CTEK, a specialist in vehicle charging solutions, is predicting a significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) charging at destinations like offices and other workplaces, as sustainable transport goes full circle.

With more and more motorists relying on EVs for their journeys, the availability of reliable chargers at destinations is paramount. And drivers are now expecting to refuel at destinations in the same way as, in the days of horses and carriages - the original sustainable transport - people would ‘refuel’ (feed, water and rest) their horses while they were at work or visiting a client, before setting off again, refreshed. 

This trend towards destination charging is supported by a YouGov/CTEK survey that revealed that, while 68% of UK EV drivers still prefer to charge at home, more than a third (37%) are now using public or destination chargers, 12% are charging at work and 9% at petrol stations. 

Cecilia Routledge, CTEK’s Global Head of E-Mobility, said: “With previous estimates of up to 90% of EV charging taking place at home, this is a fairly significant shift, and we can expect destination charging to really come to the fore as business picks up and people start returning to the workplace. 

“The installation of reliable EV chargers is becoming increasingly important to companies and business owners looking to meet the needs of their staff and clients, who will be reassured to know they can park up and recharge their vehicles on site before returning home, or for whatever journey they face next. The provision of EV charging facilities will also help companies meet their sustainability targets, supporting a cleaner, greener future for us all.”

CTEK recommends that, for destination chargers where drivers are parked up for several hours or overnight, expensive rapid charge DC (direct current) chargers are rarely needed, and that AC (alternating current) chargers that deliver charge at varying speeds are generally more than adequate. Reliability is also a key consideration, with drivers and property owners alike.

For property owners looking for a cost-effective way of installing or expanding an EV charging network, CTEK offers a dual socket Chargestorm Connected 2 AC charger, where two vehicles can plug in and charge at the same time. This can halve the number of physical units that need to be installed, and at considerably reduced cost. This is especially so as the dual socket chargers qualify for two Government Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grants. 

The £350 WCS grants are available ‘per socket’ and not ‘per charger’, so you’ll get £700 back for every Chargestorm Connected 2 charger installed, up to a maximum of £14,000 for a network of 20 dual socket chargers. These chargers can be wall or pole mounted, inside or out, and CTEK also offers a four socket ‘back-to-back’ solution, where two dual socket chargers can be sited on a single pole. 

“People used to arrive at their destination on a charger, now they expect to plug into one,” said Cecilia. “With the Government set to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, the future of sustainable transport lies with rechargeable vehicles. At CTEK, we are committed to supporting the road to zero through the provision of thoroughbred EV chargers that will make sure we can keep moving with the times. It worked then, and it works now – it’s just a different kind of horsepower”