Electric Vehicles at Work
2021 was a record-breaking year for electric car sales, with more battery electric vehicles (BEVs) registered during the year than the total for the previous five years. 190,727 new BEVs were purchased in the UK in 2021, as well as 114,554 plug-in hybrids (PHEVS).
Sales of electric vehicles increased by 1%, which may sound small but is not insignificant in the context of a subdued market due to the pandemic. In the post-lockdown month of December 2021, BEVs accounted for 25% of all new cars registered.
According to the RAC, there are approximately 395,000 BEVs on the road in the UK. The number of PHEVs is estimated at 308,000. Electric vans or light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are also seeing a rapid increase in market share.
Although there has been relatively slow growth in the numbers of on-street public charging facilities, there are now over 42,000 public electric charging points situated in over 15,500 locations across the UK. In addition, many workplaces are now installing charging points for their workers who commute by car, or for the charging of company-owned vehicles – both cars and vans.
The Workplace Charging Scheme encourages businesses to provide charging facilities by heavily subsidising the purchase and installation costs of EV charging stations. This is an effective way to promote EV ownership. According to a study by the Idaho National Laboratory, drivers are six times more likely to change from a conventional car to an electric vehicle if a charging station is provided at their place of work.
Employers who provide these facilities need to be aware of the associated health and safety implications. They have a duty of care to employees and visitors, and are responsible for ensuring the safety of electrical equipment.
The Fire Protection Association has published guidelines developed with the RISCAuthority to promote best practice for the provision and maintenance of charging points for electric vehicles. The key points from the guidelines include:
When deciding where to locate electric charging points, review it as part of the overall risk assessment for the company premises.
- Allow adequate space for vehicles to be parked safely in the charging area. Ensure that the charging connection can be made without overstretching cables.
- Ensure that all staff who will be using or maintaining the charging points receive the training they need to use the equipment safely.
- Ensure that charging areas are well ventilated, and are designed to avoid the risk of overheating during charging.
- Display signage to show the location of charging points. You should also indicate clearly the type of vehicle that the charging point is suitable for. This is particularly important where there are multiple charging points at a location. Rapid charging points or DC fast charge have more potential hazards because of the 500V direct charge, and must be clearly differentiated from other charging points.
- The circuit used for supplying electricity to the charging points must be used solely for the chargers and must not be part of a main ring. The circuit must be appropriate for the electrical load.
When planning to install charging points in your workplace, you should refer to and ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 or the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. Where appropriate, you should also ensure compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 or equivalent national regulations.
Explore our electric vehicle signage range or contact our team for advice on the best signage to maximise EV safety at your charging points.