Business EV charging in Worthing: will visitors pay to plug in?

Worthing had 290 public chargers in the July extract [S1]. Overall charger density exceeds the South East and UK comparisons, although rapid density is lower. Your business should test the complete parking and charging experience before forecasting sales. Compare nearby access, the cost of reserved bays and your visitors' stopping times alongside installation and electricity costs. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 17 October 2026

Can your Worthing visitors understand the parking and charging price?

The councils list charging at High Street multi-storey in Worthing and identify separate payment for parking and electricity [S8]. If you operate a retail car park or hospitality site, test the same journey a visitor would make. Can someone see both prices before entering, reach the facilities and leave within the parking limit?

The council page also marks Brooklands Western Road charging as temporarily unavailable [S8]. Recheck the live position during your survey rather than treating a directory entry as proof of usable nearby equipment. Do not convert an interruption elsewhere into a permanent demand forecast for your own bays.

How much public charging is already available in Worthing?

Worthing’s extract records 290 public chargers at 1 July 2026, including 30 rapid or above [S1]. Its overall provision is denser than the comparison areas, while its rapid provision is less dense.

The comparison uses population estimates inferred from count ÷ published public rate × 100,000. Aggregate council populations and charger counts, then recalculate density. This method uses the supplied local-authority dataset and inherits its rounded rates [S1].

In 2026 Q2 the Worthing extract records 2,719 licensed plug-in vehicles: 1,969 are battery electric and 2,195 are privately kept plug-in vehicles [S2]. These keeper-address counts do not measure charging sessions. Use the South East overview alongside your own arrival records.

Compare longer stays with quick energy stops. Inspect alternatives during your trading hours; borough totals cannot predict occupancy.

What income could destination chargers produce?

In a fully funded contract, a funding party supplies capital, installation, ownership and operation; you provide bays in exchange for income. A part funded contract adds your capital contribution and a larger income share. A self funded installation belongs to your investment budget and leaves you the net income and operating risk.

An illustration, not a quote. kW means kilowatts of power; kWh means kilowatt-hours of energy. Two units at £1,400–£2,500 each give £2,800–£5,000 [S5]. Groundworks, cable runs and connection cost extra; adding an assumed £1,200–£2,000 makes £4,000–£7,000. Check the separate operational and site-work allowances against the quote scope [S6].

For each case, energy = sessions × 15 × 330. Sales = energy × £0.60; net = energy × £0.35 − £480. The fully funded income uses 10% of sales, while part funded uses 50% of capital and 50% of net. Return on investment (ROI) = annual host net ÷ host capital × 100. Simple payback in years = host capital ÷ host net.

These capital and net shares are illustrative assumptions, so proportional part funding produces matching investment returns. VAT, tax, finance, energy losses, replacement costs and property charges are omitted. Use an itemised survey budget in the income tool before making a decision.

The high-use case assumes several completed sessions across the installation each day. It therefore requires a bay-turnover plan; leaving the same vehicle plugged in all afternoon would not deliver those sales. Keep any restaurant or retail spending outside this charging income model unless you have evidence of additional purchases.

Who handles the electricity supply and the street outside?

UK Power Networks publishes a coverage map and address checker for the South East [S9]. Confirm your supply’s DNO, meaning distribution network operator, before seeking more capacity. Submit a drawing that includes cable routes, delivery access and the pedestrian path as well as the charger positions.

West Sussex County Council is responsible for on-street charging infrastructure, according to the councils’ parking page [S8]. Your private installation and street proposals are separate projects. Ask about planned street coverage before assuming nearby residents will use your business car park at night.

If solar photovoltaic panels or a battery are proposed, request a separate cost and energy schedule. Compare generation with the building’s consumption and charging hours. Use the site assessment to collect the information for that discussion.

Which rules and commercial terms should your offer cover?

WCS support is capped at £500 per eligible socket until 31 March 2027 [S3]. State public charging prices in pence per kWh [S4]. Qualifying new, unused equipment bought before April 2027 can receive 100% first-year allowances [S7]. Check with your accountant.

Have your solicitor check landlord permission, planning requirements and any proposed long lease. Put exit, redevelopment, liability and removal duties in the contract, including reinstatement of the surface. Ask who pays business rates, replacement equipment and insurance. The service specification should explain fault reporting and driver support, including periods when your reception or shop is closed.

Next step for a Worthing installation

Compare Wealden and installation budgets.

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