Official government / regulator
GOV.UK grant listings and guidance, DfT statistics, HMRC, ICO and network guidance.
Editorial & calculator methodology
How we build commercial EV charging cost, grant and ROI guidance.
The aim is not false precision. We use transparent assumptions, broad planning ranges and current primary sources so readers can see what drives the result and where a site survey or supplier quotation is still required.
Source hierarchy
We prefer the source closest to the rule or statistic.
Technical / standards body
For example Open Charge Alliance material when explaining OCPP and certification.
Manufacturer documentation
Used for exact vehicle or equipment capability examples, not as a substitute for neutral market evidence.
Current market guides
Used cautiously for external cost context where official project-cost data does not exist.
Cost calculator
Our cost engine is a planning model, not a supplier price database.
The calculator combines a base installed allowance per socket/charger with additional ranges for cable route, groundworks, site electrical capacity, access/payment and load management.
It also applies scale factors so a multi-socket project is not treated as a simple multiplication of a single-unit installation.
What changes the cost
The model deliberately keeps the main project variables visible.
Charger power & quantity
AC vs DC, number of sockets and the aggregate nameplate load.
Cable route
Longer containment and cable routes increase material and labour requirements.
Civils
Trenching, reinstatement and physical protection can materially change an outdoor project.
Electrical capacity
Unknown or major supply work receives a wider allowance because it is one of the largest sources of uncertainty.
Access / payment
RFID, public payment and managed operation add equipment and setup requirements.
Load management
Smart control can help manage demand but it does not create electrical capacity.
Grant methodology
We model only grant terms that are currently confirmed.
For the standard Workplace Charging Scheme, the cost calculator applies the current 75% eligible-cost rule, £500-per-socket cap and 40-socket limit. For state-funded education it applies the current £2,000-per-socket cap, also subject to the 75% rule and 40-socket limit.
The Depot Charging Scheme is deliberately not applied inside the calculator while the next-window grant rate is still unconfirmed.
ROI calculator
Simple operating cash return — not an investment valuation.
The ROI tool models customer charging revenue, VAT treatment, electricity cost, payment/roaming fees and recurring costs before calculating a simple payback.
It does not calculate IRR, financing costs, corporation tax, depreciation or the time value of money. It also does not assign a cash value to indirect benefits such as employee retention, guest conversion or fleet fuel savings.
Corrections & updates
We want date-sensitive pages to be easy to correct.
If an official scheme changes, a source becomes stale or a calculator assumption looks unreasonable, send the page URL and the issue. Corrections are reviewed against the underlying source before being incorporated.