David Abernethie from Sevadis discusses how social housing providers can benefit from the implementation of an EV charging infrastructure plan
Last year was a significant period for the UK with the electrification agenda; new regulations, legislation, technology, and investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure proved that the nation is steering towards the right direction for a carbon-free future. While the EV industry has been working on supporting the sustainability of transport for what seems like years, the reality is the concept of electrification and deploying EV charging infrastructure remains in its infancy for many organisations. What we can take from 2022 is although electrification is still new for many, figures from SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders) suggest that we have shifted from an electric revolution to an electric evolution, with now over half a million electric vehicles on the UK roads. This figure will increase this year and for years to come, for multiple reasons, one being that the accessibility of EV charging facilities is improving, thus generating confidence among the public.
Outlook for social housing providers
Like most organisations, social housing providers are beginning – or have already begun – to contemplate the future of their properties, and how they can offer sustainable homes to their tenants. Under legislation implemented last year, all new buildings and developments must be equipped with EV charging points to support the future of electrification. While the legislation is not applicable to existing buildings (unless a building is undergoing major refurbishment and has ten or more parking spaces), social housing providers are ensuring that the deployment of EV charging points is a key part of their environmental responsibility plans. Installing EV charging points at existing buildings is essentially a ‘no brainer’ when factoring in the benefits, such as increased customer satisfaction; fiscal benefits; greater green credentials and more.
The low-down on incentives
Nobody said that the deployment of EV charging infrastructure was going to be ‘cheap,’ in fact, some projects can be costly due to the infrastructure works required to install the EV charging point itself. However, last year, the UK government introduced an array of EV charging point grants, enabling landlords to benefit from cost savings towards the purchase and installation of their chosen EV charging equipment. Social housing providers are eligible for £350 grant funding per charging socket; although there is no limit to the number of charging sockets per property, applicants can only submit a maximum of 200 grant funding applications per year. This specific grant funding model is applicable for single-unit and multiunit properties, meaning that both houses and apartments are covered. One element to factor in with this grant is that the property must have dedicated parking spaces for tenants, whether that be a drive/garage, or a communal parking facility.
Revenue generation
The support of grant funding proposes financial savings for social housing providers, but there are still costs associated with the deployment of EV charging infrastructure, including installation, additional materials, labour costs, maintenance costs and management fees. While this may sound like an extensive cost outlay, the proliferation of EV adoption presents great potential and opportunities for social housing providers to recoup their EV charging point investment, as well as generate additional revenue in the future. One of the key elements to consider when devising an EV charging point strategy is the integration of a smart back-office management system that enables the charging point operator (CPO – the social housing provider) to manage and monitor their network of EV charging points. This also includes billing features, allowing the CPO to implement tariff-based charging to their tenants, whether that be a per-usage, monthly, quarterly or annual fee. The integration of a smart back-office management system is a crucial part of the EV charging point journey for most, if not all social housing providers, especially now as energy costs are high.
Choosing the right solution
Whether the location of parking is directly outside the property in the form of a driveway or garage, or the location of parking is in a communal environment, there are several factors to take into account when choosing the right solution. For driveways or garages, the common option is a wall-mounted EV charging point – this is a space-saving solution which offers a discreet way of positioning the EV charging point either on the house, or on the walls of a garage. For communal car parks, the requirements may vary depending on the nature of the car park. For example, an overground car park that is exposed to the public would benefit from a hard-wearing pedestal/pillar EV charging solution. For an underground car park – to save space – a wall-mounted solution would be recommended. In terms of charging speed outputs, the most common option for EV charging points installed on a house is a 7.4 kW charger, for communal car parks, the same can apply, however, locations with three-phase electrical supply can opt for faster charging outputs such as 11 kW or 22 kW.
In order to choose the right solution for a social housing provider’s EV charging requirements, we believe that working with experienced and expert EV charging point installers is essential for a seamless and straightforward surveying, installation and commissioning process. Most social housing providers already have access to their own electrical contractors, some of which may have EV charging point installation training, however, we understand that for some, this may not be the case. For this reason, we run a series of CPD sessions for electrical contractors requiring training and support towards the installation of EV charging points, whether that be for a basic or complex installation.
The future is electric
Electrification will continue to be a hot topic of discussion in 2023 as more and more drivers and businesses make the switch, while housing providers, public destinations, and workplaces work to provide accessible EV charging facilities at their locations. For social housing providers, 2023 will provide scope for opportunities and future growth when implementing an EV charging strategy for their buildings.
David Abernethie is senior project manager at Sevadis