If you are fitting out a business car park with EV charging, 22kW is the sweet spot. It charges three times faster than 7kW, meaning each socket can serve more vehicles throughout the day, and it costs a fraction of what a DC rapid charger would. But with over 50 models on the market at wildly different prices, working out the true cost per socket is not straightforward.
This guide breaks down the real-world costs of the best 22kW EV chargers for business car parks in the UK, including the charger unit, installation, and how much you can save with the Workplace Charging Scheme grant.
Why 22kW for a business car park?
A 22kW charger adds roughly 80-100 miles of range per hour, compared to around 30 miles per hour from a 7kW unit. For a workplace car park where employees park for four to eight hours, that means a 22kW charger can fully charge two or three vehicles in the time a 7kW would take to charge one.
This matters because it directly affects your cost per socket. Fewer chargers serving more vehicles means lower upfront investment and less cabling, groundwork, and electrical infrastructure.
The trade-off is that 22kW chargers require a three-phase electricity supply. Most commercial buildings already have this, but it is worth confirming with your electrician before purchasing. Not all EVs can accept 22kW AC charging either — many cap at 7kW or 11kW on AC — but the charger will still work, it will just deliver at the car's maximum rate. See 7kW vs 22kW for the detail.
Full cost per socket breakdown
The price on the box is only part of the story. Here is what a 22kW EV charger actually costs per socket when you factor in everything:
| Cost element | Per socket range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charger unit | £235 – £1,570 | Dual sockets halve the per-socket unit cost |
| Installation labour | £400 – £800 | Depends on cable run length and complexity |
| Groundwork / trenching | £0 – £500 | Only if charger is away from the building |
| Electrical infrastructure | £0 – £300 | Distribution board, isolator, RCD protection |
| Pedestal or post mount | £0 – £200 | If not wall-mounting; some chargers include a pedestal |
| WCS grant | Up to –£500 | Per socket, max 40 sockets, £20,000 cap |
| Typical total per socket | £300 – £2,000 | After WCS grant |
Best 22kW chargers for business car parks compared
We have compared the most popular 22kW commercial chargers from our range, ranked by effective cost per socket.
| Charger | Sockets | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| NexBlue Edge 22kW | 1 | Budget with OCPP |
| Evec VEC04 22kW | 1 | Budget tethered |
| Easee 22kW | 1 | Scalability / load balancing |
| Zaptec Pro 22kW | 1 | Multi-charger sites |
| Evec EDW02 VECSPRINT 22kW | 2 | Best value dual wall-mount |
| VCHRGD TwentyTwo | 2 | Dual socket with display |
| Evec EDP02-N Pedestal 22kW | 2 | Freestanding car park install |
| Rolec BasicCharge Dual 22kW | 2 | Robust commercial grade |
| Ratio io7 22kW Dual (MID) | 2 | Billing-ready with MID meter |
| Rolec Securicharge 22kW Contactless | 2 | Public-facing with payment |
Live pricing is on each product page — commercial charger prices move often, so we link rather than quote.
Best budget option: NexBlue Edge 22kW
The NexBlue Edge is among the cheapest 22kW chargers on the market. It is a smart, untethered unit that supports OCPP for backend management and load balancing. For a business that needs to maximise the number of sockets on a budget, this is hard to beat.
Because the WCS grant covers 75% of purchase and installation up to £500, a budget unit plus a straightforward install often lands close to the cap — meaning the grant covers a very large share of the total.
Best dual-socket option: Evec EDW02 VECSPRINT
The Evec EDW02 VECSPRINT gives you two 22kW sockets in a single wall-mounted unit. It supports OCPP, has built-in dynamic load balancing, carries an IK10 impact rating and IP55 weatherproofing, and its compact design works well in tight car park spaces.
Crucially, the WCS grant is claimed per socket — so a dual unit claims two grants against one installation. That is the single biggest lever on cost per socket.
If you need freestanding units rather than wall-mounted, the Evec EDP02-N pedestal is the equivalent option with its own mounting post — ideal for car parks without adjacent walls.
Best premium option: Ratio io7 22kW Dual (MID)
If you plan to charge employees or visitors for electricity, you need MID-certified metering for legally compliant billing. The Ratio io7 22kW with MID metering is purpose-built for this, with a large colour display, RFID authentication, OCPP 1.6J support, and the build quality to handle high-traffic environments.
For public-facing sites where you need contactless card payment, the Rolec Securicharge with contactless terminal is the go-to — though the price reflects the integrated payment hardware. See our commercial payment systems for standalone terminals.
