03 June 2025
Summary
Choosing between a 7.4kW and a 22kW commercial EV charger depends on your power supply, vehicle usage, and charging speed needs. A 7.4kW charger is ideal for workplaces or residential blocks with longer parking times and standard single-phase power, while 22kW chargers suit fast turnaround environments like fleet depots and retail locations with three-phase electricity. Our commercial EV charging solutions at waEV-charge are tailored to your site capacity and business goals, offering smart charging, load balancing, and full support with grant guidance and 24/7 maintenance. Whether you're installing chargers for staff, customers, or vehicles, we help you choose the right system - efficient, scalable, and cost-effective.
The choice between a 7.4 kW and a 22 kW charger comes down to how fast your vehicles need charging and what power supply you have. Both are classified as AC fast chargers, but a 22 kW unit delivers about three times the power of a 7.4 kW unit. In practical terms, a typical 50 kWh EV battery tops up in just over 2 hours on 22 kW (vs ~7 hours on 7.4 kW). This extra speed is valuable for busy fleets or short-stay users. However, if cars or vans remain parked for 8-10+ hours (for example, overnight at an office), a 7.4 kW charger (adding ~20-30 miles of range per hour) often meets daily needs. Indeed, Energy Saving Trust notes that both 7kW and 22 kW chargers are “best options for charging overnight” in most business depots. Our waEV-charge experts always start by looking at your vehicles’ duty cycle: do you need quick top-ups during the day, or is overnight charging sufficient? This helps determine which power level is best.
Charging speed isn’t just about the charger’s rating; the vehicle’s onboard charger also matters. Most modern EVs accept up to ~11 kW AC charging, so fitting a 22 kW unit will charge those cars about 1.5× faster than a 7.4 kW unit. Vehicles limited to 7 kW onboard will charge no faster than that regardless of the charger. In short, 22 kW chargers unlock their speed benefit mostly for vehicles with higher onboard capacity or when charging multiple vehicles in sequence. For our clients, we always match charger power to vehicle capabilities: we wouldn’t overspend on a 22 kW unit if all your vans only accept 7 kW.
One big difference is power infrastructure. A 22 kW AC charger requires a 400 V three-phase supply, whereas a 7.4 kW charger can run on a standard 230 V single-phase circuit. Energy Saving Trust explains that 22 kW “can only [be used] if your building has 400V three-phase electricity”. Many commercial or industrial sites have three-phase power by default, but smaller offices, retail outlets or residential blocks often do not. If your building lacks a three-phase supply, installing a 22 kW charger may require an expensive upgrade or a specialist connection via your Distribution Network Operator. In contrast, almost any site with a 32 A single-phase feed can host a 7.4 kW. Our team will survey your electrical capacity early on — we’ll check your service rating and advise whether a simple single-phase circuit can run your charger, or if we need to coordinate a three-phase upgrade. We also make sure installations follow all UK regulations and wiring standards for EV chargers.
Different businesses have different needs. Here are some typical examples:
These examples show that 7.4 kW chargers are great for long parking periods, while 22 kW adds flexibility for quicker top-ups. We’ll help you choose the right combination and number of units so every user gets enough charge.
There is a cost difference between 7.4 kW and 22 kW installations, but government support makes both affordable. The UK Workplace Charging Scheme (OZEV grant) covers up to 75% of purchase and installation costs (capped at £350 per socket). In addition, businesses can apply for up to five OZEV fleet grants (staff/fleet grant), each worth up to £15,000.
Our specialists will provide a detailed quote showing hardware versus installation costs. We always factor in grant schemes to give the most cost-effective solution.
Modern commercial chargers do more than deliver power - they’re intelligent. At waEV-charge we build in smart features to optimize energy use. For example, our chargers can integrate with time-of-use tariffs or onsite solar. This means you can schedule EV charging to run when grid electricity is cheapest, or draw preferentially from daytime solar output. Energy Saving Trust highlights that using smart charging systems to charge when prices are low, and adding solar generation, can significantly cut costs.
Our commercial chargers also support load balancing. If multiple EVs plug in at once, the system automatically spreads available power between them so that you don’t overload your supply. Government guidance even illustrates setups where load management keeps six 22 kW chargers safely charging on a 32 kW feed. In practice, this means you can install several chargers on the same circuit without fearing tripped breakers - every plugged-in vehicle still gets a charge.
With these features, your business minimizes electricity bills and stays grid-friendly. Plus, all waEV-charge commercial units can connect to our cloud platform or the ev.energy fleet app for remote monitoring, scheduling, and real-time insights. This ensures you have full control over charging sessions and energy usage.
Installing chargers is just the beginning. Commercial users need reliability. That’s why our team offers robust maintenance support. All waEV-charge commercial installations include 24/7 monitoring and diagnostics. If the system detects an issue, our engineers can often fix it remotely. In the event of a fault on-site, we guarantee free support calls and a 48-hour on-site response. This priority service means your chargers spend virtually no time offline.
We also provide priority replacement parts and software updates to keep your chargers at peak performance. For example, if a connector is damaged, we ship you spares immediately. Our support team is always on hand - customers get unlimited technical support via phone or email. In short, partnering with waEV-charge gives you peace of mind. Your business can rely on us to keep the charging infrastructure running, year-round.
Ready to electrify your business? Our experts are here to help you choose the right charger and manage installation end-to-end. Explore our Commercial EV charging solutions page or contact us for a free consultation. We’ll assess your site, recommend the optimal 7.4kW or 22kW setup (or a mix), and support you with smart charging and maintenance packages tailored to your needs. Together we’ll ensure your fleet or workplace charging project is efficient, cost-effective, and future-proof.
This article was written by the waEV-charge Team. waEV-charge specialises in installing and manufacturing EV chargers for both home and commercial use in the UK. If you're interested in electric car chargers, click here to discover more about our products.