The green industrial revolution is well on its way within the UK. Electric vehicles are an important part of the UK’s plan to achieve net-zero by 2050. As part of its plan, the government has introduced various projects to incentivise us to make the switch to electric driving.
Most recently, the government-backed EV8 Switch app was made available to the public. The app helps users calculate how much they could save by switching to an electric vehicle from their petrol or diesel vehicle.
Businesses are also choosing to invest in all-electric fleets and workplace EV charge point installation. The shift to greener driving can be seen in different industries, including the agricultural industry.
So, what can farmers do to decrease their carbon footprint? One of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to change your vehicle. However, EV charge point installation goes hand-in-hand with owning an electric vehicle.
Below we consider the benefits of EV charge point installation for farmers.
What Are the Different Types of EV Chargers Available to Farmers?
EV chargers can be divided into home, workplace, and public EV charge points. EV charge points can be further divided into three types, namely trickle, fast, or rapid charge points.
Categories of EV Chargers
Home EV charge points include home wallboxes and on-street residential EV chargers that are for private use.
Workplace EV chargers are installed by businesses to charge their fleets. Generally, employees can use their company’s EV charge points for a small fee, or some offer EV charging as an employee benefit. Some businesses also offer free EV charging to their visitors.
Public EV charge points are usually provided by local authorities. In 2020, there were over 20,000 public EV charge points in the UK, with roughly 3,000 of them being rapid charging points. The government has also set standards for EV charge points to make them more inclusive for all Britons.
EV Charge Point Types
Trickle or slow EV points have a speed of 3-5kW. Trickle points are usually used to charge your EV at home overnight. Recharging an empty battery could take up 12 hours on a trickle point.
Fast EV charge points have a charging speed of 7-22kW. Fast EV charge points are usually found at public places, such as supermarkets or leisure centres. A 7kW charge point can add a driving range of up to 30 miles per hour on a single hour of charge. A 22kW fast charger point can add up to 90 miles of driving range per hour charged.
Rapid EV charge points and ultra-rapid charge points are generally placed at motorway services or EV charging stations. A rapid charge point can have a charging speed of 99kW, while an ultra-rapid charge point has a speed of 100kW or more. A rapid charge can charge some vehicles in as little as 20 minutes.
How Can EV Charge Points Grow Farming Businesses?
Farmers, like all business owners, must adjust their business strategies to reflect modern trends. EV charge point installation is just one way to enhance your business as it can be used as an attraction to consumers or an additional income.
Farms that offer holiday accommodation or rental units can attract and retain tenants with new EV charge point installation. You could install two plug-in points with different charging speeds to diversify your accommodation’s offering.
Introducing EV charge points could also boost your estate’s environmental credentials, which could attract environmentally conscious visitors too.
How Much Will EV Charge Point Installation Cost Farmers?
Installing a new 7kW charging unit could cost roughly £1,500 after receiving the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grant. The WCS grant is offered through the Office For Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and can cover up to 75% of the total cost of installing an EV charger.
The OLEV grant has strict eligibility requirements. Businesses will only receive funding for a maximum of 40 sockets across their premises. When you apply for the grant, you will have to show that your business needs the sockets. For example, farmers could submit that EV chargers would be used by estate visitors to charge their vehicles.
The OLEV only allows EV charge points to be fitted by accredited OLEV installation companies. Using an unapproved EV installation company could jeopardise your chances of receiving an OLEV grant.
How to Find An OLEV Approved EV Installation Company Near You
An OLEV approved installer, such as Applegarth, is familiar with changing legislation and industry standards. Our industry knowledge allows us to provide high-quality EV installation that can be trusted by the government, farmers, and homeowners alike.
It’s essential to contact a professional company before you decide to install an EV charge point on your farm or estate. At Applegarth, we have helped many businesses switch to greener driving. Whether you need assistance with considering the viability of switching to an EV fleet or want to find out more about the EV installation process, we can help.
Contact us today, and one of our experienced team members will walk you through your EV charging options.
