More than half of workplaces ‘yet to offer’ EV charging

Workplace charging for electric vehicles (EVs) is not available to more than half (52%) of drivers, a survey suggests.

The YouGov survey, commissioned by EV charging platform Monta, also revealed that 82% of these drivers expressed a desire to charge their EV at their place of work if it was available. 

A poll by Fleet News showed a similar split, with 46% not having access to a workplace charger.

Alok Dubey, UK country manager at Monta, said: “There’s a huge gap between what EV drivers want and what is currently available in the UK.

“While workplaces are still being slow to install charge points, their employees are charging at expensive public chargers or waiting until they get home and plugging in at peak times.

“Both of which will become more untenable as energy prices and the demand on the grid increases.”

Dubey believes that workplace charging is crucial to building to the UK’s EV charging infrastructure.

He added: “There are huge benefits for employers who install a charge point. There are several ways to raise revenue from a charge point in a work environment.

“For example, business owners can share their charge points with the public during weekends or outside work hours, earning a small profit on per charge while contributing to the continued electrification of the UK’s infrastructure.”

Dubey says that staff and the general public alike are showing a huge appetite for workplace chargers due to the lack of viable options elsewhere - especially those in inner cities, without access to private driveways or nearby public chargers.

He said: “One-in-five EV drivers primarily work from home, but how many would prefer to work in the office are put off by the lack of charging at work?

“If employers are serious about wanting staff to return, then the place of work needs to be seen as an extension of the home office where amenities are provided to make commutes more attractive,” he concluded.