Can I finance EV chargers and load management software via equipment finance?

Summary: Yes — in most cases you can finance EV chargepoints, installation works and associated load-management hardware via equipment finance (hire purchase, leasing or a finance lease). Software can also be financed depending on how it’s sold: perpetual licences are generally treated as capital, whereas SaaS subscriptions are usually operating costs and funded differently. UK Business Loans can match your project to specialist lenders and brokers for a free eligibility check. Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check. Submitting an enquiry is not an application and will not affect your credit score.

Make EV charging affordable without large upfront costs. Finance chargers, installation and many load-management systems from £10,000 and up through specialist equipment finance solutions.

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We are not a lender and do not provide regulated financial advice. Submitting an enquiry is free and not an application — it helps us match your project to appropriate lenders and brokers.

Quick answer

Yes — equipment finance normally covers physical EV chargepoints, installation and ancillary hardware. Load management software can be financed where it’s sold as a capital licence or bundled with hardware; recurring SaaS is usually treated as OPEX and funded via working capital or a separate loan.

• Likely financeable: workplace/depots/public chargepoints, site electrics, installation, first-year software if bundled.
• Sometimes financeable: perpetual software licences, battery storage when tied to charger assets.
• Less likely: pure recurring SaaS subscriptions unless packaged with hardware.

Free Eligibility Check — start your enquiry in under two minutes.

What counts as equipment finance?

Equipment finance is a generic term for funding that allows a business to acquire physical assets without paying the full purchase price upfront. Common structures include:

• Hire Purchase (HP) — you pay a deposit then regular payments; ownership transfers when the final payment is made.
• Finance lease — lender owns the asset; you have long-term use and pay rentals; often a purchase option at the end.
• Operating lease — shorter-term rental where the asset is returned at term end; more OPEX-style.
• Chattel mortgage / asset refinance — loan secured on the asset, similar to a mortgage but for equipment.
• Green / sustainability loans — tailored products for energy or carbon-reduction projects that may offer preferential terms.

Accounting and tax treatment differs: capital finance treats an item as CAPEX, while subscriptions are OPEX. Lenders take the asset, useful life and residual value into account when assessing applications.

Can EV chargers be financed?

Yes. Physical chargers — including units, foundations, cabling and electrical upgrades on site — are commonly accepted by asset finance lenders. Larger projects (rapid chargers, depot banks, grid upgrades) may need bespoke underwriting but are still routinely financed.

Projects typically financed include:

• Small workplace chargepoint installations
• Fleet depot charging banks with load balancing
• Retail or public chargers with revenue models
• Rapid or ultra-rapid chargers and associated grid works (often requires specialist lenders)

Example assets and typical finance approaches

Example asset	Typical finance solutions	Lender view
Single workplace charger	HP / Lease	Readily acceptable
Depot bank + load management	HP / Finance lease / Project loan	Requires specification and financier with EV experience
Rapid chargers + grid upgrade	Project finance / asset finance + capex loan	Bespoke underwriting; capex heavy

Well-documented supplier contracts, warranties and maintenance packages increase lender appetite and can improve terms.

Can load management software be financed?

Software treatment depends on how it’s supplied:

• Perpetual / on-premise licence: typically capital in nature and often fundable as part of equipment finance.
• One-off professional services (installation, commissioning): usually fundable and commonly included in finance packages.
• SaaS / subscription: ongoing service contracts are normally operating expenses. Lenders rarely treat multi-year subscriptions as capital unless there is a long, assignable contract with transferable rights.

In practice many lenders will finance a hardware-plus-software package if:

• The software for the first 12 months is bundled with the hardware price;
• Supplier contracts allow assignment to the lender;
• Contract length and SLA demonstrate lasting value (useful life consistent with term).

If your supplier offers a bundled solution, lenders often underwrite the combined package — making it simpler to secure a single finance deal. If you’re unsure how your licence is treated, get a free eligibility check and we’ll match you to a lender who understands software licences.

What lenders look for — eligibility & underwriting

Lenders assess both the business and the asset. Typical criteria include:

• Business profile: trading history (many lenders prefer 12+ months), company structure and sector.
• Financial strength: turnover, profitability, bank statements and credit history.
• Asset specifics: make, model, cost, useful life and expected residual value.
• Supplier credibility: installation experience, warranty and maintenance arrangements.
• Grants & incentive support: presence of government or local grants can help.

Documents to prepare:

• Supplier quotes/spec sheets and installation proposals
• Company accounts (or management accounts), recent bank statements
• Proof of company registration and VAT number
• Details of any grant awards or incentive paperwork

Prepare your documents — start your enquiry.

Costs, terms and VAT treatment

Typical finance term lengths for chargers range from 2–7 years depending on tech lifespan and lender preference. Faster-evolving tech may attract shorter terms and higher residuals.

• Costs you’ll pay: deposit (sometimes), monthly rentals or repayments, maintenance and insurance (depending on contract).
• Rates and fees: vary by lender and credit profile — compare multiple offers rather than relying on a single quote.
• VAT: VAT-registered businesses may be able to reclaim VAT on purchase; treatment differs if equipment is leased vs purchased — check with your accountant.

