If you’re shifting to an electric vehicle fleet for your business, installing a charging station at the workplace would be crucial. But before you can begin the process, you must know the EV charger installation requirements to avoid setbacks.
Where are EV Chargers Installed?
EV chargers are generally installed at places with off-street parking. The garage or driveway is a fantastic location for most people to install their chargepoint since they can easily connect it to their power source.
The government provides funding to local authorities to put chargepoints on the streets, and inside street lights – even those with no parking spaces are welcome.
Planning permission
You don’t need to install a wall-mounted EV chargepoint in areas that are lawfully set for off-street parking as long as the conditions are met. But it may be required in some areas, so it is worth inspecting with the local authorities before you can start the installation.
Where EV Charger Installation Is Not Permitted
Before you can install an EV charger, engineers must consider certain rules in setting the location. EV charging units shouldn’t be installed within two meters of the public highway, monument or land around a registered building.
Electric vehicle chargers can’t be installed 2.5 metres within a sim touch or the metal object attached to the electrical supply. It could be a light metal casing like a household fitting, or a street lamp, such that you can easily transfer the charger to the desired location.
Technical Requirements
Installing EV chargers within the United Kingdom also comes with technical requirements. The electrical outlet’s exterior casing mustn’t exceed 0.2 cubic meters. Charging point upstands are permitted if they are 1.6m long, or less and there’s only one for every parking space.
Electrical Safety
Installed EV chargers should pass the EVHS’s technical standards and the electrical safety standard from the Building Regulations Part P.
- The charger should meet the IET Wiring Regulations as mentioned in BS 7671.
- The charge point should be weatherproofed and meet the minimum IP rating by BS EN 61851.
- The charge point must also be capable of monitoring and recording energy consumption and sending the data with Open Charge Point Protocol.
- There should be enough electrical supply capacity for the EV charger to function at its capacity rate.
- 7kW chargers are quite common, although 3kW and 22kW are accessible, they are rare.
An Update on the Building Regulations in England
Since 2022, Building Regulations in England have changed to guarantee the provision of electric vehicle charge points. Such regulations apply only to England at present, while the rest of the United Kingdom will develop their requirements to guarantee enough provision of electric vehicle charge points.
Each home in England with dedicated parking should have an EV charger. Each new non-residential building going through a major renovation, containing at least 10 parking spaces or more should have at least one EV charger and cable route for 5 parking spaces.
Residential buildings going through a major renovation and having 10 or more parking spaces should have at least one charge point per home with a similar parking space, and cable routes within spaces that have no charge points.
EV Charging Cost
The average installation cost of a home charge point is £800 for a 7kW charger, although the costs are lower for less powerful 4kW units and higher with high-speed units.
Whatever unit you’re looking to purchase, the costs will be reduced if you’re qualified for an OZEV grant or the EV chargepoint grant. OZEV (Office for Zero-Emission Vehicle) was previously an OLEV (Office of Low Emission Vehicles) grant or EVHS (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme).
As of April 21st 2022, the OZEV Government Grant is available only to homeowners living in flats and rental accommodations (single-use properties). The scheme is no longer available for homeowners living in single-unit properties like bungalows, detached, semi-detached, or terraced housing.
EV Charger Types
Charge points are either tethered (with cable) or untethered (without cable). Having an untethered charge point entails that you must have the right cable type for your car, but the charge point connects to most cars with the right cable.
Keeping a tethered charge point entails that you can easily plug in your car, although it may consume more space and might not possess the proper connection should you change your car.
Learn more: Quick Guide to EV Charger Cable Types and Sizes (with Bonus Buying Tip)
Regulations on Electric Vehicle Chargers in the UK for Business
The UK regulates electric car charging for private use. This is to manage the electricity demand increase while transitioning to electric vehicles. The regulations help ensure that the charging stations have smart features, enabling electric vehicle charging while there’s a growing demand for renewable energy and the grid.
These regulations help ensure that the charging stations meet device-level requirements and enable minimum access, information and security to consumers. The Smart Charge Points or Electric Vehicles Regulations 2021 is the said legislation.
These regulations cover:
- Electric vehicle private charging stations sold for domestic or workplace use in the UK
- Smart cables or charge points that can receive or send information
These regulations don’t apply to private charging stations that are:
- Manufactured and sold before June 30, 2022
- Manufactured and sold within Northern Ireland
- Not meant for use in Great Britain in any given period
- Manufactured and sold to people beyond their business, trade, profession or craft, like second-hand sales for private individuals
- Rapid charge points or non-smart cables
- Intended as a public charge point (these may fall under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017 requirements)
Degree Of Obligation
These regulations will be effective on June 30, 2022, besides the security requirements in Schedule 1, which will commence on December 30, 2022.