Workplace Charging Scheme grant
The Workplace Charging Scheme is a UK government voucher scheme. Since 1 April 2026 it pays up to £500 per socket — raised from £350 — covering 75% of the combined purchase and installation cost.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant amount | 75% of purchase + installation, capped at £500 per socket |
| Socket limit | 40 sockets per applicant, across all sites |
| Maximum total | £20,000 per business (raised from £14,000) |
| Businesses | Any UK-registered business with off-street parking for staff or visitors |
| Charities | Registered charities with dedicated parking |
| Public sector | Local authorities and public bodies (separate LEVI scheme also available) |
| Guaranteed until | 31 March 2027 |
To claim, you apply for a voucher first, then give it to an OZEV-approved installer who redeems it against your invoice. Vouchers expire, so line up your installer before applying. Read more in our full guide to all EV charger grants available in 2026.
Installation considerations for business car parks
Three-phase supply
Every 22kW charger requires three-phase power. Most commercial buildings have this, but check your incoming supply. If you only have single-phase, a supply upgrade from your DNO will add several weeks and potentially several thousand pounds to the project.
Cable runs and groundwork
The biggest variable in car park installation costs is the distance between your distribution board and the charging locations. Wall-mounted chargers close to the building are cheapest. Freestanding chargers in the middle of a car park may require trenching, ducting, and longer cable runs — adding £200 to £500 per socket.
Load balancing
If you are installing multiple chargers, load balancing is essential. This ensures your chargers share the available electrical capacity without overloading your supply. Most commercial chargers in our range support OCPP-based load balancing, and Easee and Zaptec have particularly elegant built-in load management that makes scaling easy — see our load management devices.
Future-proofing
Even if you only need four sockets today, install the cabling infrastructure for eight. Running extra ducting and cable during the initial groundwork costs a fraction of what it would cost to dig up the car park again later.
How many chargers do you need?
A common rule of thumb is one charging socket for every five EV-driving employees. Since 22kW chargers can fully charge most EVs in one to two hours, each socket can realistically serve three or four vehicles in an eight-hour working day — far more than a 7kW charger.
| Car park size | Recommended 22kW sockets | Estimated cost (after WCS grant) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 spaces | 2 – 4 | £600 – £3,800 |
| 25 spaces | 4 – 8 | £1,200 – £7,600 |
| 50 spaces | 8 – 14 | £2,400 – £13,300 |
| 100 spaces | 14 – 24 | £4,200 – £22,800 |
These estimates assume dual-socket chargers like the Evec EDW02, which offer the best per-socket economics for most sites, and that the WCS grant hits its £500 cap on each socket. Your actual needs will depend on how many employees drive EVs, typical parking duration, and whether you expect visitor or public charging.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 22kW EV charger cost per socket for a business car park?
The total cost per socket ranges from £300 to £2,000 fully installed after the WCS grant. Installation typically adds £400 to £800 per socket depending on cable runs and groundwork. The grant saves up to £500 per socket.
Do I need three-phase power for a 22kW charger?
Yes. All 22kW EV chargers require a three-phase electricity supply. Most commercial premises already have this. If yours does not, you will need to arrange a supply upgrade with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO), which can take several weeks.
What is the difference between CT metering and MID metering?
CT metering measures energy consumption for internal reporting — fine for staff car parks where charging is a perk. MID metering is a certified, legally compliant meter required if you plan to bill drivers for electricity. If you are charging employees or visitors, choose a charger with MID metering like the Ratio io7 or Ratio io8.
Can I claim the WCS grant and the domestic chargepoint grant?
They are separate schemes for different settings. The WCS grant is for workplace and commercial installations. The EV Chargepoint Grant is for domestic installations and is restricted to renters, flat owners and landlords. You cannot claim both for the same charger, but a business owner could claim WCS for the office and — if they rent or own a flat — the domestic grant at home.
What is OCPP and do I need it?
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an open standard that lets you manage your chargers through a backend platform. It enables features like user authentication, session logging, energy reporting, and billing. For a business car park with more than two chargers, OCPP support is strongly recommended. All chargers in our 22kW commercial range support OCPP.
How many chargers can I install on my existing supply?
This depends on your available electrical capacity. A single 22kW charger draws 32 amps per phase. With load balancing, multiple chargers can share the available supply, automatically reducing power to each unit during peak demand. Your installer will carry out a site survey to determine how many chargers your supply can handle and whether an upgrade is needed.
Ready to fit out your business car park?
Browse our full range of 22kW commercial EV chargers with free UK delivery. Need help choosing the right setup for your site? Call us on 0330 043 8012 or email adam@echargersuk.co.uk — we can recommend the right chargers, quantities, and configuration for your car park.
You can also explore our 22kW single-socket and 22kW dual-socket collections, or read our guide to every EV charger grant available in 2026.