Grants and incentives reduce the capital required; lenders usually accept grant-backed projects but will need visibility of grant terms.

Get a free quote to compare terms for your project.

Alternatives & complementary funding routes

Other funding options that can work alongside or instead of equipment finance:

• Sustainability loans or green business loans (purpose-specific lending).
• Energy Performance Contracting / ESCO models where repayments come from energy savings.
• Business loans or working capital facilities for subscription-heavy projects.
• Government grants, local authority incentives and OLEV-style funding.
• Supplier or instalment finance offered by installers.

Combining a grant with equipment finance is common: the grant lowers the financed amount and improves affordability. For broader sustainability funding options see our page on sustainability loans.

Case studies — quick examples

Workplace charging (example): A 20-desk office needed 4 dual chargers and cabling. The business used asset finance (HP) over 3 years to preserve cashflow. Supplier warranty and an included first-year software licence made the package financeable. Result: minimal upfront cost and predictable monthly payments.

Fleet depot upgrade (example): A small logistics firm installed a 6‑charger rapid bank plus load-management controllers and minor grid reinforcement. Project finance combined equipment finance and a short-term working capital facility while the firm claimed local grant funding. Specialist lenders assessed the depot’s projected operational savings and approved a 5-year lease with tailored repayments.

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How UK Business Loans helps

UK Business Loans connects you with lenders and brokers who specialise in EV and energy projects. Our process is quick and free:

• Complete a short enquiry in under 2 minutes.
• We match your project to lenders/brokers who handle EV charger and load-management finance.
• You’ll typically get a response within hours; formal quotes follow after lender checks.

We introduce you to lenders and brokers — we do not lend or provide regulated advice. Submitting an enquiry is not an application and will not affect your credit score. Start your free eligibility check.

Step-by-step: apply checklist & timeline

1. Get supplier quotes and technical spec sheets (charger make/model, power, installation plan).
2. Complete our short enquiry form with project value (we handle projects from £10,000 upwards).
3. We match you to suitable lenders/brokers; they contact you for any clarification.
4. Receive and compare written offers; choose best-fit and complete lender paperwork.
5. Installation scheduled once finance and contracts are signed.

Typical timeline: initial match within hours; lender quote in days; completed funding and installation in weeks depending on project complexity.

FAQs

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Closing — ready to proceed?

EV chargers and many load-management systems can be funded through equipment finance, often with installation and initial software bundled. If you’d like tailored quotes and help comparing options, complete a short enquiry — it’s free and not an application. Get Started — Free Eligibility Check.

UK Business Loans does not lend or provide regulated financial advice. We introduce businesses to lenders and brokers so you can compare offers and choose the best solution for your circumstances. Typical projects we assist start from £10,000 in value.

1. Will submitting an enquiry through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — completing our enquiry form is not a loan application and will not affect your credit score; lenders may only perform checks if you choose to proceed.

2. Can I finance EV chargers, installation and load management hardware with equipment finance?
Yes — equipment finance commonly covers EV chargepoints, installation, cabling and associated load-management hardware via hire purchase, leasing or finance leases.

3. Can load management software or SaaS subscriptions be included in an equipment finance package?
Perpetual licences and bundled first-year software are often financeable, whereas ongoing SaaS subscriptions are usually treated as operating expenditure and funded separately.

4. Do you arrange grants or include grant funding in the finance application?
We do not process grant claims directly but can match you with brokers and lenders experienced in grant-backed projects who will factor grant contributions into the finance package.

5. What documents and trading history do lenders typically require for asset finance?
Lenders usually request supplier quotes/spec sheets, company accounts or management accounts, recent bank statements, proof of registration and details of any grants or contracts, with many preferring 12+ months trading history.

6. How long are typical finance terms for EV charger projects and what are the costs?
Typical terms range from 2–7 years depending on asset life and lender preference, with costs including deposits (sometimes), monthly repayments, fees, maintenance and insurance as specified by the lender.

7. Can start-ups or businesses with imperfect credit get finance for EV chargers or equipment?
Yes — some specialist lenders and brokers we work with consider start-ups and businesses with imperfect credit, and we’ll match you to partners suited to your profile.

8. Will VAT treatment differ if I lease chargers rather than buy them outright?
Yes — VAT treatment can differ between leasing and purchasing, and VAT-registered businesses may be able to reclaim VAT depending on the finance structure, so check with your accountant.

9. How quickly can I get matched to lenders and receive a quote through UK Business Loans?
Our matching service is fast — expect an initial match within hours and lender quotes typically within days depending on project complexity.

10. What alternative or complementary funding options exist alongside equipment finance for sustainability projects?
Alternatives include green/sustainability loans, energy performance contracting (ESCO), business loans or working capital for SaaS-heavy projects, supplier finance and local or government grants, which can often be combined with equipment finance.