According to a 2020 report, when asked what professionals think is important in a job, along with salary and security of tenure, location is included at the top of the list.
In other words, employees put a premium on the distance, daily drive, and expenses incurred when travelling between home and the workplace. Fuel, toll, and parking fees are just some of these commuting incidentals.
So when your workers drive in an electric vehicle to work, rewarding them with free EV charging privileges could give them additional incentive to not resign and get employed someplace else.
You may not have realized it yet, but allowing your staff to refuel their electric vehicle at work free of charge is tremendously beneficial to them. And the happier the employee, the more it will also benefit your company.
Ease of Access and Convenience
Giving free electric vehicle charging in the workplace offers convenience. This is especially helpful in instances where your employees don’t have a home charger and all they have is to rely on public charging locations.
And even when top-up equipment is available at home, the work charger in your office means that they don’t have to worry about running empty anytime soon if they have the option to leave their cars plugged in as they work.
Less Worries Better Performance
Refuelling with no extra costs means your employees can save more. Saving more means they can have bigger take-home salaries even if it’s only by a few pounds.
Aside from eliminating additional expenses, a reliable EV charging spot gives extra security to employees. Instead of worrying about where to recharge their vehicles, and having to go through the hassles of lining up in public stations, workers can now focus more on job responsibilities.
Moreover, EV chargers at work show that you value your personnel’s needs. They tend to perform better when they feel that they are valued and important to the company.
As the UK continues to shift towards a zero-emission, electric mode of transport, charging equipment will be a common fixture in establishments anywhere.
Workplace EV Charger Works Wonders
Despite the advancements in the EV industry, there is still much to do to completely replace the current driving ways. Employers and businesses can do so much to help their staff adapt to this EV revolution—and keep their talents in the process.
Having provided your workers with an EV charger at work also speaks volumes. It shows that you are a considerate employer who is mindful of your personnel’s needs.
Moreover, you show that you are an employer who is mindful of the times and is proactive in keeping up with important social and environmental concerns. This is good for the company’s reputation. Not only will you retain your workforce, but you also attract new talents that are equally mindful of eco-social issues.
Existing Charging Facilities
Aside from workplace charging stations, there are other establishments where charging equipment can be installed and accessed.
Residential Locations
Homes are one of the primary locations of electric vehicle chargepoints. As such, the government has financial aid to encourage the installation of the device. On March 31 2022, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme ended and was replaced by the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant.
Both grants subsidise chargepoint purchase and installation to support the fast-tracking of chargepoint installations in residential properties. One primary requirement to apply for the grant is available off-street parking.
There is also the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Landlords. Tenants of residential space, a flat or a single-use property, can benefit from this once their landlords decide to apply for an installation. In addition, the Landlord Grant is also applicable to commercial properties following eligibility requirements.
Public Locations
There are many workplace charging facilities across the country. Shopping centres, and retail parks, are just some of the locations of public EV refuelling hubs. In most cases, topping up comes as an incentive to encourage drivers to shop, dine, and enjoy the facilities and services in these establishments.
Drives can also do en-route charging in service stations as well such as motoring stations that offer rapid charging for a price.
Alternative Charging Facilities
Much like petrol and diesel stations to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, EV charging is an essential feature of driving an electric vehicle.
In the absence of a charging station, some companies offer to charge your car wherever it is with power from a special van. This is a good option in emergencies like if you need recharging in the middle of a drive.
People who don’t have ready and consistent access to a chargepoint can subscribe to these kinds of service providers. These companies even offer remote monitoring of your consumption and know when the EV’s battery needs topping up.
This service is currently available only in London.
Another alternative to owning a home charger or going to public service stations is looking for co-charging spaces. What are these? These are individuals and businesses who would rent out their chargers. Some apps connect charger owners with chargees (or those who need charging services).
The service doesn’t necessarily come cheap though and could be unreliable as booking availability could vary.
Workplace Charging Scheme
Companies looking to provide their employees access to charging devices should consider applying for the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS).
This grant is a voucher-based system and offers a subsidy of up to 75% (capped at £350) for every charger socket with a maximum number of grant applications for 40 units. That is a total of £14,000 of government funding.
Not only is the WCS available for businesses. Charitable organisations and small accommodation businesses can now apply for the grant.
For businesses who wish to apply, they must have enough off-street parking space that is exclusive for staff use. These parking spaces should either be within the workplace’s premises or a reasonable distance from it.
Remember that like all the other grants given by the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), only government-accredited installations can be eligible for the grant.
To claim the grant, you’ll have to:
· Complete an online application
· Wait for a voucher code to be emailed to you. This code is necessary for your installer to claim the grant on your behalf. This code is valid for 120 days from issuance.
Investing In People, Securing Your Business
As we move towards a greener environment, we also slowly move towards a new normal in driving and transportation.
Investing in people, in human resources is invaluable to making your business thrive that’s why as we respond to the transport revolution, making sure that our workforce is equipped with the means to power their electric vehicle is also a step towards future-proofing our business with EV charging for businesses.
Valuing your organisation can be equated to valuing your employees.
To ensure that your investments don’t go to waste, contact us for a safe, reliable, and government-accredited charge point installation. Our team of trained personnel guarantees top-notch service from day 1.
