How much does commercial EV charging cost?

Indicatively: fast AC 7–22kW units £1,200–£3,000 each installed for basic workplace; rapid 50–100kW DC £12,000–£35,000; ultra-rapid 100kW+ £35,000–£80,000; plus civils and possible DNO/grid upgrade (£4,500–£50,000+ at higher power). Use the calculator for a range.

Depot, workplace or destination — what's the difference?

Depot: vehicles return to base, overnight smart-charging with load balancing is cheapest. Workplace: staff/visitor parking, WCS-eligible. Destination: customer dwell-time charging, often part-public.

Do I need a DNO application?

For anything beyond a few fast chargers, usually yes. A good installer scopes the grid connection early — it's the item that most often blows budgets if discovered late.

EV Charging for Fleets: The 2026 Buyer's Guide

Last reviewed 2026-05-20 · independent guidance

Why fleet charging is its own discipline

Charging a fleet is not "home chargers, but more of them". Depot and workplace sites hit grid-capacity limits and need load management, back-office software and phased civils. The installer you pick has to think in diversity factors and DNO applications, not single sockets.

Indicative costs (UK, 2026)

Item	Typical range
Fast AC 7–22 kW (per socket, installed, basic workplace)	£1,200 – £3,000
Rapid DC 50–100 kW (per unit)	£12,000 – £35,000
Ultra-rapid 100 kW+ (per unit)	£35,000 – £80,000
Groundworks / civils (per site)	£600 – £9,000
DNO / grid supply upgrade	£4,500 – £50,000+
Charge-point management software	£10 – £50 / charger / month

Estimate your project → Ranges only — itemised quotes always vary by site.

The three site types

Depot charging — vehicles return to base; overnight smart charging with load balancing is usually the cheapest route.
Workplace charging — staff and visitor vehicles; eligible for the Workplace Charging Scheme voucher.
Destination / fleet-in-the-field — customer dwell-time or public network reliance; the installer's job is the depot survey plus tariff strategy.

What to ask an installer before you sign

Have they done a DNO (grid) application for a site this size before?
Is load management included, or bolted on later at cost?
Who owns the charge-point management software and data?
Is the quote OZEV-grant-aware (WCS and Infrastructure Grant applied)?

Use the directory: every installer here is OZEV-authorised for commercial work. Shortlist three, get comparable quotes. Open the directory →

Frequently asked questions

How much does commercial EV charging cost?: Indicatively: fast AC 7–22kW units £1,200–£3,000 each installed for basic workplace; rapid 50–100kW DC £12,000–£35,000; ultra-rapid 100kW+ £35,000–£80,000; plus civils and possible DNO/grid upgrade (£4,500–£50,000+ at higher power). Use the calculator for a range.
Depot, workplace or destination — what's the difference?: Depot: vehicles return to base, overnight smart-charging with load balancing is cheapest. Workplace: staff/visitor parking, WCS-eligible. Destination: customer dwell-time charging, often part-public.
Do I need a DNO application?: For anything beyond a few fast chargers, usually yes. A good installer scopes the grid connection early — it's the item that most often blows budgets if discovered late.

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