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Good foundations are the key to success
EV charging sites start in the ground. Before a single charger is installed, the civils work beneath it determines how the site performs. Concrete is one of the most critical materials in that process, at Blackoak Contracts we’ve built our concreting capability specifically around the demands of EV car parks and charging hub construction.
Blackoak build the formwork for in-situ concrete pours on site, constructing LV pillars, SCADA boxes, cabinet bases, canopy bases and a wide range of other EV concrete structures. EV infrastructure also includes reinforced slab foundations, hardstanding aprons, charger plinths, equipment bases, feeder pillars and substation bases. Blackoak also uses concrete for cable duct encasement, manhole surrounds, bollard bases, and full trench reinstatement after ducting works. Every pour is built around supplying the structure with the ducting requirements, then levelled and finished to the tolerances the site and the equipment demand.
On larger EV projects, we work with site engineers from the outset, taking measurements, recording levels, and collaborating with the client and principal contractor before a single mix is poured. Expansion joints are planned and positioned in advance, and all structural design requirements and shuttering plans are prepared carefully to deliver a quality finish at the correct levels and falls across the full site. Concrete becomes one of the most durable, load-bearing materials in civil engineering, which is exactly why it sits at the heart of every EV site we deliver.
Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced concrete for EV charging
Concrete performs exceptionally well under compression, but on its own it has limited tensile strength. In EV civils, where charger bases, slab foundations and equipment plinths are under constant loading from vehicles and exposure to the elements, that tensile strength matters.
We use rebar (reinforcing steel bar) throughout our EV concreting work. The bars are fixed in position within the shuttering before the pour, so the steel carries the tensile loads the concrete can’t, significantly increasing the strength and lifespan of the structure. The ribbed pattern on rebar creates a mechanical bond with the concrete as it cures, so the two materials work as a single structure.
Duct encasement and trench reinstatement
Beneath every EV car park runs the ducting that carries power to each charging point. Where the required trench depths can’t be achieved, these duct routes can be encased in concrete to protect them from traffic.
Substation, DNO and feeder pillar bases
Where sites require substation housing, DNO switchgear or feeder pillars, we construct the concrete bases to civils specification: reinforced, level, and positioned exactly to the electrical contractor’s layout. Our scope is civils only; we work alongside the electrical teams to make sure every base is right before handover.
Finishing options
- Brushed or broom finish: standard for EV forecourts, hardstanding and vehicle aprons
- Trowel or float finish: a smooth finish for covered or internal charging installations
