Drivers more likely to go electric if they can charge at work

Employers can help accelerate the UK’s switch to Electric Vehicles by providing charging facilities at their workplaces. Half of UK drivers (50%) say they would be more likely to switch to an Electric Vehicle (EV) if they could charge at work, according to a YouGov survey.

The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of global vehicle charging manufacturer CTEK, found that workplace charging was welcomed even more by drivers who used to own an EV or plug-in hybrid car – 81% said they would be more likely to buy an EV.

Cecilia Routledge, global director, Energy & Facilities for CTEK, said: “This shows how important workplace charging is to the overall development of the UK’s charging infrastructure.

“Employers can not only help their workers and the UK’s drive towards net zero, they can also make themselves more attractive to potential recruits.
“Early adopters of EVs tended to have access to a driveway or garage where they could install home charging units. But as the market penetration of EVs grows, more people who do not have off-street parking will have EVs and need a reliable place to charge away from home.”

The survey found that only 56% of EV owners are now charging at home (down from 78% in 2021), with 20% now charging at work.

The YouGov survey discovered that younger non-EV drivers were even more likely to switch to EVs if there was charging at work. Around 60% of 18-34 year olds were more likely, ahead of 55% of 35-44 year olds, 48% of those aged 45-54 and just 33% of the over 55s.

The survey of more than 4,000 UK adults also found the drivers in the North of England were the most likely to be encouraged to drive electric by having charging at work (56%) whilst London and Scotland (both 45%) were less likely.

Cecilia said: “Younger employees are a key recruitment target for many employers faced with hard to fill vacancies and skills gaps. Younger people are also a demographic less likely to be home owners and more likely to live in housing without off-street parking and access to home chargers for EVs.
“So there are multiple reasons for employers who have staff car parks to install EV charging points, plus the incentive of the UK Government’s grants of thousands of pounds for up to 75% of the project costs.”

Thanks to the EV Infrastructure Grant Scheme (IGS), UK registered businesses with less than 250 employees can claim grants of up to £15,000 and can claim five grants in total for five separate sites.

At each site, there must be a minimum of five clearly marked staff-only parking spaces with charging infrastructure installed, and at least one of those spaces must have an active charge point.

Employers installing a dual socket CTEK CHARGESTORM CONNECTED 2 (CC2) charger would be able to claim £350 per socket (total £700) for the charger, £500 for each of the two parking spaces served by the CC2 (total £1,000) plus £500 for the three additional spaces with cabling installed (total £1,500).

There is also the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme which offers grants of up to £350 per socket for up to 40 sockets but does not include infrastructure costs.