For businesses across Redhill and Surrey, workplace EV charging is becoming a practical investment rather than a future ambition. Employees are increasingly switching to electric cars, commercial fleets are changing, and customers expect businesses to provide more sustainable facilities.
Whether you operate a warehouse in Merstham, an office near Reigate, a gym in Redhill, or a retail and hospitality destination in Salfords, installing commercial chargepoints can improve the experience you offer while helping to prepare your electrical infrastructure for the years ahead.
At ADS Electrical, we provide professional commercial electrical services and EV charging installation for domestic, commercial and industrial premises.
Why install EV charging at your Surrey workplace?
Redhill benefits from its position close to the A23 and M23 corridor, with regular commuter traffic towards London and surrounding towns. Businesses in Redhill, Reigate, Merstham and Salfords serve a mixture of local employees, commuters, visitors, delivery drivers and commercial fleets.
Installing EV charging can support your business in several ways.
Attract and retain employees
Workplace charging is a valuable benefit for employees who drive electric vehicles. Staff can charge during the working day without making a separate stop at a public charging station.
This may be particularly useful for businesses with:
- Long shifts
- Limited public transport access
- Large staff car parks
- Employees travelling into Redhill from surrounding Surrey areas
- Company cars or salary-sacrifice EV schemes
Providing charging can also help demonstrate that sustainability is part of your workplace culture.
Improve the customer experience
Gyms, coffee shops, restaurants and retail destinations are well suited to destination charging. Customers may spend anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours at your premises, giving them time to add useful range while they shop, eat, exercise or attend an appointment.
A visible charging facility can make your site more attractive when customers compare nearby destinations. Depending on your business model, charging can be offered as a free amenity, a paid service or a benefit for loyalty scheme members.
Support sustainability targets
Many businesses now have environmental targets set by customers, landlords, investors or supply-chain partners. EV charging can form part of a wider plan that includes energy-efficient equipment, LED lighting and lower-emission vehicles.
ADS Electrical also provides commercial LED lighting design and installation, allowing car park lighting and EV infrastructure to be considered together.
Prepare for commercial fleets
Warehouses, logistics operators, industrial units and service businesses may be transitioning to electric cars, vans or pool vehicles. Installing suitable charging at the depot can reduce reliance on public charging and make vehicle scheduling more predictable.
A phased installation can also allow you to prepare additional parking bays for future chargepoints, rather than carrying out disruptive groundworks more than once.
Workplace EV charging setups for Surrey businesses
The correct system depends on how long vehicles remain parked, how many vehicles need charging and whether the site has sufficient electrical capacity.
1. Destination charging for customers and visitors
Destination charging is suited to:
- Gyms and leisure facilities
- Restaurants and coffee shops
- Retail parks and shops
- Hotels and accommodation
- Healthcare facilities
- Offices with visitor parking
- Car parks serving multiple businesses
AC chargers rated at 7kW are often suitable where vehicles remain parked for one to three hours or longer. A 22kW AC charger may be appropriate where faster turnover is needed and the vehicle can accept the higher AC charging rate.
Payment options, pricing and access can be configured through compatible software. Some businesses allow open access, while others use an app, RFID card or membership system.
2. Employee charging
Office and workplace car parks commonly need charging throughout the working day. In this setting, 7kW AC charging is often effective because vehicles may be parked for six to eight hours.
A back-office platform can help businesses:
- Allocate charging to employees
- Restrict use to authorised vehicles
- Record energy consumption
- Apply different tariffs
- Manage charging sessions
- Monitor equipment status remotely
RFID access cards can be useful for straightforward staff access, while app-based systems may offer more detailed reporting and payment functionality.
3. Fleet and depot charging
Fleet charging requires more careful planning. A warehouse or industrial unit may need a combination of charging speeds for vans, pool cars and staff vehicles.
A typical arrangement might include:
- 7kW AC chargers for staff cars
- 22kW AC chargers for electric vans parked for several hours
- Higher-powered DC rapid chargers for vehicles that need a quick turnaround
DC rapid charging can be useful for logistics hubs, roadside businesses and depots where vehicles cannot remain parked for long. However, DC equipment normally involves higher equipment, connection and installation costs, so it should be selected for a clear operational reason.
AC 7kW, AC 22kW or DC rapid charging?
7kW AC charging
7kW chargers are commonly used for staff, customer and visitor charging. They are generally suitable for single-phase supplies and work well where vehicles are parked for extended periods.
They are often a good starting point for:
- Offices
- Gyms
- Small retail sites
- Restaurants
- Warehouses with long vehicle dwell times
22kW AC charging
22kW AC charging normally requires a suitable three-phase supply. It can provide faster charging than 7kW, but the vehicle must also support 22kW AC charging to benefit fully. Some cars accept lower AC rates, while certain vans and fleet vehicles may make better use of the additional capacity.
