Electric Vans Are Growing – Is Your Business Ready to Charge Them?

Electric vans are becoming an increasingly common sight on UK roads, and the latest registration figures suggest the transition among commercial vehicles is gathering pace.

According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), battery-electric light commercial vehicles achieved a record 16.3% share of the UK market in August 2026.

For businesses considering electric vans, however, buying the vehicles is only part of the transition.

The question that can easily be overlooked is:

Can your existing electrical installation charge them?

Start With the Electrical Infrastructure, Not the Charger

It's tempting to start an EV charging project by choosing a make and model of chargepoint.

For a commercial fleet, we believe the better starting point is understanding how the vehicles will actually be used.

A business introducing two electric vans today might have six or ten within a few years. Installing charging equipment without considering that future demand can result in unnecessary expense or infrastructure having to be altered again later.

A commercial EV charging assessment can consider:

• The capacity of the existing electrical supply

• Current maximum electrical demand

• How many vehicles need to charge

• How far those vehicles travel each day

• How long they remain at the premises

• The most appropriate charger ratings

• Whether load management could be used

• Distribution board and submain requirements

• Cable routes and groundworks

• Provision for additional chargers in the future

Do All Electric Vans Need to Charge at Full Power Simultaneously?

Not necessarily.

A van returning to a depot at 5pm and remaining there until 7am may have many hours available to replace the energy used during the day.

With appropriate charger selection and load management, charging can potentially be distributed across the available electrical capacity rather than every vehicle demanding maximum power simultaneously.

The correct solution depends on the site, fleet and operating pattern, which is why a survey is important.

Plan for Tomorrow's Fleet

A business doesn't necessarily need to install every charger it might eventually require on day one.

It can often make sense to plan the electrical infrastructure with future expansion in mind.

That might mean considering future cable routes, containment, distribution capacity and charger locations while completing the initial installation.

The objective is to create an EV charging system capable of growing alongside the fleet.

Workplace EV Charging Grants

Eligible UK businesses can currently receive support through the government's Workplace Charging Scheme.

The scheme can contribute 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs, up to £500 per socket, subject to eligibility and scheme conditions.

Up to 40 sockets can be supported across an applicant's sites, and the scheme is currently scheduled to remain available until 31 March 2027.

Businesses considering using an OZEV grant should check their eligibility and complete the required application process before installation.

Larger Fleet and Depot Charging Projects

Businesses operating larger fleets of electric vans and other commercial vehicles may require considerably more infrastructure than a conventional workplace installation.

A depot charging project can potentially involve:

• Three-phase electrical distribution

• New submains

• Load management

• High-power charging

• Groundworks and trenching

• Charger protection

• Electrical capacity assessments

• Monitoring and control

• Testing and commissioning

The government is also expected to open another application window for its Depot Charging Scheme on 28 October 2026.

The previous funding round supported up to 70% of eligible chargepoint and civil infrastructure costs. Terms for the next funding round have not yet been confirmed, so businesses should not assume the same funding level will apply.

For organisations considering larger fleet electrification projects, however, now is a sensible time to start assessing requirements.

More Than EV Charger Installation

Commercial EV charging often forms part of a much wider electrical installation.

Able Electric can undertake associated commercial electrical services including electrical distribution work, fixed-wire inspection and testing, thermal imaging, emergency lighting, LED upgrades and other electrical improvements.

This allows the charging installation to be considered alongside the condition and capacity of the existing electrical infrastructure.

Over 3,000 EV Chargers Installed

Able Electric has installed more than 3,000 EV chargers, working on domestic, workplace and larger commercial installations across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

We are OZEV approved and NICEIC Approved Contractors and work with established EV charging manufacturers.

Planning Electric Vans or Workplace Charging?

Before deciding how many chargers to buy, find out what your electrical installation can support.

Able Electric can survey your premises, assess available capacity and help design a commercial EV charging installation capable of meeting today's requirements while allowing for future growth.

Contact Able Electric to arrange a commercial EV charging site survey.

Able Electric EV Charger Installation in the West Midlands

Able EV provides professional EV charger installation services across Birmingham and surrounding West Midlands towns.

EV Charger Installation Areas

Able EV provides professional EV charger installation services across Birmingham and surrounding West Midlands towns.

Birmingham Solihull Sutton Coldfield Wolverhampton

Walsall West Bromwich Dudley Coventry

Redditch Tamworth Bromsgrove Nuneaton

Smethwick Stourbridge Halesowen Lichfield

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Ableev is the trading name of The Car Charging Company (Midlands)Ltd