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What Affects the Cost
The biggest variable is your building’s electrical capacity. If existing supply handles the additional load, costs stay lower. If you need a new supply from the DNO or distribution upgrades, the price increases.
Other factors include number of parking bays, cable run distances, and parking layout. Underground car parks are often cheaper. Wall mounted chargers avoid the need for pedestals and groundworks.
Civil engineering is often the largest hidden cost. Digging trenches for cables adds up quickly, especially if concrete or tarmac needs reinstatement. Surface car parks typically require more extensive civils than basement installations.
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Cost by Building Size
Small buildings (5-20 flats): £5,000-£20,000 before grants. Usually works within existing electrical supply for 5-10 parking bays.
Medium buildings (20-50 flats): £15,000-£35,000 before grants. Often needs distribution board upgrades. Grant entitlement increases with scope.
Large complexes (50+ flats): £40,000-£100,000 before grants. May require dedicated DNO supply. These projects benefit most from the £30,000 infrastructure cap.
After OZEV Grants
With the Infrastructure Grant (up to £30,000) and Chargepoint Grant (£350 per socket), most buildings see costs drop by 60-75%. A typical 20 flat building installing 10 chargers could receive £13,500 in grants.
The grant deadline is March 2026. Buildings planning installations should apply sooner rather than later.
