EV charging solutions
There are more reasons than ever before to get on board with EV charging, especially with over 2,292,459 plug-in vehicles on the roads in the UK* and only 76,840 public charging devices*, the opportunity is clear.
This gap presents a significant opportunity for installers to contribute to the infrastructure needed to meet the increasing demand for charge points, allowing electricians and contractors to expand their services and cater to the growing number of EV owners.
At Rexel, we provide the expert advice and products necessary to help you tap into this market and elevate your business. Explore our comprehensive range of EV charging solutions, including domestic, commercial chargers, as well as fast and rapid charging solutions from leading brands like Rolec, designed to meet the diverse needs of electric vehicle owners and installers.
Creating a sustainable future
With government goals to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and zero-carbon emitting fleet cars and vans by 2027, we’re here to help you make the right choices.
The innovations in EV technology along with our extensive product range and expertise means we are best placed to help you get what you need.
Electric vehicle charging opportunities
The installer opportunity
With EV charging needed in the public, commercial and residential sectors, every installer whether large or small has a role to play in this market. 31% of charging devices are installed in Greater London so there are huge opportunities right across the UK to get on board with EV.
OZEV – Driving the demand for EVCs
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV, formerly OLEV) is a team working across government to support the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). They provide support for the uptake of plug-in vehicles, as well as funding to support the development of charge point infrastructure across the UK.
Government support for EV clients
The government has announced an injection of £50m to encourage uptake of EV, and various schemes are in place to help drive adoption and achieve an end to sales of all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.
Electric vehicle chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners
An electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint grant can help towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle chargepoint socket at your property.
Those living in flats or rental accommodation can get 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, up to a maximum of £350.
Restrictions apply - read the section of this guidance on eligibility for more information about who can apply.
Workplace Charging Scheme
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT). For more information, go to: Workplace Charging Scheme Guidance
Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions
This grant is for state-funded schools and other state-funded education institutions to help with the cost of buying and installing electric vehicle chargepoints.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the cost to buy and install chargepoints. For more information, go to: Workplace Charging Scheme For State-Funded Education Institutions Guidance
Plugging into Rexel’s support
With over 10 years’ experience in the EV charging market, we can give you all the support you need whether you are taking your first steps into the EV market, or have large scale EV projects.
Shop our EV categories
Residential EV Chargers
We have a wide range of domestic EV chargers in stock, providing homeowners with convenient overnight charging solutions for their electric vehicles.
Commercial EV Chargers
Our commercial EV chargers are readily available, designed to enhance your business offerings and support eco-conscious customers with efficient charging options.
Destination EV Chargers
We stock high-performance DC EV chargers, ideal for fast charging in commercial settings, ensuring quick turnaround times for electric vehicle users. Please note: DC Charging products may require a longer lead time and require specialist handling - please contact your local branch for further details.
EV Leads & Accessories
Explore our range of EV leads and accessories, essential for ensuring compatibility and convenience in every charging setup.
Browse our digital EV catalogue
Our digital EV catalogue provides easy access to a range of electric vehicle products that comply with the latest UK regulations, ensuring safety and compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Charging your car with a smart charger is about ten times faster than using a simple cable. EV Smart charging stations typically offer rates up to 22kW, while 13amp domestic sockets deliver up to 3.7kW. Smart chargers are safer, faster, and more cost-effective, especially when charging during off-peak times.
The charging time depends on the battery capacity of your EV and the charging power available. To calculate the charging time, divide the battery capacity by the charging power (e.g. battery capacity in kWh divided by charging power in kW).
Charging power refers to the amount of energy introduced into the battery per hour. It depends on the connection to the electric grid, the onboard charger of your car, and the charger itself. The weakest link in this chain determines the charging power.
There are two main types:
- Type 1 plugs: Single-phase, fast charging at 3.7kW-7kW AC, featuring 5 pins.
- Type 2 plugs: Fast charging capability at 3.7kW-7kW and up to 22kW (three-phase AC), featuring 7 pins. Type 2 is the standard for the European market.
- There are 2 types of plug for Faster DC chargers – Chademo & CCS (more popular).
Traditionally, an earth rod is required to protect users from faults in the system. However, some major EV charger brands now offer built-in earthing protections, eliminating the need for an external earth rod. There are also external PEN protection units available.
Yes! There are many ways to control the access to your EV Charger. The most popular way is through the software (usually an app), or some models come with RFID capability so you can control user access.
If your charger is going to be available for public use, you may wish to bill people for its use. This would require a back office software on your EV charging network to allow billing. This is a subscription based package, which we can also help with.
Rather than having one or two EV units on a post, you can buy EV pedestals, which are complete units. These are common in commercial applications.
They are simply bolted to the ground direct, or if the surface is not worthy, you can purchase ground mounting kits.
Tethered chargers have a cable permanently attached, while untethered chargers do not. Tethered chargers offer convenience, but untethered chargers offer more flexibility if you upgrade to an EV with a different connection type.