Three Questions to Ask Before Signing an EV Charging Contract

Key takeaways

• Ask who funds the build and who carries the risk if costs rise.

• Ask who operates the site day to day and what uptime they commit to.

• Ask what happens to the equipment and revenue when the agreement ends.

Why contracts differ so much

Charging contracts vary widely in who carries the capital cost, who is responsible for uptime and how revenue is shared.

Two offers that look similar on the first page can leave a site owner with very different risks over ten years.

1. Who funds the build?

Find out exactly what is included: chargers, grid upgrades, groundworks and permits. If the operator funds only the hardware, the most expensive and unpredictable parts of the project may still sit with you.

We fund the full build, including the grid work, so site owners are not exposed to cost overruns.

2. Who runs the site day to day?

Ask who monitors the chargers, how quickly faults are fixed and what uptime is guaranteed. A low headline price means little if broken chargers sit unrepaired for weeks.

Look for clear service levels and regular reporting rather than vague promises.

3. What happens at the end of the term?

Most contracts run for ten years or more, so the exit terms matter as much as the entry ones. Find out who owns the chargers once the term ends and whether you can take over, renew or have them removed.

Check whether the equipment is removed, handed over or renewed, and who pays for each option. A good contract makes the end of the term as clear as the start.