Installing EV chargers at your workplace is one of the smartest infrastructure investments a UK business can make in 2026. The government’s Workplace Charging Scheme covers up to £500 per socket, commercial chargers cost £1,000–£2,500 installed, and the tax benefits – including 100% capital allowances and 4% BIK on electric company cars – make the business case compelling.
This guide explains who qualifies for the WCS grant, what workplace chargers actually cost, how to claim the tax benefits, and what to expect from the installation process. Whether you are fitting two sockets for a small office or 40 for a corporate car park, the steps are the same.
FREE QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare EV Charger Installation Quotes from Trusted Suppliers
✓ OZEV-approved local installers
100% free • No obligation • Takes under 2 minutes
- The WCS grant covers up to £500 per socket - businesses, charities, and public sector organisations can claim for up to 40 sockets per applicant
- Commercial chargers cost £1,000-£2,500 per socket installed - 7kW single-phase units sit at the lower end, while 22kW three-phase chargers cost more and only charge faster for cars that accept 22kW on AC
- 100% first-year capital allowance on charge points - the full cost can be written off against corporation tax in year one on spend up to 31 March 2027
- 4% BIK rate on electric company cars in 2026/27 - compared to up to 37% for the highest-emission petrol and diesel cars, making workplace charging a powerful recruitment tool
- You must use an OZEV-authorised installer - only approved installers and charger models qualify for the WCS grant
Workplace Charging Scheme Explained
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a government voucher scheme that gives businesses, charities, and public sector organisations up to £500 off the cost of each EV charge point socket. A single applicant can claim for up to 40 sockets, meaning a maximum grant of £20,000 per organisation.
The scheme is run by OZEV (the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) and has been running since 2016. It has been extended for a final year until 31 March 2027, and installations completed from 1 April 2026 qualify for the higher £500 rate. Unlike the domestic OZEV grant – which is restricted to renters and flat owners – the WCS is available to any eligible business with dedicated off-street parking. For a full comparison of all available EV grants, see our complete guide to UK EV charger grants.
Who Qualifies for the WCS?
Eligible applicants include businesses, charities, public sector organisations and small accommodation businesses. You need to supply a Companies House reference, a VAT registration number or a business rates bill (charities and some public bodies can upload alternative proof). The key requirement is that the chargers are installed at a workplace with dedicated off-road parking. For businesses, the chargers must be reserved for staff and/or fleet vehicles, not customers.
A home can qualify for the WCS only if it is your primary place of work and the address is listed with Companies House or on your business rates bill, and you must have off-road parking. A purely residential address does not qualify. If you are a renter or live in a flat, the separate OZEV EV chargepoint grant may fit instead.
How to Claim
Apply through the online WCS portal before installation begins, ideally after a site survey by an OZEV-authorised installer. You will need a Companies House reference, VAT registration number or business rates bill, plus details of the installation site. Once approved you are emailed a voucher code within 5 working days, valid for 180 days. The installer claims the grant, and the voucher reduces the final invoice by up to £500 per socket.
Workplace EV Charger Costs
Commercial EV chargers cost £1,000–£2,500 per socket fully installed. The exact price depends on the charger power rating, number of sockets, cabling distance, and whether your electrical supply needs upgrading. After the WCS grant, you can bring the effective cost down to £500–£2,000 per socket.
| Charger Type | Power Rating | Cost Per Socket (Installed) | After WCS Grant | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-phase (7kW) | 7kW | £1,000–£1,400 | £500–£900 | Small offices, overnight fleet charging |
| Dual-socket (2×7kW) | 7kW per socket | £800–£1,200 per socket | £300–£700 | Car parks needing multiple points |
| Three-phase (22kW) | 22kW | £1,800–£2,500 | £1,300–£2,000 | Fast top-ups during the working day |
Dual-socket units like the Pod Point Twin offer the best cost-per-socket ratio for workplaces fitting multiple chargers. A 10-bay car park using five Pod Point Twin units would cost roughly £8,000–£12,000 before the WCS grant, dropping to £3,000–£7,000 after claiming £500 per socket. For a detailed breakdown of installation costs including labour and groundworks, see our EV charger installation cost guide.
A 22kW three-phase charger supplies about 3x the power of a 7kW unit, but many electric cars accept no more than 7kW or 11kW on AC, and most workplace vehicles are parked for 8+ hours anyway. Unless you have a high-turnover visitor car park, 7kW chargers usually offer better value per socket.
