Business Info - issue 146

01732 759725 magazine 21 SUSTAINABILITY Across the country, more and more businesses are making a conscious effort to reduce their carbon emissions and become more sustainable. There are many ways for businesses to improve their sustainability credentials, with one of the biggest being the adoption of electric vehicles. Here, ENGIE EV Solutions outlines seven reasons why companies should install an EV charging point as part of this transition. 1 Cut costs with aWorkplace Charging Grant The government’s Workplace Charging Grant scheme allows businesses to claim up to £14,000 towards the cost of installing EV Charging. The scheme was introduced by the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles to encourage organisations to install electric vehicle charging facilities at their workplace – so make the most of it! Businesses could also be eligible for tax super-deductions on new plant and machinery. Announced in this year’s budget and applicable to EV charge points, these allow companies to cut their tax bill by up to 25p for every £1 invested. 2 Develop a new revenue stream Why not make EV charging points at your workplace available to members of the public, as well as employees, and generate revenue by charging for their use, with different tariffs for staff, visitors and members of the public. 3 Help employees make the switch to EV Installing electric charging points at your workplace has benefits for employees too. They can take advantage of new government initiatives that enable them to make the switch to an electric vehicle with 0% BIK tax (rising to 1% as of April 1, 2021). In addition, the cost of recharging an EV at a workplace charging point is likely to be much lower than refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle. 4 Reduce your corporate carbon footprint If the UK is to achieve its ambitious goal Leading the charge to be net zero carbon by 2050, it’s vital that every person and every business plays their part. Vehicle emissions are currently one of the main contributors to air pollution, so installing EV charging points at your workplace could have a significant impact. Changing your company fleet and company car options to EV and encouraging employees to utilise the charging points will considerably reduce your corporate carbon footprint. 5 Choose a charger to suit your workplace When it comes to EV charging points, it is not a question of one size fits all. Instead, businesses can choose from three main charger types – fast charging ground and post-mounted chargers; wall-mounted chargers; and rapid chargers – and pick the style best suited to their space. If your car parking area is fairly small, you might prefer something small and compact that can be attached to a wall. If not, you might decide a fast- charging point that can be placed in the ground is the best option. 3 Add value to your business Installing an electric vehicle charging solution at your workplace can strengthen relationships and enhance your reputation. For example, providing charging facilities to potential customers or partners visiting your business might set you apart from competitors. Doing so will give visitors a reason to spend more time at your workplace and will increase your brand reputation as an environmentally conscious business. 7 Going electric is far easier than you think ENGIE aims to make it as easy as possible for businesses to get a charge point installed, providing everything from integrated consultancy services to help determine the right solution for your needs to project management for the entire installation of reliable infrastructure and systems. To ensure its network is as easy to use as possible post-installation, the company’s GeniePoint platform enables users to fully manage their chargers and have full control over use. It also provides detailed insights including usage reports, charger availability, ongoing maintenance advice and customer care. Find the right provider and going electric is far easier than you might have thought possible. https://evsolutions.engie.co.uk/ businesses2/ Seven reasons to install an EV charge point on your premises Tax super- deductions on new plant and machinery allow companies to cut their tax bill by up to 25p for every £1 invested