INDUSTRY INSIGHT APRIL 2026: What Happens During an EV Charger PPM?

EV charging projects are often treated as an installation exercise, get the chargers in and move on. But chargers aren’t just a project milestone, they’re operational assets that need ongoing maintenance to keep them working properly.

Once chargers go live, the focus shifts from delivery to performance. That’s where planned preventive maintenance (PPM) comes in. As part of SEE-V’s end-to-end EV charging service, we support clients long after installation,  whether we’ve delivered the original project or we’re helping manage and maintain existing charging infrastructure.

What happens during an EV charger PPM?

A PPM visit is designed to keep chargers safe, reliable, and compliant, while reducing the risk of downtime and unexpected failures.

We begin with safety and compliance checks, confirming the charger installation still meets the relevant standards and hasn’t been altered or compromised since commissioning.

Next, with the charger safely isolated, we carry out a thorough physical inspection. This includes checking enclosures, seals, cables, connectors, emergency stop buttons, signage, lighting, and vehicle impact protection. These checks focus on the real-world issues that affect chargers over time,  weather exposure, wear and tear, accidental damage, and environmental conditions.

Once inspections are complete, we move on to electrical and functional testing. Protection devices are tested, earthing is verified, and fault conditions are simulated. Each connector is checked to ensure it starts, charges, and shuts down exactly as it should.

Finally, we complete the documentation and reporting. Test results are recorded, inspection labels updated, and any issues clearly explained along with practical recommendations. Clients always know the condition of their assets and what action, if any, is required.

All EV charger maintenance from SEE-V is carried out by a competent person, with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and experience to inspect, test, and maintain EV charging equipment safely. Our PPM activities are delivered in line with BS 7671, manufacturer requirements, and recognised industry guidance, ensuring chargers remain safe, compliant, and fit for ongoing operation.

Reliability, availability, and compliance

For public rapid charging, reliability isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a requirement.

Public rapid charge points rated at 50 kW and above are expected to achieve high levels of availability, with an average network availability of at least 99% over a 12-month period, in line with the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023. Periods when chargers are deliberately taken out of service for maintenance or upgrades are excluded from this calculation, recognising that proactive work is essential to long-term performance.

Planned preventive maintenance plays a critical role in achieving these reliability levels. By identifying issues early, maintaining protection systems, and keeping chargers operating as intended, PPM helps minimise unplanned outages and supports consistent availability across the network. Reliability performance is monitored and reported annually in line with regulatory requirements, making ongoing maintenance a key part of compliance as well as day-to-day operations.

Why ongoing PPM matters

Including PPM as part of an EV charging strategy helps:

• Reduce unexpected outages and call-outs

• Support high charger availability and reliability targets

• Keep users safe and confident

• Extend the lifespan of charging equipment

• Maintain clear compliance and inspection records

• Protect long-term investment in EV infrastructure

EV charging doesn’t end when the installation is finished. Ongoing maintenance is what turns a completed project into a dependable, compliant, long-term asset, and that’s why PPM is built into our end-to-end EV charging solution.

Find out more about SEE-V here: https://www.see-ev.com/