1. Start with the users
Employees, residents, visitors, fleet drivers and public users all have different charging behaviours and expectations.
2. Assess electrical capacity first
Understand the site’s available capacity before deciding how many chargers to install or their power rating.
3. Match charger speed to dwell time
Higher power is not always better. Workplace and residential sites often achieve excellent outcomes with lower-powered AC charging because vehicles remain parked for long periods.
4. Buy into an ecosystem, not just hardware
Assess manufacturer stability, warranty, UK support, firmware updates, replacement parts and software compatibility.
5. Prioritise OCPP
Selecting OCPP-compatible hardware provides flexibility to migrate to compatible management platforms in future.
6. Consider lifecycle cost
Installation, maintenance, downtime, subscriptions and repairs often outweigh the initial purchase price over the life of the asset.