Electric vehicle charging stations at leasehold properties

19th August 2022

Electric vehicle charging stations at properties, has been gradually increasing in demand. With the green revolution starting to permeate modern Britain there is a greater than ever drive to ensure the nation’s homes are sustainable going forward. Additionally, sustainable travel, and particularly cycling, is becoming more popular in UK cities with more cycle paths being built every year. As part of our sustainability series, we will go over why electric chargers are growing in demand, how to get one installed, and what other sustainable travel infrastructure you could have on your property.

EV charger benefits

While you might have noticed electric car charging points popping up in city centres, the number of these points is far below what is needed going forward. According to EDF, there are already over 15,500 charging locations in the UK which are more than the number of petrol stations. However, as electric cars take longer to recharge than standard cars do to refill, many of these chargers are in the wrong place. This is for two reasons, firstly, while some cars can get a full charge in an hour most EVs will need over 3 hours to charge. Additionally, with the amount of power needed, charging EVs during the day can be much more expensive than at night. So the best way to solve these issues is to have the charging points at home. This means that EVs can charge safely at your property overnight, eliminating the need to be left somewhere unsecure and lowering the cost of charging as electricity is cheaper at night. Furthermore, by installing charging stations in homes you can increase the property value as the majority of properties do not yet have these facilities.

Types of charging points

There are three types of electric car charging points available for EV owners in the UK. They can be split into three categories; slow, fast and rapid charging points. Slow charging points are usually only rated up to 3 kW of electricity and can be plugged directly into mains electricity. While this charging point is the easiest to install, it can take between 8 to 10 hours for an EV to get a full charge from this point. Fast charging points are rated between 7kW and 22kW. These are the types that you find in city centres and shopping centre car parks, with a standard charging time of between 3 to 4 hours. Fast charging points are more expensive to install requiring a specialised socket and can cost over £500 for a basic model. This type of charger is the most sustainable is it can charge most EV models. Finally, rapid charging points have the highest rated wattage of over 43 kW and include models such as the Tesla Supercharger. These chargers are the most expensive to install costing upwards of £1,000. Additionally, only a few types of EVs can use these charging points so they might not be the best option unless your vehicle is compatible. 

Sustainable active travel facilities

Electric vehicles aren’t the only change coming to sustainable travel in Britain. Cycling, scootering, and many other novel forms of transport are becoming increasingly popular. This has been supercharged by the pandemic with the number of people cycling peaking in 2021. It is best practice to install items like bike racks under cover, however, placing them directly outside the property is also possible. This can be done cheaply with bike racks costing as little as £50. By also providing a power socket you can easily create a great storage and charging facility for electric bikes. Furthermore, facilities like this can be used to store scooters and cargo bikes also. By installing these facilities you can add value to a property that can still be felt long into the future and make it more attractive for those looking for a home that matches their green lifestyles. 

If you are a landlord and want to know more about improving your property’s energy efficiency changes you can read about them in this piece on EPC ratings. And if you are a leaseholder who wants to futureproof your property feel free to contact us here.

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