1. Define the purpose
Decide whether the infrastructure is for staff, residents, visitors, fleet vehicles or public use. This affects charger specification, access control and billing.
2. Understand your electrical infrastructure
Carry out an electrical assessment early to understand available capacity, potential load management requirements and whether a DNO upgrade may be necessary.
3. Plan the physical installation
Consider accessibility, parking layout, lighting, cable routes, vehicle impact protection, drainage and opportunities for future expansion.
4. Choose hardware and software together
Treat chargers and backend software as one operational system. Consider interoperability, OCPP compatibility, reporting and remote management.
5. Plan beyond installation
Budget for annual inspections, preventative maintenance, software support and long-term lifecycle management from the outset.