Intro: short answer

Short answer: Yes — many lenders and brokers will finance EV chargers, civils and depot upgrades together with the vehicles. Depending on your project you can often combine vehicle finance with equipment or vendor finance, blended green loans, or subscription-based charging services (EaaS). The package depends on lender appetite, the technical scope (charger type, grid upgrades), and whether any grants are available.

TL;DR

In most cases you can finance vehicles and a large portion of depot infrastructure together. Typical routes include asset finance for vehicles plus equipment finance for chargers/installations, or a single blended package where the lender accepts multiple asset types. Submit a Free Eligibility Check to see which lenders/brokers can fund your exact build.

Why this matters to fleet owners

Fleet electrification is a material capital decision. Upfront costs — vehicles, chargers, civils and potential grid upgrades — are significant and can derail cashflow if paid from working capital. Financing spreads the cost, protects liquidity and makes budgeting predictable.

• Cashflow: preserve working capital while rolling out vehicles and charging.
• TCO planning: match finance terms to vehicle/asset life for clearer total cost of ownership.
• Operational continuity: staged spending aligned to fleet rollout avoids delays.
• Compliance & sustainability: electrification can meet corporate ESG targets and regulatory obligations.

Typical buyers: last-mile couriers, logistics operators, bus & coach companies, local authorities, utilities and regional delivery fleets.

How lenders commonly structure combined vehicle + charger finance

Financial providers use different structures depending on asset types, risk appetite and energy-related liabilities. Common routes are:

Asset finance (hire purchase, finance lease)

Vehicles and chargers can both be treated as tangible assets. Under hire purchase or finance lease the business gains use immediately and pays over a fixed term. Lenders will assess residual values, useful life and maintenance arrangements.

Equipment / vendor finance

Charger manufacturers or installers often offer finance packages that bundle hardware and installation. These are convenient because vendor familiarity with the equipment reduces technical risk for the funder.

Operating lease / contract hire

Operating leases typically cover vehicles. Some lease providers offer fleet charging as an add-on, but chargers are more often placed on equipment finance terms or via a separate contract.

Green loans / sustainability-linked finance

Specialist green lenders and sustainability-linked products can improve terms where assets meet environmental criteria. Lenders may require evidence and project documentation to qualify.

OPEX models / Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS)

EaaS providers install and operate charging infrastructure for a monthly fee. This can avoid upfront capex and sometimes sidestep large DNO connection bills, transferring energy and maintenance risk to the provider.

Blended funding (grant + loan + asset finance)

Most large electrification projects combine grant funding (where applicable), asset finance for vehicles, and equipment finance or vendor packages for chargers and civils.

Realities lenders will expect: terms commonly range 3–7 years for chargers (sometimes aligned to vehicles), deposits or initial payments may apply, and VAT treatment depends on whether assets are owned or leased. Availability varies by lender and business profile.

What depot infrastructure can be included?

Lenders may fund many of the items required to make a depot EV-ready. Typical inclusions:

• On-site chargers (AC units, dedicated DC rapid chargers)
• Civil works: ducts, cable trenches, foundations
• Distribution upgrades: switchgear, distribution boards, protection
• Battery storage systems (where treated as an asset)
• Meter upgrades and some DNO connection cost items (subject to lender policy)
• Smart charging management hardware and software

Common exclusions or limited items: planning fees, certain statutory consent fees, and contingent DNO charges where costs are uncertain until a site survey is completed.

Typical cost drivers and lender assessment criteria

Costs can vary widely by fleet type and site. Below is an illustrative example for indicative planning:

• Electric van (new): £25,000–£40,000 each (depending on spec)
• AC depot charger (per socket): £1,000–£4,000 installed
• DC rapid charger (per unit): £20,000–£80,000 (installation & civils increase this)
• Grid connection / DNO upgrade: £5,000–£50,000+ (site-dependent)
• Civils & installation (ducting, trenching): £5,000–£30,000+

Factors lenders consider when assessing a combined package:

• Business financial profile: turnover, trading history and cashflow
• Contracted revenues or fleet usage data
• Asset life and residual values (vehicles vs chargers)
• Installer quotes, technical specs and project timelines
• Any grants or capital contributions reducing finance required

Lenders will typically require quotations, a technical site survey and clearer estimates for any DNO works before underwriting a package.