The rules apply to any business or individual who is selling, providing, or promoting a charging station. If we follow the definition from the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018, A sale includes hiring, leasing, lending, or providing a charging station from one party to the next.
The regulations also work on exchanges with a warranty if it was made on June 30, 2022.
How To Comply With The Regulations
The regulations state that chargepoints for vehicle private charging must fulfil specific device-level requirements, including:
- Smart functionality, with the ability to receive and send information, and respond to signals to increase the time it takes for electricity to flow through the chargepoint, requires side response and user interface.
- Electricity supplier interoperability, enables the chargepoint to reset smart functionality even when the owner changes electricity supplier.
- Continuous charging even when the chargepoint isn’t connected to the communications network safety delivery. This prevents safety or health risks to the person doing the operation.
- Measuring system (EV charger load calculation). Calculate or measure the electricity exported or imported and the time it takes to charge, while the owner sees this information.
- Security requirements are compatible with the current cyber security standards.
Chargepoints should:
- Integrate off-peak, pre-set, and default charging hours that enable the owner to change, remove or accept these upon initial and subsequent use.
- Enable randomized delay functioning
To ensure that the chargepoint complies with the regulations, businesses should provide a technical file and statement of compliance and ten years record of all sales starting from when the legislation was enforced.
If ever a business has non-compliance brought to the OPSS’s attention, it could lead to an Enforcement Undertaking. It’s crucial to resolve the non-compliance as soon as possible. If action has been taken, the OPSS will review the matter again and decide whether to accept the proposal.
The role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)
OPSS is the enforcement authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations, on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles.
EV charging installation for business requires coordination with several installers, understanding of the utility company’s requirements, and identification of available tax incentives and credits to minimize costs. It’s crucial that you work with a knowledgeable, certified installer to speed up the process and save money.
Site Analysis
Installing an EV charging station starts with a detailed discussion of your business goals. You need to do the following site analysis.
- Site location. Where is the ideal location of your electric car charging station on your property?
- Security and lighting. Does the site meet the security and lighting requirements?
- Electrical utility and infrastructure requirements. Is there adequate electrical service? Will your company be needing more power?
Infrastructure Planning
Infrastructure planning must precede installation. You must work with the electrical contractor to create a draft or illustration that shows your site’s electrical distribution. Account executives can coordinate with the contractors to check other infrastructure requirements like pouring concrete, boring holes, landscaping and trenching.
Utility Assessment
Your business must identify and acquire grants covering 90% of your EV charging stations’ construction costs. These incentives include local and state credits, utility company rebates and federal tax breaks. You need someone who knows the landscape and can procure any available funds.
Environment Integration
There are various factors that come with installing the right electrical vehicle charging solution for a certain location. The EV charger type – level 2 or 3 in a business environment – is crucial. The environment must also be safe, well-lit, and convenient for charging.
All of these factors must be considered in order for you to come up with a proposal that discusses the solution needed for your business.
Preparation And Installation
To acquire all accessible incentives for an EV charging station, you must be prepared to do the paperwork and reserve some funds for your project. The paperwork could include documents from the Environmental Protection Agency, utility companies, and local and state governments.
Once you’re approved, it would be a good time to get all the needed materials and schedule the project. Engineers must finish the infrastructure at the site including piping, running conduits, and electrical wires – if needed.
At this stage, the installers will put light poles and fixtures, and security cameras, and finish all the needed construction inside and outside the charging area.
Meeting The Requirements
Home, workplace and commercial charger points certainly take ownership of EVs more convenient, but their installation has to meet established safety regulations. In particular, new installers must:
- Be members of a professional association.
- Hold manufacturer approval to install the product(s).
- Have public liability insurance cover.
- Receive training and maintain a log of engineer and technician names, qualifications and renewal dates.
- Comply with data protection regulations.
Recommendation
There’s more demand for electric vehicle infrastructure on a wider scale. There must also be a strategy for the delivery of a visible rapid charging network throughout the country and provide drivers with confidence wherever they go.
It is also crucial for the private sector and councils to collaborate for the needed government support. Meanwhile, for interested parties who want to install EV chargepoints, the planning regulations are clear and supportive.
If you’re confident that you can install a home chargepoint at your property, and you’re looking for the right EV chargers, you can check out our units at Pumpt.
Pumpt is a supportive EV charger supplier and installer that helps EV drivers and owners meet the requirements and regulations for installing a charging station. Feel free to contact our administrators for inquiries and advice on EV charger installation requirements.
