Commercial Solar
+ Fleet EV Charging

Why Combine Solar with EV Charging?

The UK's 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles means every business with a vehicle fleet is facing an inevitable transition to electric. The question is not whether to electrify, but how to manage the energy costs of doing so.

Combining rooftop solar with workplace EV charging creates a synergy that neither technology achieves alone. Solar generates electricity at approximately 4-5p/kWh over its lifetime. Grid electricity costs 25-35p/kWh. Charging your fleet from your own roof effectively eliminates fuel costs for those vehicles during daylight hours.

For Hull businesses with commercial premises and vehicle fleets — from delivery vans and sales rep cars to logistics trucks and service vehicles — this combination represents the single most impactful investment in operational cost reduction available today.

How the System Works

Daytime: Direct Solar Charging

During daylight hours, rooftop solar panels generate electricity that flows directly to EV chargers in your car park. Vehicles plugged in during the working day charge at the cost of solar generation (~4-5p/kWh) rather than grid rates. This is the simplest and most cost-effective configuration.

Peak Shaving with Smart Charging

Smart EV chargers modulate their charging speed based on available solar generation. When solar output exceeds building demand, surplus flows to vehicles. When building demand peaks, chargers throttle back. This prevents demand charge spikes on your electricity bill and maximises self-consumption.

Adding Battery Storage

For businesses with vehicles that need charging overnight (return-to-base fleets), adding commercial battery storage enables solar energy captured during the day to be stored and dispensed to vehicles overnight. This extends solar-powered charging beyond daylight hours.

Tax Benefits

Both solar panels and EV chargers qualify for the 100% Annual Investment Allowance, enabling full first-year tax deduction. For a combined £100,000 installation (solar + chargers), this delivers an immediate corporation tax saving of £25,000 at the current 25% rate.

Electric vehicles themselves qualify for 100% first-year capital allowances through the super-deduction for zero-emission cars. Company car Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates are 2% for EVs vs up to 37% for diesel — a significant employee benefit.

The 100% business rates exemption on rooftop solar (until 2035) means no additional rates liability for the solar installation. EV chargers are also exempt from business rates under the plant and machinery rating exclusion.

Charger Types for Commercial Sites

• 7kW AC (Type 2): Standard workplace chargers for employee cars parked all day. Full charge in 6-8 hours. Cost: £800-£1,200 installed per point.
• 22kW AC (Type 2): Faster workplace charging for vehicles parked shorter periods. Full charge in 2-3 hours. Cost: £1,500-£2,500 installed.
• 50-150kW DC (CCS): Rapid chargers for fleet vehicles needing fast turnaround. 80% charge in 20-45 minutes. Cost: £25,000-£60,000 installed.

For most commercial fleets, a combination of 7-22kW chargers provides the best balance of cost and utility. Vehicles parked during working hours gain a full charge from solar at minimal infrastructure cost.