With over 680,000 registered electric vehicles on the road in the UK, as well as a further 450,000 plug-in hybrids, it’s important that your commercial property is sufficiently prepared for electric charger provision.
In this blog, we’ll explore how you can best site a charging point and the ways in which you can get your property ready for them, with the help of BFS.
Siting an EV charger
Naturally, the most suitable places to site an electric vehicle charger depends on the nature of the property and its location, but these are some of the key things to consider when deciding where to fit the charger.
Proximity to the property’s mains supply
Your EV chargers need to be located as closely as possible to the property’s mains supplies, ideally within 50 feet, otherwise the charging potential will likely be compromised.
Accessibility
It’s important that visitors or employees can access charging points without difficulty, so make sure that your EV charger is in an appropriate location and visible, so that it can be easily found in the car park.
The charging stations should also be located in a place where there is ample parking space so that they’re accessible.
Safety
It’s vital that safety is one of your primary considerations when choosing where to site your EV chargers. We’d advise that you avoid any potential hazards in your car park such as trees or poorly lit areas to minimise the risk of accidents.
Protecting your electric charger from the elements
Finally, make sure to give your charging points some protection from the weather. While most chargers will be weather-resistant it’s still worth giving them ample protection, so consider installing chargers in a covered part of your cark park or erecting a shelter.
Getting your property ready for an EV charger
There’s a myriad of factors to consider when it comes to getting your business premises equipped for an electric vehicle charger, but fortunately this guide is on hand to distil down the most important, from choosing the right charger to complying with UK regulations.
Assess your charging needs
The first thing to consider is your charging needs. Before you begin the process of installation, make sure that you assess how many chargers you’ll need and the type you want to install, whether it’s fast, rapid or ultra-rapid.
This will, of course, depend on how many EVs will be using chargers, the amount of time that vehicles will spend charging and the charging speeds that you want to provide.
Check your property’s electrical capacity
With more electric vehicles on the road than ever before, the chances are that you’ll have a large number of employees and visitors who will require the use of EV charging stations.
It’s therefore important that you make sure that your building’s electrical supply has the capacity to support the charging equipment. If it’s not up to scratch then you may need to consider upgrading, with the help of BFS’ qualified electricians.
Obtain any necessary permits
Make sure that you check with your local council whether you need to obtain any permits or secure planning permission before you begin the installation process.
It’s also important that you consult the government’s regulations regarding charger points for commercial properties to make sure you are in compliance.
Hire a BFS electrician to install the charging point
When it comes to installation, you can trust one of BFS’ team of licensed electricians to expertly install the charging point. Our expert electricians are on hand to solve any of your domestic electrical needs from installation to refurbishment.
If you’d like to find out more about our electrical services, get in touch today.