Why the Education Sector is turning to EV Charging

The number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on UK roads is rapidly increasing, with over 1.1 million electric vehicles registered as of April 2024. With increasing consumer demand and the greater availability of EVs, it’s vital for organisations, especially educational institutions, to be prepared for a higher demand for EV charging facilities on site.

Through the Workplace Charging Scheme which was extended to educational institutions in February 2024, state-funded schools and educational institutions can now receive up to £2,500 per socket, reducing the cost by up to 75%.

Read on to find out about:

• The importance of EV charging within places of education
• The benefits to schools and other educational institutions
• How to start your EV journey with EVC

The importance of EV charging at schools

Car– including staff, students, parents, and other visitors. By implementing EV charging solutions, they can lead the way in promoting the switch to electric vehicles, demonstrating themselves as forward-thinking, sustainably focused institutions.

How does providing onsite EV charging achieve this?

Making EV charging more accessible and convenient means drivers are able to plan EV charging into their daily routine, until it becomes second nature. A significant barrier to people switching to an electric vehicle is range anxiety – the fear of running out of charge before reaching your destination. Making EV charging as easy as filling up with fuel is KEY to giving people the confidence to switch to electric, and schools and other educational institutions can play a major role in this.

Benefits to schools and educational institutions

In addition to demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, there are many other benefits to schools and educational institutions when it comes to providing EV charging:

Revenue-generating opportunities:

Schools and other educational institutions have the opportunity to generate revenue through usage of the chargers – these funds can then be re-invested into other educational endeavours!

Happier staff/students/parents/visitors:

Providing onsite EV charging increases the satisfaction of staff, students, and other people who frequent the organisation, as they are able to seamlessly incorporate EV charging into their daily routine.

Education-piece:

The installation of EV charging within schools provides an excellent opportunity for an education-piece around the importance of EVs/sustainable transport, as well as broader topics such as renewable energy and climate change. This can encourage students to be more environmentally conscious, even inspiring them to become champions for sustainability inside and outside their place of education.

Fostering community:

By promoting the adoption of EVs within the area, schools can foster a sense of community as more people are encouraged to make the switch to an electric vehicle.

How you can start your journey with evc 

By providing an onsite EV charging infrastructure, schools and educational institutions can ensure they are ready for the EV future – encouraging greener travel and reaping a variety of other benefits.

EVC, an OZEV-approved installer/charge point operator, will manage your entire EV charging installation project from end-to-end, with options for both fully-funded and client-funded solutions .

In 2023, we teamed up with Galliford Try, a leading UK construction group, to introduce EV charging across 12 schools near Newcastle.

A combination of 22kW sockets now provides 47 fast EV charging bays across the schools. The installation was funded by the clients with government support. Some schools covered charger costs upfront, while others plan to utilise the Workplace Charging Scheme available to state-funded educational institutions, offering a discount of up to £2,500 per socket.

This government funding significantly reduces project costs, helping schools future-proof their parking facilities. This not only benefits staff but also promotes EV adoption within the school communities.

Contact us:

If you are looking to install EV charging at your educational institution, a dedicated member of the EVC team can arrange a virtual meeting with you to discuss options for your EV charging solution.

You can speak to one of our EV charging experts here.