2026 Update: PSDS & IETF closed. AIA gives 100% year-one relief on solar. 2026 active stack still delivers 40–60% effective subsidy. See 2026 grants →

UK commercial EV install — May 2026

Commercial EV charging installation — process, hardware, timelines.

UK commercial EV charging installation in 2026 is a 6-24 week, 5-phase process running £900 per workplace socket through £150k per ultra-rapid charger. We project-manage installations through OZEV-authorised commercial installers as part of integrated PV + battery + EV charging packages.

The five phases of UK commercial EV charging installation

Phase 1 — Site survey & electrical capacity

Engineers visit the site to confirm available electrical capacity, parking layout, distances from electrical supply to proposed charger locations, smart meter capability, and any structural requirements (canopy, weatherproofing). For ultra-rapid charging (150kW+), structural and groundworks survey is non-trivial — typically 1-2 weeks of work.

Phase 2 — Hardware selection

Match hardware to use case. Workplace 7-22kW AC: Pod Point Solo, Wallbox Pulsar Plus, EO Pro 3, Andersen A2, Schneider EVlink. Rapid 50kW DC: ABB Terra, Tritium RTM, EVBox Troniq, Delta DC Wallbox. Ultra-rapid 150-350kW DC: Kempower S-Series, Tritium PKM150, ABB Terra HP, Alpitronic Hypercharger. OZEV WCS eligibility requires hardware on the OZEV-approved list — confirm before specifying.

Phase 3 — G99 DNO application

For installations above 22kW AC per phase. Submit to local DNO (UK Power Networks, NGED, NPG, SP Energy Networks, ENWL, or SSEN). DNO reviews local network capacity and issues Connection Offer typically 60-110 working days later. Connection Offer breaks into contestable works (you choose your own ICP) and non-contestable works (DNO must deliver).

Phase 4 — Electrical install

OZEV-authorised installer carries out electrical install to BS7671 / IEC 61851 standards. Cabling from supply to charger, mounting, RCD/RCBO protection, weatherproofing, signage, accessibility compliance. Typical timeline 1-3 weeks of on-site work for sub-50kW projects; 3-8 weeks for 150kW+ ultra-rapid.

Phase 5 — Commissioning & backend setup

Power on, OCPP backend integration (OCPP 1.6 or 2.0 standard), payment system setup if applicable (RFID, contactless, app), monitoring system commissioning, OZEV grant claim submission, NICEIC certification, handover documentation. Commissioning takes 2-5 days typically.

Hardware lead times in 2026

Current UK commercial EV charging hardware lead times:

  • Workplace 7-22kW AC: 4-6 weeks typical (most major brands)
  • Rapid 50kW DC: 6-10 weeks (some popular models longer)
  • Ultra-rapid 150-350kW DC: 10-16 weeks (high-end Kempower, Alpitronic models can be 20+ weeks)

OZEV-authorised installers

The OZEV-authorised installer list is the gating list for grant eligibility. Approximately 350+ UK installers held authorisation in early 2026. Major installers with substantial UK commercial EV charging delivery experience include Pod Point, Mer (formerly Engenie), BP Pulse, Connected Kerb, Allstar, Hubsta, EO Charging, Mer, Plug-In Energy, GivEnergy, Smart Solar Power, plus regional commercial electrical contractors.

We project-manage commercial EV charging installations through a network of pre-approved OZEV-authorised partner installers selected by region and project type.

Integration with solar PV — single-project delivery

For combined PV + battery + EV charging projects, we run a single integrated project rather than three separate workstreams. Specifically:

  • One DNO G99 application covering all three (saves 8-15% on total DNO cost vs three separate applications)
  • One ICP procurement
  • One install programme with sequenced phases (typically PV first, battery second, EV charging last)
  • One OZEV grant + AIA claim across the integrated capex
  • Total project timeline 16-24 weeks vs 28-40 weeks for sequential separate projects

Related

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Commercial EV charging installation FAQs