Three-phase charging may be worth considering for larger warehouses, industrial units and commercial premises with suitable incoming power.
DC rapid charging
DC rapid chargers are designed for speed rather than long dwell times. They may be suitable for fleet depots, high-turnover car parks and businesses that want charging to be a central part of their customer offering.
Before choosing DC, a business should consider:
- The available electrical supply
- Potential network upgrade requirements
- Expected daily usage
- Space and cable management
- Maintenance arrangements
- Whether customers or vehicles genuinely need rapid charging
For many Surrey workplaces, a carefully designed AC system with load management provides a more cost-effective and flexible solution.
Electrical capacity, load management and three-phase supplies
A professional site assessment is essential before installing multiple EV chargers. Several 7kW chargepoints operating simultaneously can create a significant additional demand, particularly in buildings that already use substantial power for heating, cooling, machinery, lighting or commercial equipment.
An electrical capacity survey should consider:
- The incoming supply rating
- Existing peak demand
- The main distribution board
- Cable routes and distances
- Available spare ways
- Earthing and protective devices
- Future expansion plans
- The proposed number and rating of chargepoints
Dynamic load management can monitor the building’s overall electricity use and adjust charging power automatically. For example, chargers may reduce their output when warehouse machinery or air-conditioning systems are operating, then increase charging when spare capacity becomes available.
This can help avoid unnecessary supply upgrades and make better use of the electricity already available on site.
For larger premises, three-phase power may support higher-capacity AC charging, but its suitability must be confirmed through proper electrical design. If an existing board is outdated or unsuitable, an 18th Edition consumer unit or distribution board upgrade may be required before the chargepoints can be installed safely.
Coordinate EV charging with car park lighting
EV charging should be planned as part of the wider car park layout. Good lighting improves visibility around chargepoints, helps customers connect cables safely and supports a more secure environment during darker mornings and evenings.
Consider coordinating:
- Chargepoint positions
- Parking bay markings
- Lighting columns and cable routes
- Pedestrian access
- Protection from vehicle impact
- Signage and accessibility
- CCTV coverage
- Emergency lighting where relevant
ADS Electrical installs LED lighting for car parks, so we can help coordinate charging and lighting works as one project rather than treating them as separate installations.
Workplace charging grants and tax considerations
The UK’s Workplace Charging Scheme provides grant support for eligible organisations, subject to the current scheme rules, approved equipment and authorised installer requirements. GOV.UK guidance has confirmed changes to workplace grants from 1 April 2026, with schemes extended for a final year to 31 March 2027.
Current guidance and eligibility should be checked before budgeting. The grant may cover up to 75% of eligible costs, subject to per-socket limits and scheme caps. Older online information may still refer to previous rates, so businesses should use the latest Workplace Charging Scheme guidance.
It is also important to note that some separate commercial infrastructure grant schemes closed to installer claims during 2026. Do not assume that a previously advertised grant is still available.
Businesses may also be able to claim tax relief on qualifying electrical and charging equipment, although the treatment depends on the structure of the business, the type of expenditure and any grant received. Speak to your accountant about capital allowances, full expensing and how grant funding affects the qualifying amount.
Common challenges to plan for
The main challenges for workplace EV charging include:
- Upfront installation costs
- Limited electrical capacity
- Long cable routes or difficult groundworks
- Choosing equipment that suits the vehicles using it
- Managing access and payment
- Ongoing maintenance and software subscriptions
- Protecting chargepoints from accidental damage
- Planning for future expansion
A staged design can help. For example, a business could install several operational chargers now while installing cabling and ducts to additional future bays.
A practical checklist for Surrey business owners
Before requesting an EV charging quotation, consider:
- How many staff, visitor or fleet vehicles need charging?
- How long do vehicles normally remain parked?
- Do you need open customer access, RFID control or app-based payment?
- Is the site supplied by single-phase or three-phase electricity?
- What other equipment operates during peak periods?
- Could the car park layout or lighting be improved at the same time?
- Will you need an 18th Edition board or distribution upgrade?
- Do you want to install chargers in stages?
- Are you eligible for a current workplace charging grant?
- Who will maintain and monitor the equipment after installation?
Professional EV charger installation in Redhill and Surrey
Choosing the right charger is only part of the process. Safe installation also requires electrical design, capacity assessment, suitable protection, testing, commissioning and clear communication with the people responsible for your premises.
ADS Electrical is an NICEIC Approved Contractor providing EV charger installation in Redhill and Surrey for domestic, commercial and industrial customers. We provide free quotes within 24 hours, full project management from design to installation and coordination with other trades where required.
If your business is considering workplace charging, speak to our team about EV charging solutions Redhill. We can help assess your site, plan a scalable installation and identify how EV charging can work alongside your lighting and wider electrical requirements.