The UK government has taken a proactive approach towards electrification by introducing a detailed strategy through its Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and Road to Zero initiative. Despite the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the need for more reliable charging points is of concern to many. Installing a home charging point is one way to ensure that your EV is always charged. You can charge your vehicle overnight or whenever you’re at home with the help of a home charging point. If you own a domestic property and are considering installing a home charging point, it’s worth checking if you’re eligible for any grants to help with the installation costs.
EV Charger Grants Background
The UK government is committed to phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2030 to reduce air pollution and improve the country’s carbon footprint. To support this transition, the Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV) offers grants to encourage people to invest in electric vehicles. These grants provide various benefits, including exemption from congestion charges and reduced local air pollution.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)
If you are a homeowner in the UK who wants to install a home charge point for your electric vehicle, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, also known as the OLEV grant, is a great funding option to consider. This scheme provides up to 75% grants towards purchasing and installing an electric vehicle charge point for domestic properties with off-street parking.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme was introduced to encourage UK homeowners with dedicated off-street parking to install electric charging points in their homes. The scheme previously provided up to 75% of the cost of installing an electric charge point, but it has been reformed recently. Owners of detached, semi-detached, terraced houses and bungalows are no longer eligible for the grant. Instead, the grant now focuses on accelerating the provision of electric charging points in rental accommodation and social housing. This means that renters, landlords, and building owners can now benefit from the scheme.
It is important to note that the grant only covers one charge point per vehicle, with a maximum of two per household, provided the household has two eligible vehicles. An extra £250 funding is available for EV drivers in Scotland from the Energy Savings Trust Scotland. To claim the grant, an approved installer must carry out the work. The installer will then claim the grant on your behalf before completing the installation. The installer will also discuss how to pay for the remaining cost.
Residents of Rental Accommodation
If you live in a flat or rented accommodation and own an electric vehicle, you might be pleased to know that you could be eligible for a grant of up to £350 to help cover the cost of installing a charge point at your home. It’s important to note that to qualify for the grant, you must have a qualifying electric vehicle and a dedicated off-street parking spot. This grant is a great way to make charging your electric car at home easier while reducing your carbon footprint.
Non-resident Building Owners
Attention landlords and social housing providers! The UK government is offering a grant program of up to £350 per socket for installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points. To be eligible for the grant, your building must be registered as a business or a public authority. Private entities must meet specific criteria, such as registering with Companies House, having an existing VAT registration, or being a recognized social housing provider. This program has an annual limit of 200 applications per person and is designed to encourage and facilitate the adoption of EVs, fostering the transition towards a sustainable and greener future.
Apartment Block Owners
Apartment block owners can now avail themselves of an additional grant of up to £30,000 for the installation costs of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The grant limit for annual applications is 30 per person, with the amount provided varies depending on the number of parking bays that already have a ChargePoint installed. Apartment block owners can receive up to £850 per bay. In comparison, an application for facilitating future installations can get up to £500 per bay. There is no limit on the number of charge points that can be applied as long as it falls within the £30,000 budget. However, the apartment block owner must have at least five charging points to qualify for the grant. The applicants must meet the same criteria as non-resident building owners, whether it’s a private entity or not.
What Vehicles and Drivers Are Eligible?
All registered fully electric vehicles in the UK are eligible for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS). However, plug-in hybrid cars must have their emissions calculated below 50g/km to qualify for the scheme. If you are the owner or lessee of an eligible vehicle, you may apply for the EVHS. You can also apply if you have leased the car through a salary sacrifice scheme. It would help if you were listed as the main driver on the electric vehicle in question, whether it’s your vehicle or a company car. To qualify, you must have held the title of the main driver for at least six months. Remember that you may not be eligible for the EVHS if you have already claimed against a previous government charge point scheme.
Grants For Businesses and Local Authorities
If you’re a business owner or part of a public authority, you may be interested in the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). This scheme offers financial aid for installing up to 40 EV charging sockets at your business premises, regardless of the number of sites you have. It’s a great way to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and support your employees or customers who own EVs. Also, local authorities interested in setting up on-street residential chargepoints can benefit from the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (OCRS), which provides financial assistance.