What to consider, how to plan, and why getting the groundwork right matters more than the charger itself.

Across London, car parks are no longer just somewhere to leave a vehicle - they’re fast becoming part of the charging network that keeps the city moving. Whether you run a retail car park, manage a mixed-use site, or oversee a council facility, EV charging isn’t a “nice to have” anymore. It’s an expectation.

But knowing where to start can feel complicated. How many chargers do you really need? What type? Will your existing power supply cope? This guide is designed to help you understand the key considerations before you invest - and how to get it right the first time.

Every successful EV project begins with one simple question: who’s parking here, and for how long?



• Retail & leisure sites often need a mix of fast chargers for customers who stay an hour or two.
• Workplace and commuter car parks suit slower, lower-cost chargers because vehicles are parked all day.
• Residential developments typically work best with overnight charging on shared or allocated bays.

Understanding patterns like dwell time, turnover, and peak hours helps you decide the right mix of chargers - and avoids over-spending on hardware that sits idle.

Before any design work, get your power checked. This is where most projects go wrong.

A load study will show how much spare capacity your site already has, and what upgrades (if any) are needed. Sometimes it’s as simple as re-balancing your existing circuits; other times, you’ll need a connection upgrade from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO).



Even if you only plan to start with a few chargers, it’s worth installing the containment and cabling (“make-ready” infrastructure) for future expansion. It’s far cheaper to do that now than dig up your car park again later.

There’s help available if you know where to look. Several OZEV grants support commercial charging - from workplace schemes to landlord and fleet infrastructure grants.

Each has its own rules, caps and deadlines, but an authorised installer like Nu Electrics can handle the paperwork and make sure your design meets eligibility requirements. We always advise checking current funding early in your project, as available grants and terms can change.

EV drivers value convenience above all else. Chargers need to work, every time.

Choose equipment that’s open-protocol (OCPP) and has reliable remote monitoring. It means faults can be spotted and fixed quickly - often before users notice.

For public car parks, consider adding clear bay markings, lighting and signage so drivers can find chargers easily. And make sure cables can reach the charging ports on a range of vehicles without blocking adjacent bays.

If your car park is public or mixed-use, you’ll need a payment model that’s fair and easy to manage. Options include:

• Pay-per-use with clear per-kWh pricing.
• Validated parking where drivers get discounted charging when they use your facilities.
• Membership or staff tariffs for businesses and residential blocks.
• Idle fees to prevent fully charged cars from blocking bays.



Smart systems can manage this automatically, giving you transparent reporting on usage, uptime, and revenue.

The best EV rollouts don’t try to do everything at once. Start small, learn, and scale.

Many car parks begin with four to eight chargers in the busiest bays, track utilisation for six months, and expand based on real data. With the right load management system, you can double the number of bays later without doubling your power cost.

Think of it as building your own mini charging network over time - one that grows with demand and pays for itself along the way.

EV charging isn’t just about connecting wires; it’s about understanding sites, safety, and strategy.

Nu Electrics has installed and upgraded charging infrastructure across London’s busiest car parks - from retail and office sites to public multi-storey hubs. We handle everything from the load studies and DNO liaison to commissioning and maintenance.

Book a short site review with our team. We’ll assess your power capacity, design the most cost-effective layout, and help you secure any eligible grants.

Use the enquiry form below to book in a review.