Naomi Nye, Head of Sales – EV charging at Drax Electric Vehicles
The rise and ongoing evolution of electric vehicles (EVs) has introduced a diverse range of charging options for drivers — with the workplace playing a key role in this growing ecosystem.
Our survey of large businesses found that nearly half (48%) have already installed EV chargers. For those that have, the benefits are clear. Used strategically, workplace charging allows drivers to top up while vehicles are idle – during rest breaks, loading times or shift changes. When paired with energy storage or renewable sources like solar, these systems can cut costs and reduce emissions. It’s a win-win.
But while chargers are mission-critical assets, many fleet managers have never had to maintain traditional fuel pumps, let alone EV infrastructure. The good news? With the right approach, keeping them running smoothly doesn’t have to be daunting.
How can charger downtime impact fleets?
The most effective EV charging strategies are backed by detailed fleet data: where vehicles go, and where they stop. But if equipment isn’t properly maintained, the business case for workplace charging quickly falls apart. Here’s what’s at stake:
Delays – Failed charging sessions can throw schedules off track, leave vehicles stranded, and create stress for drivers.
Higher costs – Public charging is usually more expensive than plugging in on-site. It can also require a detour, eating into productivity.
Regulatory penalties – Businesses operating rapid public chargers must now meet a 99% uptime target. Falling short could mean costly fines.
Safety risks – Damaged or faulty chargers are a hazard. If regular checks aren’t carried out, businesses may fall short of duty of care obligations.
While you can’t prevent every fault – accidents do happen – a proactive maintenance plan goes a long way toward protecting your fleet and your reputation.
Who is responsible for keeping chargers working?
The Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme has funded around 60,000 installations since it was introduced in 2016. It provides up to £350 (or 75%) towards the cost of the charger and installation for up to 40 sockets per applicant and sets out some of the requirements for ensuring they stay operational.
All government-funded chargers must include a three-year parts and labour warranty, which means the installer or manufacturer is responsible for fixing any faults as they arise. But this doesn’t cover every eventuality. Damage and vandalism fall outside that scope, and service packages aren’t mandatory or included in the grant.
That means it’s up to the fleet operator to keep equipment in good working order. Regular inspections and documentation are essential – not just for performance, but to limit liability if things go wrong. Relevant rules and guidelines include:
BS 7671 Wiring Regulations, which require regular inspections by a qualified electrician, at intervals determined by a risk assessment. Residual current devices (RCDs) must be tested every six months, and some are inside the charger.
The Health and Safety at Work Act puts a legal duty on businesses to ensure equipment is properly maintained and safe to use. This includes regular checks for damage and deterioration of electrical systems, adjusted based on the frequency of faults, with inspections by qualified electricians.
Why is preventative maintenance important?
At Drax Electric Vehicles, we think prevention is always better than the cure. We’re enabling fleets to outsource the maintenance of their EV charge points, delivering uptime in line with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that allow drivers to rely on mission-critical hardware.
Our preventative maintenance support includes six-monthly inspections, scheduled to avoid peak usage periods and disruption for customers. We’ll dispatch qualified engineers who can spot signs of wear and tear before they leave equipment offline. Most EV chargers are located outdoors, exposed to water ingress, accidental damage and even insect infestation. Those inspections will also cover mandatory six-monthly residual current device (RCD) or internal protection switch gear to ensure units are safe.
Between visits, our back-office system enables us to monitor and control chargers remotely, spotting any discrepancies, resetting the units and deploying over-the-air updates to enhance performance and cure software bugs. It’s one less thing for fleet managers to worry about.
Protect your investment, power your fleet
Workplace charging can make a big difference to the business case for electric vehicles, but it can be hard to keep track of that equipment – especially if it’s on a different site.
Partnering with an expert, such Drax Electric Vehicles, can help lighten the workload while keeping that critical part of the ecosystem compliant, safe and working as hard as your fleet.
