Could EV charging work at your County Durham business?

County Durham had 802 public chargers on 1 July 2026 [S1]. Your site's business case depends on its own visitors, available power and connection cost. Distinguish overnight or attraction parking from a short journey stop, then compare fully funded income with the capital and payback risk of part funded or self funded charging. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 17 October 2026

Should your County Durham site serve a visit or a journey?

Start with the reason a vehicle stops. Visit County Durham’s destination plan prioritises longer visits, staying visitors, day visitors and seasonality. [S3] For charging, that suggests testing separate parking patterns rather than assuming every visitor wants a rapid stop. It is a planning inference, not measured charging demand.

A hotel can ask guests about overnight access and arrival energy. A visitor attraction can record how long people stay and whether moving a car would interrupt the visit. For Consett, prepare a catchment-specific alternatives map instead of transferring county averages to a single car park.

How much public charging does County Durham already have?

On 1 July 2026, County Durham had 802 public chargers, including 204 rapid chargers. Its overall density was close to the North East average and below the UK figure. Rapid provision was slightly above the regional rate, but below the UK comparison. [S1]

Using the retained council dataset, population = public chargers ÷ density × 100,000. Sum counts and populations, then calculate regional and UK rates. Rounded input densities make these approximate. [S1] The North East page provides the wider context.

The 2026 Q2 vehicle snapshot records 13,984 plug-ins, including 9,946 battery electric vehicles and 11,321 privately kept plug-ins. Do not add the overlapping categories. [S2] Registered keepers are not a count of vehicles passing your entrance, and the quarter is different from the charger reporting date.

Could a rapid charger repay its installation cost?

Here is an illustration, not a quote, for a roadside visitor stop. Kilowatts (kW) measure charging power; kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure delivered energy. Direct current (DC) describes the rapid charger in this example.

The commercial references together indicate £15,000–£45,000 for an installed 50 kW unit, excluding grid connection. A main supply upgrade is a separate £40,000–£150,000 budget line. [S8], [S9] The example includes the lower upgrade allowance; it does not describe an assessed County Durham connection.

Annual sales = daily sessions × 25 × 300 × £0.60. Surplus = daily sessions × 25 × 300 × (£0.60 − £0.30) − £1,800. Fully funded means the provider pays, installs, owns and operates; you provide bays and receive the assumed 10% of sales. Part funded assumes half the total capital from you (£27,500–£42,500) for 60% of surplus, with ownership and exit rights agreed. Self funded means you pay all capital and keep surplus.

Simple return on investment (ROI) = annual host net ÷ host capital × 100. Payback = host capital ÷ annual net, in years. At high use, ignoring the upgrade would put equipment-only ROI above 100% at the cheapest equipment price; the table therefore includes the £40,000 supply allowance. A larger upgrade worsens the outcome. Tax, grants, finance, land rent, rates, payment fees, electrical losses, standing charges and replacement costs are excluded. Usage and shares are assumptions, not provider terms. Use the payback tool to add your full costs.

What should be checked before reserving bays?

Identify the distribution network operator (DNO), which manages electricity cables locally. The national coverage map identifies Northern Powergrid for North East England; confirm your premises’ connection before specifying power. [S4] A regional map establishes neither spare capacity nor a connection price. Provide a demand schedule and ask whether charging can share capacity with existing building loads.

Visit County Durham specifically signposts charging support to charities and small accommodation businesses. [S10] The Workplace Charging Scheme runs until 31 March 2027, covering up to 75% of eligible costs, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across your sites. [S5] Public rapid use is not automatically grant eligible.

Public customer parking can remain within the public charging definition despite limited hours. [S6] Ask your solicitor to check access, liability, parking enforcement, lease length, assignment, redevelopment and end-of-term reinstatement. HMRC’s chargepoint first-year allowance has separate Corporation Tax and Income Tax deadlines; check your expenditure and treatment with your accountant. [S7]

Prepare a County Durham site enquiry

Record actual parking stays, land control, nearby alternatives and supply details, then get matched with an installer that covers your area.

This service is operated by Piggy Pineapple Ltd. We refer enquiries to installer partners and may be paid a fee. Our owner holds shares in at least one partner. Before passing details on, we name the intended partner and tell you whether the owner holds shares in it.