Commercial EV Charging Installation: A Complete Guide

Planning commercial EV charging

Commercial EV charging covers everything from a handful of bays at a business park to a public-facing rapid hub. Whatever the scale, the same fundamentals decide whether it succeeds: the right charger type for how long drivers stay, an electrical supply that can support it, and a payment system that fits your goals.

AC vs DC: match the charger to the dwell time

The single most important choice is AC versus DC, and it comes down to how long vehicles are parked:

AC fast charging (7–22kW): cheaper to install and ideal where drivers dwell: hotels, restaurants, gyms, workplaces and longer-stay car parks.
DC rapid charging (50kW+): far quicker, suiting forecourts, retail parks and busy transit sites where drivers want a fast top-up.

Many sites use a mix: a bank of AC chargers for longer stays plus one or two DC units for quick turnarounds.

Sizing the installation

Plan around expected demand and dwell time, not just available bays. A sensible approach is to install today’s charge points with the cabling and electrical headroom to expand, so you can scale without digging up the car park twice. A supply assessment tells you how much you can add within your current capacity.

The electrical supply

Commercial charging, especially DC rapid, can draw significant power. Early in the project your installer carries out a supply assessment and, where needed, liaises with your distribution network operator (DNO). Smart load management shares available capacity dynamically across the chargers and the building, frequently avoiding a costly upgrade.

Payment, access and revenue

Commercial chargers can pay their way. Options include:

Contactless card or app-based payment so customers pay to charge
Access control (RFID, app) for staff-only or member-only use
Network integration for roaming and wider visibility

You set the tariff, whether that’s a customer perk, a cost-recovery rate, or a profit centre.

Building regulations

For new builds and major renovations, EV provision is often a legal requirement. In England, Approved Document S sets out where new and significantly renovated non-residential buildings with parking must include charge points or cable routes — and planning permission is rarely needed for chargers in an existing car park. We’ll factor the relevant requirements into the design.

Getting it delivered

From supply assessment and DNO liaison through civils, installation and commissioning, a commercial project benefits from a single team managing the whole thing — find a commercial installer to survey your site. See our commercial & destination charging service, or if it’s primarily for staff, our workplace charging guide.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between AC and DC commercial charging?

AC chargers (typically 7–22kW) are cheaper to install and suit places where drivers stay a while, such as hotels, gyms, workplaces and car parks. DC rapid chargers (50kW and above) cost more but charge in minutes, suiting forecourts, retail parks and high-traffic transit sites. Many sites combine both.

How do I choose how many commercial charge points to install?

Base it on expected demand and dwell time, not just space. Estimate how many EV drivers will use the site and how long they stay, then plan capacity, often installing some chargers now with cabling and electrical headroom to expand. A supply assessment confirms what's feasible without an upgrade.

Do commercial chargers need a grid supply upgrade?

Sometimes, particularly for DC rapid charging, which draws significant power. A supply assessment and liaison with your distribution network operator (DNO) establishes your available capacity. Smart load management often lets you add charging within your existing supply before any upgrade is needed.

Are businesses required to install EV charging?

For new builds and major renovations, yes in many cases. Building regulations (Approved Document S in England) require EV charge points or cable routes for many new and significantly renovated non-residential buildings with parking. Existing buildings aren't generally required to retrofit, but many do for commercial benefit.