How much do commercial EV chargers cost?
Transparent 2026 UK installed costs by charger type — and how the Workplace Charging Scheme grant and 100% tax relief bring the net cost down. No hidden "get a quote".
There is no single price for a commercial EV charge point, because the cost is driven far more by your electrical connection than by the charger on the wall. A 7kW workplace socket can be under £1,500 installed; a bank of DC rapid chargers with a new grid connection can run into six figures. The ranges below are indicative 2026 UK market figures per bay (or per charger for DC), and every one should be read net of grants: the Workplace Charging Scheme deducts up to £500 per socket — 75% of the total cost including VAT — on up to 40 sockets, and the chargepoints then attract 100% first-year tax relief.
The three cost drivers to understand before you budget are: the chargers (a modest, predictable line item); the civils and cabling (trenching, distance to the board, make-good — often the biggest variable); and the grid connection (nothing for a small single-phase AC job, up to £40,000-£200,000 for a bank of rapids needing a new HV supply). This is why load management matters so much: sharing your existing capacity across the chargers usually avoids the most expensive line altogether. See our load management and DNO guide.
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Indicative ranges by charger type and the DNO/back-office costs that sit around them. Confirmed at survey.
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Pick a job for an instant guide price from our published price list. It's indicative only — every job is confirmed with a free written quote.
Typical guide price
£800–£1,500per bay installed
Typical time on site: 1-3 days on an adequate supply
Guide range based on current market rates. Your price is confirmed in a free written quote after we understand the specifics.
Get my fixed written quoteCost ranges by sub-vertical
Workplace & employee charging
- Typical system
- 2-20 sockets, mostly 7kW (or 22kW on three-phase), load-managed
- Typical project value
- £10,000-£60,000 (before the WCS grant)
- Payback
- 3 years
Fleet & depot charging
- Typical system
- 10-100+ sockets, 7-22kW AC overnight + 50-350kW DC rapid, heavy load management
- Typical project value
- £50,000-£500,000+
- Payback
- 2 years
Destination & customer charging
- Typical system
- 4-20+ sockets, 22kW AC + 50-150kW DC rapid, contactless
- Typical project value
- £30,000-£250,000
- Payback
- 5 years
Landlord & commercial property
- Typical system
- Passive ducting + 2-10 active 7-22kW sockets per site
- Typical project value
- £15,000-£120,000
- Payback
- 4 years
Hotels & visitor attractions
- Typical system
- 4-16 sockets, mostly 7-22kW AC + a 50kW+ DC rapid
- Typical project value
- £20,000-£150,000
- Payback
- 5 years
Car parks & public networks
- Typical system
- 6-50+ sockets, DC rapid/ultra-rapid heavy (50-350kW) + AC
- Typical project value
- £100,000-£1,000,000+
- Payback
- 6 years
Cost questions
How much do commercial EV chargers cost to install?
As a 2026 guide, a 7kW AC socket typically runs £800-£1,500 per bay installed, a 22kW AC unit £2,500-£4,500, and a 50kW DC rapid £25,000-£45,000. Groundworks, cabling and any supply upgrade sit on top. Crucially, the Workplace Charging Scheme cuts up to £500 per socket (from 1 April 2026) for up to 40 sockets, so always budget net of the grant.
Can we charge staff and customers and recover the cost?
Yes. With a MID-metered charger and a back-office platform you can set a per-kWh tariff (or offer free/subsidised charging) and bill drivers by RFID card or contactless. Providing charging to all staff at or near the workplace to charge their own cars is exempt from benefit-in-kind (s237A ITEPA 2003), so employees face no tax charge. If you resell electricity to the public, the Public Charge Point Regulations and VAT rules apply.
Can we add solar panels to cut running costs?
Yes, and it's a strong pairing. On-site solar PV can power daytime charging directly, lowering your cost per kWh and grid demand — especially for workplace 7kW units used while the sun is up. Commercial self-consumption often rises from 40-60% to over 70% once daytime charging is added (80%+ with a battery). Note that solar or battery export needs separate DNO sign-off under G99 (or G98 for small systems), distinct from the charger connection.
What are the ongoing running costs?
Beyond electricity, budget for back-office software (typically £100-£480 per socket per year), payment-processing fees on paid charging, periodic maintenance and electrical inspection, and data connectivity. Networked chargers need this to bill drivers, monitor faults and run load management. Electricity is the biggest variable — on-site solar, off-peak tariffs and load balancing all reduce it. A maintenance contract protects uptime, especially on DC rapid units where repairs are pricier.