Electric Vehicle Charging at Work: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

Nearly 90% of electric vehicle drivers charge at home or at work. This is the most defining statistic in the market. For employees with electric company cars, knowing what to expect from their employer can be life-changing. For decision-makers (HR directors, CFOs, fleet managers), it’s a complex equation with many variables: legal obligations, technical choices, billing models, and tax implications. Below are concrete answers to the most common questions in 2026.

What the law requires of companies in 2026

Since January 1, 2025, all commercial buildings (offices, retail spaces, hotels, etc.) with parking lots of more than 20 spaces must have at least one operational charging station, as well as one accessible to people with reduced mobility. For new commercial buildings, pre-installation is mandatory for 20% of parking spaces at the time of construction, with one additional charging station for every 20 additional spaces. Failure to comply exposes the operator to an administrative fine of €7,500 per year per affected parking lot, renewable until compliance is achieved. New residential condominiums with more than 10 parking spaces are subject to specific pre-wiring requirements, which are less stringent than those for commercial buildings.

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The LOM Act (Mobility Orientation Act) simultaneously requires companies managing more than 100 vehicles to meet a quota of low-emission vehicles in their purchases: 20% by the end of 2026, 40% as of January 1, 2027, and 70% as of January 1, 2030. Without accessible charging points, these targets are impossible to meet. Charging at work has therefore become a strategic infrastructure issue, not a matter of convenience.

For employees, these obligations do not create an automatic “right to a charging port” similar to residential settings: the company is not required to make its charging stations available to all employees for free. However, once it reaches a certain size, it is required to provide a charging solution in its parking lots.

The “right to a charging port” at work: what an employee can request

No law formally requires an employer to provide free charging to an employee driving a personal electric vehicle. However, once a charging station is installed in the company parking lot, making it available to employees falls under HR policy and remains highly advantageous from a social and tax perspective. Several configurations coexist in practice:

Charging station dedicated to the company fleet: reserved for company and service vehicles, accessed via an RFID badge. Employees with personal vehicles do not have access.

Mixed-use charging station open to employees with personal vehicles: regulated use, sometimes with designated time slots.

Public charging station in the visitor parking lot: accessible to everyone, generally for a fee.

The general trend is toward gradually opening these stations to employees, because the benefit in kind is tax-exempt (we’ll come back to this below) and because providing a charging station has become a key selling point when recruiting mobile executives.

Who Pays for What: The Three Main Billing Models

This is the most frequently asked question. Three models dominate the market in 2026, to be chosen based on fleet size and actual usage.

Charging provided by the employer

The simplest and most generous model. The company covers the full cost of electricity, with no cost to the employee. Compatible with the URSSAF exemption (see below). For a fleet of 20 vehicles that charge once a week, the additional cost to the employer remains modest: approximately €600 to €1,200 per year per vehicle, depending on the contracted electricity rate.

Billing per kilowatt-hour

The employee pays for the electricity they consume, generally at the company’s purchase rate plus a possible markup. This is the fairest model for mixed-use charging stations (fleet + personal vehicles), and it is facilitated by the use of monitored stations that precisely measure consumption per session. Rate often set at €0.15 to €0.30/kWh depending on the time of charging.

Monthly flat rate

The employee pays a fixed monthly fee (€5 to €20/month depending on the plan) for unlimited access to the charging station. More predictable from a budgeting standpoint, this model simplifies administrative management and remains popular among medium-sized fleets. It is ill-suited for very intensive use (sales representatives who drive long distances), which can far exceed the actual cost of the flat rate.

Special case: home charging of a company vehicle. Three options exist: the expense report (the employee pays upfront and is reimbursed upon submission of receipts), the vehicle-specific MID meter (certified measurement, automated reimbursement), and the equivalent monthly flat rate. The MID meter is gaining traction because it eliminates discretionary decisions and clearly separates personal and business expenses.

Benefit in kind: the good news from URSSAF extended until 2027

This is the most powerful tax incentive for companies wishing to make charging widely available to their employees.URSSAF (official Benefits in Kind page) has extended the exemption from benefits in kind related to the provision of a charging station at the workplace until December 31, 2027.

In practical terms, if an employee charges their vehicle (personal or company-owned) at the company’s charging station, personal use does not result in any benefit in kind subject to social security contributions. The same applies to electricity costs covered by the employer for charging a company vehicle: these are never included in the contribution base.

