Changes to the EV Charging Grants – Everything You Need To Know

Posted on: March 2, 2022

The Government is set to alter its delivery of EV charging grants at the start of next month and – with some major changes to their chargepoint installation funding coming, we’ve created this post covering everything you need to know before they come into effect.

EV Charging Grants – The Background:

The Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV) recognises the many benefits to investing in electric vehicles – which is why they offer these grants. From reducing local air pollution to being exempt from congestion charges – it’s all part of the UK’s plan to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and improve the nation’s carbon footprint.

Some of these handouts – such as the Plug-in Car Grant, which offers people a sum of money towards the purchase of a zero-emission vehicle, will remain unchanged after the end of this month. However, with a couple of EV charging grants facing reforms come April, now’s the perfect time to read up on what will be on offer – so you don’t miss out on the savings you could be entitled to.

EV Charging Grants – The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS):

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme is one of the EV charging grants being altered. Its original aim was to provide UK homeowners, who have dedicated off-street parking, with up to 75% towards the cost of getting an electric chargepoint installed in their home.

However, after this month, owners of detached, semi-detached, terraced houses and bungalows will be ineligible for the grant. With a newfound focus on accelerating the provision of electric chargepoints in rental accommodation and social housing, the reformed grant will see renters, landlords and building owners able to receive it instead.

Here’s what you could expect if you fit into one of those categories:

Residents of Rental Accommodation:

  • Those in flats, or other rental accommodation, could claim up to £350 towards electric car chargepoint installation costs
  • You need a qualifying electric vehicle (EV) and dedicated off-street parking to qualify for the grant

Non-resident Building Owners:

  • Landlords and social-housing providers could get up to £350 (per socket) towards chargepoint costs – with an annual maximum of 200 applications per person
  • The building applied for must be a registered business or public authority to get this EV charging grant
  • Private entities must be registered with Companies House, have an existing VAT registration or be a recognised provider of social housing

Apartment Block Owners:

  • Apartment block owners could claim up to an additional £30,000 towards installation costs – with an annual limit of 30 applications per person
  • The amount given will depend on the number of parking bays already provisioned with a chargepoint (up to £850 per bay) or, if you’re applying to facilitate future installation (up to £500 per bay)
  • There’s no limit to how many chargepoints can be applied for (within the £30,000 budget) – but a minimum of five is needed to qualify
  • Applicants must meet the same criteria as non-resident building owners, whether it’s a private entity or not

EV Charging Grants – The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS):

The second EV charging grant facing reforms next month is the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) – which provides funding for chargepoint installation in places of work up and down the UK.

While OZEV will continue to deliver this, from April it’s also set to provide some additional funding options for small and medium sized businesses in order to encourage a faster uptake of chargepoint installations.

Here’s what you can expect from the WCS after the reforms have come into effect:

Businesses:

  • Businesses could claim up to £350 (per socket) towards installation costs for dedicated staff use – with an annual limit of 40 applications per company
  • Applicants must be registered with Companies House or have an existing VAT registration

Small Accommodation Businesses:

  • Small accommodation businesses – like campsites and B&Bs, and charities have access to this EV charging grant for guest or visitor use
  • There’s up to £350 (per socket) available towards installation costs with an annual maximum of 40 grants available
  • Applicants must be a registered charity or an accommodation business with fewer than 250 employees – and have dedicated off-street parking

Commercially-Let Properties:

  • Commercially-let properties could apply for this EV charging grant to install chargepoints for dedicated use by current or future business tenants
  • There’ll be up to £350 (per socket) with an annual limit of 100 applications per applicant
  • It must be a registered business or public authority – if private then the same criteria as the EVHS must be met

Additional Help for Small or Medium-Sized Enterprises with less than 200 employees:

  • Up to an additional £15,000 available could be claimed (per building) towards installation costs within a designated staff car park – with a maximum of five applications per year
  • The amount given will depend on how many parking bays already equipped with a charging socket (up to £850 per bay), or if it’s for future installation (up to £500 per bay)
  • Applicants must be registered with Companies House, or have an existing VAT registration to qualify

Let Go Electric Guide You

If you’d like to benefit from these generous grants then you can trust in Go Electric. We’re proud to be an approved chargepoint dealer and, as a small family firm, we put care into delivering EV charging points across Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

Call us today on 0303 100 4101, email us or fill in the form on this page and we’ll be delighted to help.

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