Almost half (48%) of UK employers have already installed electric vehicle (EV) chargers, while a third (32%) are planning to invest in charging infrastructure over the next 12 months, new research suggests.

The study, by Drax Electric Vehicles, also revealed that the overwhelming majority (91%) with workplace charging, plan to expand their infrastructure over the next five years.

When asked for the reasons for investing, more than half (60%) of respondents said they were motivated by the general shift towards EVs and the need for their business to keep pace.

Almost a third (31%) said that they believe the world is moving towards electric driving, while just over a fifth (22%) said there has been an increase in EVs across their company car fleet.

Drax questioned 400 senior decision-makers across a range of sectors for its research, with many respondents saying that the associated benefits of switching to electric was also a leading factor behind the decision to invest.

The most frequently cited benefits were “sustainability”, “cost savings” and “positive impact on reputation”.

However, the findings show that cost is still the main barrier to adoption, with half (51%) of businesses citing this as their primary barrier.

Insufficient Government support came second, with more than a quarter of respondents including this in their top three barriers to electrification.

That’s despite the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) giving grants towards the upfront cost of the purchase and installation of charge points.

Businesses can receive up to 75% – or £350 per socket – of these costs, up to a maximum of 40 sockets per company and these can be on different sites.

How to implement a workplace charging scheme? Click here. 

The Drax research, however, found that one in three respondents was unaware of EV grants and financial incentives, which might have contributed to the perceived lack of support.

Head of sales at Drax Electric Vehicles, Naomi Nye, said: “As an early adopter of EVs, fleets have been at the forefront of the UK’s transition away from fossil fuels towards electric.

“The research tells us that momentum remains strong across all sectors, but that there are still significant barriers we need to overcome.”

She explained: “The next cohort of EV adopters need additional support and guidance as they navigate the unknown. They’re more risk averse than the first generation and want to be armed with as much information as possible before making a decision.

“That’s why we need to work together to create spaces where businesses can share their experiences, learn from other fleets, and connect with experts.”

A full report of the research can be found here.