GUIDE FOR BUSINESSES
Chargers for companies: public network, private infrastructure or a smart mixed strategy?
The transition to electric mobility opens up a range of opportunities for companies, but it also poses crucial strategic decisions. One of the first and most impactful is to define the charging model for the company’s electric vehicles: Is it more convenient to depend on the growing public charging network, or is it more profitable and efficient to invest in the installation of private charging points on the premises themselves?
This article will walk you through the benefits, considerations, and usage scenarios of both options, helping you understand how they can, and often should, be strategically combined to fit your specific business operation. At Wenea, we believe that it’s not always an exclusive choice, but rather finding the perfect mix that maximises efficiency, control, and profitability for each particular use case.
Charging on the public network:
flexibility and immediate access, but with less control
Public charging networks, such as Wenea’s extensive network of chargers accessible via our app, offer an agile and accessible solution, being particularly suitable for:
Vehicles that make long and variable routes (commercial fleets, technical equipment, last-mile delivery services)
Key benefits of public charging for businesses:
Ideal for specific needs or employees on the move
Important public charge considerations:
- Variable availability: There may be competition for the use of charging points at times of high demand.
- Not always optimal location: Chargers may not be exactly where your operation needs them at any given time.
- Generally higher cost per kWh: Compared to optimised private charging at off-peak times.
- Less control over the process and fleet-specific charging data.
Wenea solution for employees on the move: With Wenea’s Tap&Charge, companies can offer their employees a simple and controlled way to charge on Wenea’s public network. Through a personalised smart card, employees access the network without having to use the app individually, facilitating the charging experience and allowing the company to centrally control consumption and costs, even outside its facilities.
Private on-site chargers: maximum efficiency, full control and optimised costs
The installation of dedicated charging points on company premises (corporate headquarters, logistics centers, employee parking lots) is the preferred and most strategic option for companies.
Benefits
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Significantly lower and predictable cost per kWh
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Full control over usage and consumption
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Optimisation of contracted power
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Integration with fleet management tools and company software
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Guaranteed availability for company vehicles
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Possibility of offering charging as a value-added service to employees or visitors.
Drawbacks
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It requires an initial investment: In chargers, installation and possible electrical adaptations (although there are grants such as the MOVES Plan and financing options that Wenea can manage).
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Need for available physical space for charging points.
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It requires a prior technical study of feasibility and impact on the electrical installation.
Estimated economic comparison: public charge vs. private charging (heavy use for fleets)
| Key Feature | Public Charge (External Network) |
Private Charging (On-Site Installation) |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost per kWh | ~£0.65 | ~£0.18 |
| Estimated monthly cost (fleet 5 EVs, 2,000 kWh/month total) |
≥ £1,300 | ≤ £360 |
| Initial Investment | None | From £3,000 (with grants) |
| Operational Control | Low | High (with management software) |
| Availability | Variable | Guaranteed for the fleet |
| Time Optimisation | Limited | Total (Smart Programming) |
| Estimated ROI (Private vs. Public Investment) | N/A | ≤ 6 months |
Note: Costs are approximate and must be validated for each specific case. Wenea can carry out a customised feasibility study.
When to choose public, private or blended charging?
The optimal decision depends on multiple factors specific to each company:
| Company Situation | Wenea's Strategic Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Small fleet, without a fixed headquarters or with high geographical mobility | Prioritise the use of the public charging network (such as Wenea’s), complemented by solutions such as Tap&Charge for employees. |
| Vehicles that spend the night or return to the base daily | Investment in private charging infrastructure at headquarters is the most profitable and efficient option in the medium to long term. |
| Mixed-use: on-road vehicles and fixed-base vehicles | Implement a combined strategy: private chargers at headquarters for main charging and access to the public network for opportunity or en route charging. |
| Company in the early phase of transition to EV | Start with the public network as an agile first step to assess needs and, subsequently, plan the private infrastructure. |
| Offer Employee Charging as a Benefit (Workplace Charging) | Installation of private chargers in the workplace, with possible access and cost management. |
Wenea: your strategic partner to find the ideal balance in your fleet charge
At Wenea, we don’t just install chargers; we design smart, tailor-made charging solutions. We help you analyse your needs and implement the optimal mix of public and private charging:
- Access to one of the largest public charging networks in Spain and the UK
- Turnkey private charging solutions
- Unified management platform
- Expert and personalised advice
