EV CHARGER INSTALLERS: HOW TO GROW YOUR MARGINS

What the future holds for EV installers

EVs are everywhere - it's not just the managing directors charging their car anymore. Accessibility has been accelerated by an increase in charging points, a lower cost of evs, and better media reporting regarding their benefits, amongst other things.

By 2023, global EV sales reached 14 million units (a 35% increase from 2022). And projected sales are even more encouraging, with research suggesting that EVs could comprise 40% of all new car sales by 2030. 

In general, the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to expand with growing support from consumer demand in the UK, government policy, and increasingly impressive technological advances. 

In the UK alone, Zap Map data shows that there were just under 1 million BEV cars on the road (978,387). By October 2024, this number had risen to 1.3 million, with 2 months still not accounted for (you can find the data below).

Source: Zap Map EV Trends

Why we need EV infrastructure 

Charging infrastructure is essential for sustaining this growth, whether it's an ev charger at home or in the public space. If drivers struggle to locate or use chargers easily, it fosters 'charge anxiety' among the public, undermining the goal of making charging a seamless, stress-free ‘non-event '.

Change is happening on a global scale.

Globally, public EV chargers grew by 40% in 2023, with China leading in both slow and fast chargers. 

For the UK to support the global shift towards EVs, greater investment in infrastructure is needed, as well as the expertise to drive the EV revolution forward. 

That’s where installation comes into the picture. 

The industry needs trusted and trained electricians who can install electric car chargers by regulation standards, as well as have the knowledge to support long-term maintenance. For electricians themselves, this presents a great commercial opportunity to scale up their businesses in an ever-expanding industry. 

Charging infrastructure remains critical to this growth, both home-charging and public.

The green skills gap

The transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy has highlighted the green skill gap, a critical challenge as industries shift towards environmentally friendly practices. 

The gap refers to the disparity between the skills available in the workforce and those required to implement sustainable technologies, processes, and solutions - like ev charger installation. 

Electric Vehicle (EV) installers play a critical role in addressing the UK’s green skill gap.

The rate of EV charger installations will need to more than double if the UK is to meet its 2030 target of 300,000 publicly available EV chargers. 

The growing adoption of EVs has sparked an urgent need for skilled professionals to install and maintain charging infrastructure. However, the demand for qualified EV installers currently outpaces the supply, contributing to the broader green skill gap.

As mentioned above, for EV installers, this represents a perfect opportunity to capitalise on a growing market. 

Beyond standard installation, there’s also an emerging demand for ongoing maintenance and upgrades as technology evolves. Installers with expertise in EV chargers can establish themselves as trusted partners, offering value-added services and building lasting relationships with clients. 

For those who embrace this opportunity, it’s not just about staying ahead of the curve—it’s about leading the way in a market poised for exponential growth.

Ready to grow your installation business? Get in touch!

As an installer, it’s important that you have some knowledge of installation policy, accreditations, and requirements - allowing you to continue or start your work stress-free about breaking any rules. 

Here are some common questions installers may ask on this topic: 

1. Do I need to be accredited on OZEV?

It's not a legal requirement to be accredited on OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles). However, it's highly recommended for installers who plan on scaling their business. 

OZEV is a UK government body that provides funding, guidance, and policy direction to support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the infrastructure necessary for their use, including the installation of EV charge points. 

For installers, OZEV is significant because it oversees grant schemes that reduce the cost of installing charge points for homes, workplaces, and other locations like street parking. For example, they offer The EV Chargepoint Grant.

It also signifies to your customers and partners that you are a qualified professional adhering to safety and quality standards - essential for building trust in a new market. 

You can find out more about the accreditation here. 

2. Does an ev charger installation grant exist?

As mentioned earlier, the UK government provides support for EV installation in various ways. Some of the most common are:

• Workplace Charging Scheme: This is aimed at businesses, including those installing on behalf of others. You can benefit from up to £350 per socket for EV charge points, capped at 40 sockets. This helps businesses offset the cost of installing chargers for employees or visitors.

• EV Infrastructure Grant: Designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this grant provides funding for the installation of both active and passive EV charging infrastructure. It helps businesses future-proof parking facilities by subsidising costs for installation and grid upgrades.

• Guidance for Installers: The government provides specific grant schemes tailored for approved EV charge point installers. For instance, there are additional subsidies and resources to assist with integrating chargers in properties owned by landlords or retrofitting communal parking areas.

It’s always worth doing your research on smart ways to lower operational costs. Additionally, these schemes can often provide you with extra knowledge and support throughout your business journey. 

3. Can any electrician install an ev charge point?

Not all electricians can install an EV charger, as it requires specific qualifications, skills, and knowledge. A licensed electrician is essential for any electrical work, but installing EV chargers also demands familiarity with the equipment and relevant regulations.

You'll find that potential clients will often consider the topics below before working with you in the UK. 

Licensing and qualifications:

• Electricians must be qualified and hold valid credentials to perform electrical work, such as NVQ Level 3 in Electrical Installation and Wiring Regulations certification (18th Edition).
• They should also be certified under a Competent Person Scheme (e.g., NICEIC or NAPIT).

Specialised training:

• Electricians installing EV chargers should have specific training in EV charging systems. The City & Guilds EV Charging Course (2921) or equivalent is a common qualification in the UK.

Electrical panel and safety checks:

• A full assessment of the electrical panel and load capacity is crucial. The installation may require upgrades, such as a new consumer unit or additional circuit protection.

Compliance with UK regulations:

• Installations must comply with the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation and BS 7671 standards. Make sure you understand the iet wiring regulations so that you're complying with the national standard for both private and public charging. 

Permits and inspections:

• While local permits may not always be needed, all work must meet Building Regulations (Part P).

4. Is it worth taking an ev charger installation course? 

Absolutely. Many manufacturers and industry organisations provide EV charger-specific training, which is recommended for building your expertise. You'll find these courses cover information on everything from charging cable compatibility to software integration to single phase power types. 

However, education should continue throughout your career - whether you’re an ev charger installer early in your career or fully established.

As the EV industry is very fast-moving, you’ll find that rules and regulations can change fairly quickly - you don’t want to get caught out on a regulation change. Equally, you’ll want to be prepared to take advantage of positive changes in policy, additional grant support, or even new technologies. 

So where does software come into the picture? Finding the right charge point management system (CPMS) for your chargers can feel intimidating. 

In fact, a lot of installers can feel that they lack software knowledge and that learning about it can slow down their workflow. Equally, the cost of a back-end system can also be daunting, especially when you’re trying to scale your business. 

But the truth is, software is the future. 

To stay competitive in the market, you need to be able to utilise a reliable system that not only delivers for your clients but that you have confidence in too. 

Good software provides essential and forward-thinking features that help your customers run their business, from energy management tools to smart payment systems. 

At Virta, we champion our own software, the Virta Hub. This is an easy-to-use system that gives you access to comprehensive driver information. Allowing your customers to: 

• Set their own pricing tariffs 
• Allow dynamic load management 
• Automate payments
• Access charging data and insights

Explore the features in more detail in our demo below. 

While you might feel there are still challenges related to adaptation and cost, most EV installers recognise the value of software in enhancing productivity, managing projects, and ensuring compliance.