FREE QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare EV Charger Installation Quotes from Trusted Suppliers
✓ OZEV-approved local installers
100% free • No obligation • Takes under 2 minutes
Tax Benefits for Businesses
The financial case for workplace EV charging goes well beyond the WCS grant. Three tax mechanisms reduce the real cost significantly, and VAT-registered employers can usually reclaim VAT on the installation.
| Tax Benefit | What It Covers | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Capital Allowance | Full cost of charge point equipment and installation | Write off entire cost against corporation tax in year one (spend up to 31 March 2027; 5 April 2027 for income tax) |
| VAT Reclaim | Workplace charging infrastructure | Recover 20% VAT on equipment and installation |
| 4% BIK Rate | Electric company cars (2026/27) | Basic-rate taxpayer pays £320/year on a £40,000 EV vs £2,960 on a high-emission petrol car at the 37% top rate |
The 100% first-year capital allowance means a business installing £10,000 of charging infrastructure can offset the full amount against taxable profits immediately, rather than spreading it over several years. Combined with VAT recovery where applicable, the effective cost can drop by over a third for a company paying the main corporation tax rate – confirm the exact treatment with your accountant.
The 4% BIK rate for electric company cars in 2026/27 makes salary sacrifice EV schemes extremely attractive to employees. A £40,000 electric company car costs the employee just £320/year in tax at the basic rate, compared to £2,960 for a high-emission petrol car at the top 37% BIK rate. This is a genuine recruitment and retention advantage.
Installation: What Businesses Need to Know
Workplace EV charger installation follows a predictable process, but electrical capacity is the single biggest variable in both cost and timeline. A typical project runs from initial survey to live chargers in 4–8 weeks.
The Installation Process
A standard workplace installation follows six steps: site survey, electrical assessment, groundworks (trenching, ducting), charger mounting and wiring, commissioning and testing, and finally submitting the WCS claim. Your OZEV-authorised installer manages all of these, including the grant paperwork.
The electrical assessment is critical. Each 7kW charger draws roughly 32 amps, so a 10-charger installation needs significant supply capacity. If your building’s supply cannot handle the load, you may need a supply upgrade from your DNO (distribution network operator), which can add thousands of pounds and several weeks to the project.
Smart Load Management
Smart charging management is essential for any workplace with more than a handful of chargers. Load balancing distributes available power across all connected vehicles, so you can run 20 chargers on a supply that would otherwise only support 10 at full power. Most commercial charger brands – including Pod Point, Rolec, and Project EV – offer built-in load management.
Access control and billing features let you restrict charger use to employees, track energy consumption per vehicle, and even bill visitors or tenants. This is particularly relevant for shared commercial buildings and business parks.
Always get the electrical assessment done before committing to a specific number of chargers. A DNO supply upgrade can delay the project and add thousands to the budget. Smart load balancing can often avoid the need for an upgrade entirely.
Why Workplace Charging Matters for Recruitment
The 4% BIK rate on electric company cars is keeping EV adoption strong among company car drivers, with BVRLA leasing data showing electric models now account for a majority of new business-leased and salary-sacrifice cars. Employees choosing EVs will actively seek employers who offer workplace charging – it is becoming as standard an expectation as car parking itself.
For employees without home charging (about a third of British households have no off-street parking, even potentially, according to RAC Foundation analysis), workplace charging is not just convenient – it is the primary way they can affordably run an EV. Offering workplace chargers widens your talent pool and demonstrates a visible commitment to sustainability. For employees who do have home charging, our guide to the best home EV chargers covers the top residential options.
FREE QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare EV Charger Installation Quotes from Trusted Suppliers
✓ OZEV-approved local installers
100% free • No obligation • Takes under 2 minutes
How to Get Started
Getting workplace chargers installed is a straightforward process if you follow these steps in order. The whole project typically takes 4–8 weeks from first enquiry to live chargers.
Step 1: Assess demand. Survey your employees to find out how many currently drive EVs or plan to within the next 12 months. This determines how many sockets you need now and how much capacity to future-proof.
Step 2: Get quotes from OZEV-authorised installers. You must use an authorised installer to qualify for the WCS grant. Request at least three quotes that include the site survey, electrical assessment, and full installation.
Step 3: Apply for the WCS voucher. Submit your application through the OZEV portal before installation begins. You will need your Companies House reference, VAT registration number or business rates bill, and your site details.
Step 4: Choose your charger model. For most workplaces, dual-socket 7kW units (such as Pod Point Twin) offer the best balance of cost and coverage. Only upgrade to 22kW three-phase if you need rapid top-ups during short parking windows.
Step 5: Install, commission, and claim. Your installer handles the physical work, testing, and WCS paperwork. After commissioning, you receive the grant deduction on your final invoice. Set up your smart charging management to control access, monitor usage, and balance loads.
