Commercial chargepoints: minimum technical specification
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-30)

Minimum technical specification for manufacturers of chargepoint units for commercial properties covered by OZEV chargepoint grant schemes.

In order to be eligible for OZEV EV chargepoint grants, chargepoints must meet certain technical requirements.

This document specifies the minimum technical requirements for commercial chargepoints.

Chargepoints need to meet these standards to be eligible for the following grants:
- Workplace Charging Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/workplace-charging-scheme-guidance-for-installers)
- EV chargepoint grant for commercial landlords (https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-and-infrastructure-grants-for-landlords-1)
- EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets (https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/electric-vehicle-infrastructure-grant-for-staff-and-fleets-1)
There is a different minimum technical specification for residential chargepoints (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residential-chargepoints-minimum-technical-specification).

Manufacturers need to register their chargepoints with OZEV to be eligible for these grants. You will need to prove that a chargepoint meets the minimum standards set out in this document as part of the registration process.

Read separate guidance about registering a chargepoint so it is eligible for OZEV grants (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/approval-process-for-ev-chargepoint-manufacturers).

Where standards or regulations are mentioned, you must comply with the most current edition at the time of the installation. In cases of apparent inconsistency, the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018 (https://shop.theiet.org/requirements-for-electrical-installations-iet-wiring-regulations-eighteenth-edition-bs-7671-2018-a2-2022)+A1:2020) (https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/years/2020/79-march-2020/bs-76712018plusa1/) take precedence for electrical installation requirements.

Installation

This specification is for the charging equipment only and not the final installation.

But you must carry out the final installation in accordance with:
- IET Wiring Regulations - BS 7671:2018 (https://electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671/) if installed before 31 July 2020 or BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 if installed after 31 July 2020
- the recommendations of the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation (https://shop.theiet.org/code-of-practice-for-electric-vehicle-charging-equipment-installation-4th-edition)
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2665/contents/made)
- all other applicable standards
If you’re installing on a public highway, you must use a contractor registered through the Highway Electrical Registration Scheme (HERS) (https://thehea.org.uk/hers-hesa/about/).

Charging equipment must be installed in accordance with BS EN 61851-1:2019 (https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030414455).

The electrical supply of the final installation must allow the charging equipment to operate at full rated capacity. Where local supply constraints prevent this, the charging equipment shall be classified according to actual output capacity.

The equipment will permit chargepoints to be installed in compliance with BS 8300-1:2018 (https://shop.bsigroup.com/products/design-of-an-accessible-and-inclusive-built-environment-external-environment-code-of-practice/standard). The design must consider the needs of electric vehicle (EV) drivers who may be disabled or have mobility issues

Charging equipment

Common requirements

Charging equipment must be CE marked in accordance with European Commission (EC) Directive 768/2008/EC (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2008/768/contents) or have UKCA marking in accordance with the guidance on using the UKCA marking (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking).

You must clearly display details of any precautions necessary to ensure safe operation with active implantable medical devices on your charging equipment.

Charging equipment must be compliant with:
- BS EN 61851-1:2019 (Electric vehicle conductive charging system – General requirements)
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1091/contents) (the 2006 Regulations (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/3418/contents) continue to apply to equipment placed on the market before 8 December 2016)
- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1101/contents) (the 1994 Regulations (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1994/3260/made) continue to apply to electrical equipment placed on the market before 8 December 2016)
BS EN 62196 Mode 1 or Mode 2 charging equipment is not compliant with this specification.

Charging equipment must use either:
- charging station electric vehicle (EV) socket outlets (BS EN 61851-1:2019 case A or B connection)
- charging stations with tethered cables (BS EN 61851-1:2019 case C connection)
Where you have multiple outlets, the charging equipment is classified according to the output power delivered at each outlet with all outlets operating simultaneously.

Where multiple connectors are associated with a single outlet, only one connector shall be active – and all other connectors inactive – when the outlet is in use.

AC charging equipment

AC charging equipment must:
- measure output power at a nominal supply voltage of 230Vac single-phase or 400Vac three-phase
- be compliant with BS EN 61851-1:2019 (note that all requirements from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61851-22 (https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/6031) have been moved to this standard as work on IEC 61851-22 has ceased)
- use BS EN 62196 Mode 3 charging
- use (where applicable) BS EN 62196 Type 2 socket outlets
DC charging equipment

DC charging equipment must:
- be compliant with BS EN 61851-23:2014 (https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030343862)
- use BS EN 62196 Mode 4 charging
Charging equipment with embedded generation capability (V2X)

Charging equipment with embedded generation capability:
- of up to and including 16A per phase must be compliant with Energy Networks Association (ENA) Engineering Recommendation G98 (https://www.energynetworks.org/electricity/engineering/distributed-generation/engineering-recommendation-g98.html)
- greater than 16A per phase must be compliant with ENA Engineering Recommendation G99 (https://www.energynetworks.org/electricity/engineering/distributed-generation/engineering-recommendation-g99.html)
Charging outlets

Standard AC (3.5kW to 7kW)

Standard AC charging equipment outlets must:
- be rated 230Vac ± 10% single-phase
- have an output that is greater than 3.5kW but not above 7kW
Fast AC (7kW to 23kW)

Fast AC charging equipment outlets must:
- be rated 230Vac ± 10% single-phase or 400Vac ± 10% three-phase,
- have an output that is greater than 7kW but not above 23kW
Semi-rapid AC (23kW to 43kW)

Semi-rapid AC charging equipment outlets must:
- be rated 400Vac ± 10% three-phase
- have an output that is greater than 23kW but not above 43kW
- be fitted with a BS EN 62196 Type 2 socket outlet or tethered lead with a BS EN 62196 Type 2 connector
Rapid AC (43kW to 44kW)

Rapid AC charging equipment outlets must:
- be rated 400Vac ± 10% three-phase
- have an output that is greater than 43kW but not above 44kW
- be fitted with a BS EN 62196 Type 2 socket outlet or tethered lead with a BS EN 62196 Type 2 connector
Fast DC (3.5kW to 22kW)

Fast DC charging equipment outlets must have an output that is greater than 3.5kW but not above 22kW.

Semi-rapid DC (22kW to 50kW)

Semi-rapid DC charging equipment outlets must have an output that is greater than 22kW but not above 50kW.

Rapid DC (50kW to 62.5kW)

Rapid DC charging equipment outlets must have an output that is greater than 50kW but not above 62.5kW.

Slow AC (less than 3.5kW)

Slow AC outlet configurations are not permitted.

Location

Equipment installed must meet the applicable minimum ingress protection (IP) ratings set out in BS EN 61851-1:2019 and BS 7671:2018 according to the usage location.

If you’re installing equipment within a workplace, the final installation must comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635/contents/made).

User interface

Charging equipment status must be indicated using lights, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or display.

If you’re installing equipment within a workplace, you must clearly display detailed instructions around payment/access (as appropriate) and equipment operation.

Smart requirements

The chargepoint must comply with The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1467/contents/made).

Cybersecurity

Complies with the cybersecurity requirements in The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1467/contents/made).

Servicing and maintenance

You must supply charging equipment with an on-site 3-year warranty on parts and installation.

All chargepoints must have a minimum operational life of 3 years.