Simpson & Partners Dual Freestanding Charger vs Commercial Pedestals (Rolec Quantum & Others)

When it comes to commercial EV charging, most people compare unit price.

Experienced installers compare something else entirely:

Total install cost, time on site, and long-term reliability.

That’s where the Simpson & Partners Dual Freestanding Business Charger separates itself from traditional options like the Rolec Quantum and similar pedestal chargers.

Gallery

  • Simpson & Partners

  • Generic Charger Mounted on EV Tower

The Key Difference: Integrated vs Pieced-Together Systems

Most commercial pedestal setups are built like this:

Charger

External protection

Separate metering

Additional networking hardware

Multiple components, multiple failure points, more install time.

The Simpson & Partners approach is different.

It’s a fully integrated commercial charging system, with everything designed to work together from day one.

Feature Simpson Dual Freestanding Rolec Quantum / Typical
Dual sockets ✔ Standard ✖ Often single
RCBO built-in ✔ Yes ✖ External required
PME built-in ✔ Yes ✖ Usually external
MID metering ✔ Integrated option ⚠ Often external
Daisy chain power ✔ Yes ✖ No
Daisy chain data ✔ Yes ✖ No
Load management ✔ Advanced ⚠ Basic / extra
OCPP flexibility ✔ Full ⚠ Limited
Install complexity ✔ Low ✖ Higher
Aesthetic options ✔ Extensive ✖ Minimal

Choose Simpson & Partners if you want:

  • A true integrated pedestal charger, where the charger and stand are designed as one cohesive unit, not a bolt‑on box.

  • Future‑proof performance: single‑phase up to 22kW three‑phase on compatible models, plus OCPP‑style connectivity and smart‑tariff scheduling.

  • Ethernet connectivity on many models, OCPP 1.6J+ support, and future‑proof three‑phase capability (up to 22kW).

  • Architectural integration: custom colours and finishes that blend with your property and driveway rather than stand out as a shiny box.

  • A pedestal that feels like a permanent, high‑end driveway feature rather than a temporary add‑on.

  • A longer enclosure warranty (up to 10 years) and stronger resistance to UK weather and outdoor use.

Choose EV Tower if you want:

  • A pragmatic, low‑cost “charger‑on‑a‑pole” solution for driveways with no wall.

  • Cheaper hardware upfront, with minimal design thought or finishing.

  • A utility‑first install where it’s fine for the charger to look like a “box on a post” rather than a design‑led driveway feature.

FEATURE BREAKDOWN

Simpson & Partners

Dual Socket Design = Lower Cost Per Charger

The Simpson unit comes as standard with:

2 x Type 2 charging sockets

Why this matters:

  • One install → two charge points
  • Less groundwork
  • Less cabling
  • Lower cost per bay

Compare that to typical setups:

  • Two separate pedestals
  • Twice the install work
  • Higher overall project cost

For workplaces and commercial sites, this is one of the easiest ways to increase capacity without increasing infrastructure spend.

Built-in RCBO Protection (No Extra Boards Required)

Each outlet includes:

  • Integrated RCBO protection

Compared to Rolec / typical pedestals:

You’ll often need:

  • External distribution boards

  • More containment and wiring

Why Simpson wins:

  • Cleaner install
  • Fewer components
  • Faster commissioning
  • Reduced points of failure

Built-in PME Protection (No Earth Rod Required)

The unit includes:

  • Integrated PEN fault (PME) protection

Why this is a big deal:

With many other chargers:

  • You need an earth rod (time-consuming, sometimes not viable)
  • Or an external PME device

With Simpson:

  • No earth rod required
  • Fully compliant install

Ideal for:

  • Car parks
  • Commercial retrofits
  • Hard ground conditions

This alone can save significant install time and cost.

MID Metering (Ready for Billing & Workplace Use)

  • Integrated MID-compliant metering

Why it matters:

For:

  • Employee charging
  • Customer billing
  • Usage tracking

Many competitors:

  • Require external meters
  • Or don’t properly support billing accuracy

Simpson:

  • Built-in ecosystem
  • Accurate and compliant
  • Ready for commercial environments

Daisy Chaining (Massive Install Savings on Multi-Charger Sites)

Simpson & Partners supports:

  • Power daisy chaining
  • Ethernet daisy chaining

Traditional installs:

  • Individual power runs per charger
  • Separate data connections
  • More trenching and labour

Simpson & Partners installs:

  • Chain multiple chargers together
  • Reduce cabling
  • Reduce infrastructure cost

For larger installs, this becomes one of the biggest cost-saving features available.

OCPP & Software Flexibility (No Lock-In)

OCPP compliant

Why this matters:

  • Freedom to choose back-office software
  • No reliance on one provider
  • Better long-term flexibility

Some alternatives:

  • Lock you into a platform
  • Limit scalability or pricing control

Build Quality (Designed for Commercial Use)

Simpson & Partners chargers are:

  • CNC aluminium construction
  • Powder-coated / anodised finishes
  • Hand-finished

Compared to typical pedestals:

  • Many are basic steel enclosures
  • Designed to hit a price point

Why it matters:

  • Better durability
  • Better weather resistance
  • Longer lifespan
  • Lower maintenance

£500 Grant Per Socket (£1,000 Per Dual Unit)

The Workplace Charging Scheme provides:

  • £500 per socket
  • £1,000 per dual charger

Why this matters:

  • Reduces upfront cost
  • Improves ROI
  • Makes dual units even more cost-effective

Custom Finishes & Branding Options

Simpson & Partners offers:

  • Multiple colour combinations
  • Wood and metal finishes
  • Custom colours available

Why this matters:

Perfect for:

  • Offices
  • Hotels
  • Premium developments

Most competitors:

  • Offer very limited aesthetic options

BEST FOR

  • Best for Design‑led driveway pedestal

    👉 Simpson & Partners — Integrated, high‑end look and bespoke finishes

  • Best for Cheap, plug‑and‑play charger on a post

    EV charger on EV Tower pedestal— Lowest‑cost way to place a charger where there’s no wall.

  • Best for Long‑term energy‑system platform

    👉 Simpson & Partners — Stronger durability, multi‑site readiness, and commercial options.

EXPERT INSIGHT

Most commercial EV installs don’t fail because of the charger itself — they fail because of everything around it.

Extra protection, earthing complications, multiple enclosures, and limited scalability all add time, cost, and risk to the project. What looks like a cheaper unit on paper often becomes more expensive once installed.

That’s where Simpson & Partners stands out. By integrating RCBO protection, PME, load management, and networking into a single system, it removes a large portion of the complexity installers usually have to design around.

For single, simple installs, a basic pedestal can still make sense. But as soon as a project involves multiple chargers, future expansion, or any form of billing or management, a fully integrated system becomes significantly more efficient.


FINAL VERDICT

If you’re installing a single charger with minimal requirements, a basic pedestal like a Rolec Quantum can do the job.

But for most commercial projects, especially where there is:

More than one charger

A need to scale in future

Limited available power

A requirement for billing or control

Simpson & Partners is the better choice.

It reduces install time, lowers overall project cost, and delivers a cleaner, more future-proof solution.

In short:

Basic pedestals are built to meet a price point.

Simpson & Partners is built to solve the full installation.

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