If the employer covers the purchase or installation of a charging station at the employee’s home, the exemption applies to up to 50% of the expenses, up to a limit of €1,057.10 for a station less than 5 years old, or 75% up to a limit of €1,585.50 for a station more than 5 years old. Any amount exceeding these limits is considered a benefit in kind.

For the employee, there are zero contributions on this item. For the company, it is a social security cost that does not increase with the generosity of the offer. Both parties benefit, at least until the end of 2027. For the full mechanics of the electric vehicle AEN calculation, see our guide dedicated to electric car benefits in kind.

Which charging station for which business use

The technical choice determines the installation cost and the quality of service. Three main categories of solutions dominate the market, each with its recommended use case.

Heavy-duty outlet: the backup solution

Green’Up type or equivalent, approximately 3.2 kW. Fully charges a car in 8 to 12 hours. Suitable for small fleets that charge over long periods (night, weekend). Moderate installation cost (€300 to €600 per point, including installation), but very limited use when multiple vehicles need to be charged.

7–22 kW AC charging station: the standard for office parking lots

This is the most cost-effective configuration for long-term charging (during the workday). Installation costs range from €1,500 to €4,000 per station, depending on the work required and potential for shared use. Provides 70 to 150 km per hour of charging, sufficient to cover an average commute.

Fast DC charging station: for rotating fleets

50 to 400 kW depending on the model. Installation costs range from €15,000 to €50,000 or more, depending on power output and connection requirements. Suitable for charging hubs serving commercial vehicles on the move, taxis, ride-hailing fleets, or companies with high turnover in their service vehicles. For most companies, the most practical solution is to combine a few AC stations in the company parking lot with access to a public fast-charging network for long trips.

Summary table of corporate charging solutions

An overview of the three main categories of charging stations to help narrow down your choice based on primary use and available budget.

Solution	Power	Installation cost per station	Full charge	Target Use
Green’Up heavy-duty outlet	≈ 3.2 kW	€300–600	8 to 12 hours	Small fleet, overnight charging
Wall-mounted AC charging station 7 to 22 kW	7–22 kW	€1,500 – €4,000	3 to 8 hours	Office, charging during the workday
Fast DC charging station	50–400 kW	€15,000 – €50,000 and up	20 to 60 min	Commercial fleet, taxis, ride-hailing vehicles, hub

Estimated costs excluding Enedis connection fees. The Advenir program, which will be restricted to businesses in 2026, remains available for condominiums and certain community projects.

5 questions to ask yourself before equipping your parking lot

The installation project requires advance planning. Five key questions must be addressed before starting the work.

1. What is the primary use? Long-term charging for the internal fleet, charging open to employees, a fast-charging hub for visitors, or a combination?

2. What power capacity is available on the meter? The installation may require an upgrade to your Enedis service plan, which should be planned several months in advance.

3. What billing model? Free, per kWh, or flat rate? The answer determines whether to choose a monitored charging station (with energy management and automatic billing) or a basic one.

4. What kind of monitoring and maintenance? A charging station without a monitoring contract often ends up breaking down without anyone noticing until an employee reports the issue.

5. What financial assistance is available? The Advenir program was scaled back for businesses in 2026 but remains active for condominiums and certain community projects. Regional grants can supplement funding. Conducting preliminary research helps identify the right contacts.

Charging a fleet on the Electra network

For vehicles on the move (sales reps, delivery drivers, technicians), the charging station installed at headquarters isn’t enough. The public network then becomes the natural complement. Our Electra fast-charging stations offer over 4,000 ultra-fast charging points up to 400 kW, mostly located in commercial areas accessible within minutes of major thoroughfares. With the Electra app, the standard rate ranges from €0.39 to €0.61 (including tax) per kilowatt-hour depending on traffic (starting at €0.61 without the app).

For fleets that regularly charge on highways or in commercial areas, two no-commitment plans significantly reduce costs:

Electra+ Essential: €1.99/month with no commitment, a €0.10/kWh discount on every charge on the Electra network.

Electra+ Smart: €4.99/month with no commitment, a €0.20/kWh discount on every charge on the Electra network.

Download the Electra app using the code PLUS2 to get your first monthof Electra+ subscription free. Details on Electra charging rates are available on our official website. For B2B fleets, Electra also offers dedicated business plans and fast-charging stations directly accessible via the app.