Making the switch to an Electric Vehicle can sometimes feel like an expensive decision. But with all the benefits of moving to electric, it’s a great way to future-proof your travel. Luckily, there are a variety of grants available to help with cost of preparing for your new EV. Thanks to the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV), several electric vehicle chargepoint grants are available to make the transition more accessible and affordable for individuals and businesses. Here are the main grants that you can apply for today:
WORKPLACE CHARGING SCHEME (WCS)
As an eligible business, charity, or public sector organisation, you can receive coverage of up to 75% of the cost of installing EV charging stations at your workplace, with a maximum of £350 per charging socket. The WCS covers up to 40 charging sockets per applicant, making it an excellent opportunity for larger organizations to make a significant impact on their carbon footprint. To apply, make sure your business has a Companies House Reference Number, owns the building premises or has permission from the landlord to install the EV, and uses an authorized EV charger installer. If you qualify for the grant, you can apply using the online application form and if you’re successful you’ll be issued with a voucher code, which can then be provided to any OZEV-authorized commercial charge point installer.
THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGE POINT GRANT FOR LANDLORDS
The EV chargepoint grant for landlords offers £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower. If you’re a landlord, each financial year you can get up to 200 grants for residential properties or 100 grants for commercial properties. These can be used across multiple properties, or to install multiple points at a single property. You must have off-road parking, that is owned by you and accessible to your tenants.
You can apply for the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint grant if you’re a:
- Landlord with property to let
- Right to manage (RTM) company
- Residents’ management company (RMC)
- Company or person owning the freehold of a property
- Company owning a building’s common areas, including shareholders who are the leaseholders
- Property factor in Scotland
- Private registered provider of social housing (PRP)
- Public sector organisation – e.g. government departments, local councils, armed forces or NHS and emergency services
- Charity that manages or owns residential properties
THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGE POINT GRANT FOR TENANTS
Replacing the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme as of the 1st of April, 2022, the EV chargepoint grant for tenants also offers up to 75% towards the costs of installing a smart charge point. You may be eligible for the grant if:
- You own and live in a flat, or rent a residential property
- Your home has its own private off-street parking space
- You own an eligible electric vehicle (see this list of OZEV-approved electric vehicles)
You could receive up to £350 off the cost of buying and installing a chargepoint at your home. To apply for the grant, or for more information, visit the government’s website. You do not need to apply for the EV chargepoint grant if you applied to the EVHS and you’re still waiting for a decision.
ON-STREET RESIDENTIAL CHARGEPOINT SCHEME (ORCS)
The ORCS is a government grant that provides funding for local authorities in order to increase the availability of on-street chargepoints for residents, promoting the use of EVs. The local authorities have a critical role to play in the process of transitioning to EVs, so it’s vital that local authorities are given full support. The grant covers up to 75% of the total cost of installation, including the charger, installation, and any associated ground works. The scheme is organized and run by the Energy saving trust (EST) and in order to be eligible to apply, one much be a relevant local authority within the UK, have the support of the relevant highway authority for maintaining where the chargepoints are located, and the authority must be able to complete the project by 31st March 2024.
HOW CAN I CHECK ALL OF THE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
It’s important to note that eligibility criteria and availability of these grants may change over time, so it’s always a good idea to check the government’s, or your local authority’s, website for the most up-to-date information.
To make things even easier, you can try our simple EV grant eligibility checker, to help you determine which grants you qualify for. With these grants available, it’s never been easier or more affordable to make the switch to electric vehicles and become part of a sustainable future. Start your journey towards a greener future today!
HOW DO I REDEEM MY EV GRANT?
Once you’ve successfully applied for your EV grant, just pass the details on to your installer, who can work this into your quote and help provide the details needed to redeem it. If you’ve already got your grant, or just want to get an estimate for your EV chargepoint costs, you can get a quick EV chargepoint installation quote here.