Practical finance structures & short examples

Case A — Small courier: 5 vans + depot

Structure: vehicle hire purchase for 5 EVs over 4 years; equipment finance for 6 AC chargers and civils over 5 years. Deposit: typically 5–20% depending on credit profile. Benefit: low initial cash outlay, predictable monthly payments.

Case B — Local bus operator: 20 buses + depot upgrade

Structure: blended package using a green loan for major civils and DNO works; hire purchase for vehicles; vendor finance for depot chargers. Grants applied where available. Result: longer-term amortisation for depot works, shorter vehicle terms aligned to expected service life.

Case C — Retailer with delivery fleet

Structure: fleet vehicles via contract hire; chargers via EaaS to avoid immediate grid upgrade costs. Benefit: predictable monthly OPEX and no capex for charging hardware; operator focuses on logistics rather than energy infrastructure.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

Grants, incentives and non-finance support

There are UK schemes (e.g. workplace charging grants, OZEV initiatives, local authority grant programmes) that can reduce the amount you need to finance. Grant availability, eligibility and amounts change frequently — speak to a specialist broker to confirm current schemes and timelines. Early engagement with the DNO and planning authorities is crucial to avoid project delays.

How UK Business Loans can help — step by step

1. Complete a short, 2‑minute enquiry with project basics and contact details.
2. We match you with lenders and brokers who specialise in fleet electrification.
3. Receive tailored quotes and questions from matched partners.
4. Choose the best quote and proceed directly with the lender or broker. No obligation.

Information you’ll need to hand: business name and trading details, fleet size and vehicle specs, site location, installer quotations (if available) and an approximate project timeline. Submitting an enquiry is free and will not affect your business credit score.

For vehicle-only finance options see /vehicle-finance — or complete a quick form to get matched for combined packages.

Risks, considerations and transparency

• Check total cost of finance, not just monthly payments — include maintenance and insurance.
• DNO costs can be unpredictable; obtain early quotations or provisional estimates.
• Residual value risk: chargers and batteries may depreciate differently to vehicles.
• Interdependency risk: if vehicles are financed by one provider and chargers by another, ensure terms align to avoid operational or renewal mismatches.

We do not provide regulated financial advice. Always obtain lender terms in writing and review full T&Cs.

FAQs

Can I finance chargers and vehicles in a single agreement?

Often yes. Many funders will accept mixed-asset packages if technical documentation and quotes are provided. If not, lenders can be matched to separate but coordinated packages.

Will lenders fund DNO or grid upgrade charges?

Some lenders will fund confirmed DNO connection costs where a quotation exists. Others treat DNO costs as contingent and expect the borrower to cover them or to be funded via grant or separate facility.

Do EV chargers depreciate like vehicles?

Chargers typically depreciate faster than vehicles and may have different useful lives. Lenders set terms and residual assumptions accordingly — this affects repayment term and monthly cost.

Are there preferential rates for green finance?

Specialist green products and sustainability-linked finance exist and may offer better terms where assets meet environmental criteria, but eligibility and rates vary by provider.

How long does it take to get a quote through UK Business Loans?

After you submit an enquiry you’ll often receive contacts and initial quotes within hours or a few business days depending on project complexity and whether site surveys are needed.

Does an enquiry affect my credit score?

No — submitting an enquiry via UK Business Loans does not affect your business credit score. Lenders may carry out credit checks later if you proceed with an application.

Ready to get started?

If you’re planning a fleet electrification project and want fast, tailored finance options, complete a short enquiry and we’ll match you with lenders and brokers experienced in vehicle and depot packages. Save time, compare offers and keep control of your project budget.

Free Eligibility Check — Get Quote Now