Are you ready to install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at your business? Before you start, it’s worth discovering more about the EV grants available to see if you are eligible. Thankfully, there are many different options out there to assist you.
This short guide details the EV grants available in the UK. It explains the eligibility requirements and provides the necessary links to apply. Read on to discover which EV grants match your business so that you can secure financial support.
EV ChargePoint Grants Available For UK Businesses
Whether you are a registered business, landlord, charity, or public authority living in the UK, various grants are available to help you start your EV journey. Finding the right grant for your business can make a huge difference. You could get up to £75,000 towards installing EV charging infrastructure.
As an EV charging installer, we work with businesses across all sectors to ensure a seamless transition. Installing EV charging is worthwhile and can be a lucrative addition to any portfolio. In this article, we explore the eligibility criteria for each available grant to help you get started.
Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) Grant
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a government voucher-based scheme. The WCS grant supports businesses with purchasing and installing EV charge points.
WCS is available to businesses, charities, and public sector organisations that meet the criteria set by OZEV. The grant aims to encourage staff and businesses to buy EVs to assist the transition to net zero.
Successful applicants can get up to 75% of the cost of buying and installing EV chargepoints. The grant has a couple of caps that you need to be aware of:- You receive a maximum of £350 per socket
- The grant is for up to 40 sockets across all sites per applicant
Who is Eligible for the Workplace Charging Scheme Grant?
Businesses must meet several eligibility criteria to qualify for the WCS grant. The eligibility requirements state:- You must have a registered business, charity, or public sector organisation
- Your location must have dedicated off-street parking
- There must be a current or future need for charging electric vehicles
- You must use an OZEV-approved WCS installer like us to help with EV charging installation
- You must own the business premises or have the landlord’s permission to install EV chargers
How to Apply for a Workplace Charging Scheme Grant?
Businesses can apply by completing the online application form on the government website. Successful candidates receive a voucher code via email. You can then show this code to an OZEV-approved installer.
EV Infrastructure Grant For Staff And Fleets
The 2030 deadline for the ban of new ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles is looming. If you manage a fleet, now is the time to start the transition. This grant can provide financial support to help you decarbonise your fleet.
The EV Infrastructure Grant helps by supporting up to 75% of the costs you pay for purchasing and installing EV chargers. The grant is available for the staff or a company fleet of small or medium-sized companies.
There is a cap for successful applicants, which is a maximum of:
- £350 per parking bay supported by an EV charge point
- £500 per parking space with a total of £15,000 of funding available per site across a maximum of five
Who is Eligible for the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets?
Eligibility requirements for EV grants can differ, it all depends on your business. We recommend you continue to check every grant in our guide to see what best matches your business.
Here is the list of the main requirements for the EV Infrastructure Grant to see if you can apply:
- It is available for small to medium-sized businesses with less than 249 employees
- There must be a current or future need to charge electric vehicles in your company
- You must use an OZEV-approved WCS installer, like us at SMS, who are specialists in installing EV charging stations
- Must own the business premises or have the landlord’s permission to install the EV chargers on site
- There must be a minimum of 5 marked off-street parking spaces at the site with at least one unique charge point
You can use the EV Infrastructure Grant with the Workplace Charging Scheme Grant. You can use both to fund the installation but not the cost of the charge point infrastructure.
How to Apply for an EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets?
You can find more information here if you want to apply for the EV Infrastructure Grant. It’s also important to note that you can use this grant with the Workplace Charging Scheme Grant but not for the same charging point.
EV Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grants for Landlords
Two grants are available if you want to install EV charge points at properties you own. Using both grants on the same property is also possible in some cases.
EV Chargepoint Grant
This grant provides money off installing an EV charge point socket. You can get either £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket. On top of this, each financial year, you can get up to:
- 200 grants for residential properties
- 100 grants for commercial properties
You can use the EV Chargepoint Grant across several properties and installations or for one property.
EV Infrastructure Grant
The EV Infrastructure Grant assists with the cost of building and installation work. For example, the grant can cover wiring costs and installing charging posts.
Like the EV chargepoint grant, you can claim up to £30,000 or 75% off the cost of the work. The amount you receive is also dependent on the number of parking spaces. There are a couple of stipulations with the EV Infrastructure Grant:
- You can have a maximum of 30 EV Infrastructure Grants each financial year
- Must use each EV Infrastructure Grant for a different property
Who is Eligible for the EV Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grants for Landlords?
These grants are attractive to landlords, but several eligibility requirements exist. Here are some of the main ones:- Must own or manage the flats, houses, apartment blocks, or business premises
- The property that you own or manage must be in the UK
- You can apply for the grants on behalf of a company, charity, or public sector organisation
- You can use the grants on existing properties. Not for properties that are under construction.
- The grants are available for locations that have off-street, private, and defined parking
- An additional requirement for the EV Infrastructure Grant is that landlords must use it on a property with multiple homes with a shared car park and install at least one charge point socket for 5 parking spaces
How to Apply for an EV Chargepoint Grant and EV Infrastructure Grant for Landlords?
Landlords can apply for these grants by creating a landlord account and contacting an OZEV-authorised installer (like us at SMS) to get a quote. It is also necessary to select an OZEV-approved charge point model. Click here to access more information and apply.
EV Infrastructure Grant for Residential Car Parks
The EV Infrastructure Grant for Residential Car Parks is for people renting, leasing, or managing properties, who want to install EV charging infrastructure in residential car parks.
You can claim this grant if your business is registered at Companies House or VAT-registered with HMRC. This grant covers up to 75% of the cost of installing the infrastructure required for charge points to operate now and in the future.
- £350 per charge point socket installed
- £500 per parking space with supporting infrastructure
Who is Eligible for the EV Infrastructure Grant for Residential Car Parks?
You must be renting, leasing, or managing a property with a residential car park to apply for this grant. Check the eligibility requirements below to see if you can apply:- The installed infrastructure must support a minimum of 5 parking spaces with at least one working charge point
- You have a multi-unit residential property
- You are a landlord with a property that you let
- You have a Right To Manage (RTM) company
- It is a Residents’ Management Company (RMC)
- Your company owns the freehold of a property
- Your company owns a building’s common areas, including shareholders who are the leaseholders
- A Property Factor in Scotland
- You are a Private Registered Provider of social housing (PRP)
- Public authorities, such as government departments and their agencies, the armed forces, local government, the NHS, and emergency services
- A charity that manages or owns a residential property
How to Apply for an EV Infrastructure Grant for Residential Car Parks?
If you meet the eligibility requirements as a landlord, private individual, or business, you must first register to access the grant. Once you have registered, installers approved by OZEV can claim for work completed on your behalf.
You will receive a voucher (code) if your application is successful. You can then pass this code to the EV charging installer (like SMS), who will receive the value of the voucher(s). You can obtain a quote before applying for the voucher or after. However, you can not do this after the installation. The grant payment is made directly to the OZEV-approved installer. For more information and to apply, click here.
Applying For An EV Grant For Your Business
Securing an EV Grant is easier than you may think. This guide can help you determine which ones apply to your business. Use the application links to help you get the ball rolling and secure the financial support available.
We are ready to help you with the installation, operation and maintenance of EV chargers. We work with UK property developers, landowners and fund managers, workplaces, businesses and fleet managers. Contact us here to book a free consultation with one of our experts.