Charging and Information - OU Staff

Charging and information

Any members of staff wishing to use the electric vehicle charging facilities will need to join the Electric Vehicle Workplace Scheme by completing an application form.

The scheme is free to join and runs on a PAYG basis through BP Pulse. You will be required to enter your payment details on registration with BP Pulse and will be charged for your usage by direct debit on a monthly basis.

The Workplace Scheme is not for profit and the rate charged will change in line with what the OU is being charged for electricity. Members are encouraged to use the scheme purely for top-up purposes rather than their main electric vehicle charging location. 

If you would like to join the Electric Vehicle Workplace Scheme, please read through the below documents, complete the EV Membership Form and email it to [email protected].

*Please note the form contains a link to BP’s Privacy Policy.

EV Membership Form

Data Protection

EV Terms and Conditions

Workplace Employee Guide

EV Charging bays

The electric charging bays are denoted with a green ‘E’ and signage. You will need your membership card for access to the charging posts. Near most of the charging posts there are additional bays next to each charging post where users may park their vehicles whilst waiting for the post to become available for charging. They are not available for general parking. 

EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme

The Travel Advice Team have been in contact with our VAT and Payroll teams to enquire about starting an EV salary sacrifice scheme. An EV salary sacrifice scheme sounds like a favourable one for all parties but the government regularly changes the rules meaning there are many risk factors the OU would be vulnerable to.

The values involved with the purchase of an EV would mean a greater OU risk should non-payment take place and also a significant reduction to an individual’s take home wage. In addition, this type of scheme is very expensive for an employer to run due to the Class 1a - NI and administrative costs, unlike most salary sacrifice schemes, which saves employer NI, this scheme does not, as its charged as class 1a instead via P11ds.

The decision has therefore been made at this time not to proceed with the scheme.  However we are continuously looking at other factors to encourage electric vehicle ownership for staff, so if you have any queries, please let contact [email protected]  

Useful information 

Please visit the Open University specific FAQ's

Members of the EV scheme may also wish to subscribe to the EV Users mailing list [email protected] as members use this route to communicate with each other regarding where they are charging, when they are likely to be finished, and any problems with the posts.  It is also the forum where the Travel Advice team can communicate with all members. To get added to the mailing list, please contact travel-advice

Regarding car parking regulations follow the link.

For any enquiries about the Electric Vehicle charging facilities contact travel-advice

For any enquiries about the University car parking regulations please contact security