How is commercial EV charging installed?
Five phases: (1) site survey including electrical capacity assessment, (2) hardware selection (7kW AC through 350kW DC depending on use case), (3) G99 DNO application for installations above 22kW AC per phase, (4) electrical install by OZEV-authorised installer to BS7671 / IEC 61851 standards, (5) commissioning, OCPP backend setup, and OZEV WCS or Infrastructure Grant claim. Total typical timeline 6-12 weeks for sub-50kW installs; 14-20 weeks for ultra-rapid 150kW+ projects requiring DNO reinforcement.
Who can install commercial EV chargers?
For OZEV grant eligibility, only OZEV-authorised installers can install commercial EV charging. The OZEV authorised installer list is publicly searchable. For non-grant installs, any NICEIC-certified or equivalent commercial electrical contractor can install — but choosing an OZEV-authorised installer keeps grant routes open and signals quality. UK has approximately 350+ OZEV-authorised commercial EV installers in 2026.
How long does commercial EV charging installation take?
6-8 weeks typical for sub-50kW workplace charging projects (4-12 sockets). 12-16 weeks for 50kW DC rapid charging projects requiring G99 application + non-contestable DNO works. 16-24 weeks for 150kW+ ultra-rapid projects often requiring substantial network reinforcement. Hardware lead times also vary — current commercial EV charging hardware lead times are 4-12 weeks depending on manufacturer.
What's the G99 process for commercial EV charging?
G99 is the UK DNO connection application for embedded generation and significant load. For EV charging above 22kW AC per phase (single-phase 4kW limit, three-phase 12kW), G99 application is required. The DNO assesses local network capacity and either approves the connection on standard terms or specifies non-contestable network reinforcement works. UK DNO turnaround in 2026: 60-110 working days for sub-500kW projects. Always submit G99 in week 1 of the project — it's the long pole.
Can commercial EV charging be installed on a leased site?
Yes, but landlord engagement is required. EV charging is a building service that needs roof, electrical and parking infrastructure modifications. Typical patterns: (1) tenant-funded with landlord consent — tenant owns the charging infrastructure, (2) landlord-funded with tenant operating model — landlord owns, tenant operates and pays a service charge, (3) EV charging operator funded — third party (BP Pulse, Pod Point) installs and operates, splits revenue with landlord/tenant. Each has different commercial implications.
How do you integrate commercial EV charging with solar PV?
Five integration approaches. (1) Smart EV charging that times sessions to coincide with solar generation peaks — software-led, no hardware integration. (2) DC-coupled solar + EV charging through unified inverter — hardware integration, more efficient. (3) Solar + battery + EV charging behind one DNO connection — single-procurement integration. (4) Solar canopy over EV parking — physical infrastructure overlap. (5) Smart Export Guarantee revenue offset — solar exported when not used by EVs generates SEG revenue. The dominant UK pattern is (1) + (3) for cost-effective integration.

Funding by asset class

The allowance depends on the asset, and most pages on this topic get it the wrong way round. Solar PV is special-rate expenditure (HMRC Capital Allowances Manual CA22335), so the 100% year-one route is the Annual Investment Allowance — Full Expensing is a main-rate measure and does not reach it. Battery storage, EV charging and heat pumps are main-rate plant, so Full Expensing genuinely does apply to those.

Free funding review

Find out which 2026 schemes your site actually qualifies for

What you get, within one working day
  • 1. A short written funding note naming every scheme your site qualifies for in 2026 — and the ones it does not.
  • 2. Indicative system size and a capex band for your roof.
  • 3. Year-one tax treatment per asset in £ — solar is special-rate expenditure, so the route is the Annual Investment Allowance; battery storage and heat pumps are main-rate plant, where Full Expensing does apply. Most pages get this the wrong way round.
  • 4. Projected SEG export revenue at current rates.
  • 5. Any red-flag eligibility or DNO issues we can see up front.

Covers solar PV, battery storage, EV charging and commercial heat pumps — separately or as one bundled project. If your project is a heat pump or a battery rather than a roof, say so in the message box and the note is written against that asset instead.

What we will not do
  • · We do not pass your details to multiple installers.
  • · We do not run a lead auction, and we never ask for your phone number.
  • · No marketing lists, no unsolicited calls.
  • · We are an independent funding consultancy — not an installer, and we take no installer commission.

Five questions. They are the eligibility test itself — scheme eligibility in 2026 turns on sector, tenure, site size and spend, so we cannot shortlist anything without them.

We reply from funding@commercialsolargrants.co.uk. No phone number required, ever.

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