Charging at work

Workplace charging is one of the most convenient ways to keep your electric vehicle topped up, especially for those who cannot install a charger at home. Many employers now offer charging as a benefit to employees, and the UK government provides financial support to help businesses install the necessary infrastructure.

1. Benefits for Employees

  • Convenience: Charge while your car is parked for 8 hours or more.
  • Zero-Cost Charging: Many employers provide electricity for free as a perk, or at a significantly lower rate than public charging.
  • Reliability: You have a guaranteed charging spot during the day, reducing the need to visit public rapid chargers.
  • Salary Sacrifice: If your employer offers an EV salary sacrifice scheme, the cost of the car and sometimes the charging can be taken from your gross pay, saving you significant tax and National Insurance.

2. Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)

The Workplace Charging Scheme is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints.

  • Grant Amount: The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs, capped at £350 per socket.
  • Capacity: A business can receive vouchers for up to 40 charging sockets across all their sites.
  • Eligibility: Available to registered businesses, charities, and public sector organizations. The site must have dedicated off-street parking.

3. Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) Tax

One of the biggest advantages of workplace charging is that it is currently exempt from Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax.

  • If your employer provides free electricity to charge your car at work, it is not considered a taxable benefit. This is a significant saving compared to company petrol or diesel cars, where the fuel is heavily taxed.

4. How to Request Charging at Work

If your workplace doesn’t yet have charging, here is how you can build a case:

  1. Survey Interest: Find out how many other colleagues already have EVs or are planning to switch.
  2. Highlight the WCS: Remind your employer that they can get up to £14,000 in government funding (£350 x 40 sockets).
  3. ESG Goals: Highlight how installing chargers helps the company meet its sustainability and environmental targets.
  4. Staff Retention: Emphasize that providing charging is a valuable benefit that helps attract and keep talent.

Note for Employers: Installing workplace chargers can also generate revenue if you choose to open them to the public or visitors during weekends or evenings using a managed charging platform.