2026.
The exact rate depends on your site, agreement, meter and current business pricing, so treat 7–10p as an indicative range rather than a guaranteed national price. Kraken scheduling is particularly useful for fleets that return to a depot or office overnight and do not need to be fully charged immediately.
Agile Business
Octopus also offers business tariffs based on changing electricity prices. The Agile Business approach uses 30-minute wholesale price blocks, meaning the cost can move up and down throughout the day.
That can work well if you have flexible charging demand and someone responsible for managing the system. It can also require a little more attention than a straightforward fixed tariff. Charging at the cheapest times may reduce costs, but you need suitable smart hardware, reliable scheduling and a sensible operational plan.
You can explore Octopus Energy for Business to check current products and pricing for your site.
Electroverse for public charging
Workplace chargers will not eliminate every public charging stop, particularly for sales teams, delivery drivers and long-distance journeys. Electroverse provides access to a large number of public charging networks through its app and RFID card.
Its pricing is set by the relevant charge point operator and shown in the app, so it is separate from your workplace electricity tariff. In other words, a cheap overnight business tariff does not make every public rapid charger cheap by magic. Sadly, the electrons have not yet learned accounting.
Tax breaks and business incentives
The tax position depends on your business structure, the type of installation and when the expenditure is incurred. It is worth speaking to your accountant before committing, but the main areas to consider are below.
Capital allowances
The 100% first-year allowance specifically for EV chargepoints was extended to 31 March 2026 for Corporation Tax and 5 April 2026 for Income Tax. For installations made later in 2026, qualifying businesses may still be able to claim 100% relief through other capital allowance routes, such as full expensing for companies or the Annual Investment Allowance for unincorporated businesses.
Eligibility depends on the nature of the expenditure and your circumstances, so your accountant should confirm the correct treatment. Keep your quote, invoice, grant details and installation records.
Tax-free workplace charging
Electricity provided for employees charging at or near their workplace can generally be exempt from Benefit-in-Kind tax when the relevant conditions are met. The facilities normally need to be available generally to employees, or to a defined group, rather than being provided selectively to one individual.
Your accountant or payroll adviser can confirm how this applies to your charging policy.
Business rates relief
There is also 100% business rates relief for eligible, dedicated EV charging point properties in England through 2035/36. This is mainly relevant to separately assessed, operational charging sites that are open to customers. It does not automatically apply to ordinary chargers installed as part of a larger office or factory property.
Why businesses choose EV Power Point
We are a family-run team with West Midlands roots and UK-wide expertise. Our engineers are directly employed, not subcontracted, and our team is trained and approved by leading charger manufacturers.
We install a wide range of workplace and commercial charging equipment, including systems from OHME, Andersen, Ratio, EO and Myenergi Zappi. We will explain the differences without turning the conversation into a sales obstacle course.
Our approach is straightforward:
- Fixed-price quotations with no hidden fees
- Honest advice without a hard sell
- Directly employed, in-house engineers
- Manufacturer-approved installation
- Tidy, professional workmanship
- Installation available in as little as five days after a fixed-price quote, subject to equipment and site requirements
You can explore our commercial EV charging services or visit our main EV charger installation page.
Your workplace EV charger installation checklist
Before requesting quotes, gather:
- The number of EVs currently using the site
- Expected employee and fleet demand over the next two to three years
- Parking ownership or landlord permission
- Your preferred charger locations
- Whether charging will be free, paid or restricted
- Your electricity supplier and current tariff
- Any plans for solar panels, batteries or fleet expansion
- Your WCS eligibility and grant timeline
Then arrange a professional site survey before finalising the design. A good installer should be able to explain the technical work, grant process, charger options and likely running costs in plain English.
If the upfront cost needs to be spread, ask about EV Power Point finance options. Business customers should also discuss the arrangement with their accountant so the grant, net installation cost and tax treatment are recorded correctly.
The bottom line
Workplace EV charger installation can be a practical investment rather than a costly gesture. The 2026 WCS grant offers up to £500 per socket, smart tariffs can help shift charging into cheaper periods, and tax treatment may further improve the numbers.
Start with a survey of your drivers, confirm your grant position, choose a scalable setup and get a fixed-price proposal from an OZEV-authorised installer. Contact EV Power Point for honest advice on workplace charging, whether you need one charger today or a properly planned system across several sites.
