Government Grants for Electric Cars UK

Q: How do I apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme grant?

It's best to apply for the WCS online . Once you’ve done that, a voucher will be generated, which is valid for four months. Your approved installer will then complete the work and submit a claim on the WCS portal. They then receive the grant of up to 75%, to a maximum of £350.

What government EV grants are there?

Currently, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is offering four grants to help fund electric cars and EV chargers:

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) - grant contributing to the cost of charging point installation at home
Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) - helps businesses with the upfront cost of charger installation
On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) - support for local authorities looking to install on-street residential car chargers

Plug-in Car Grant (PICG)

couple buying an electric car from dealer

This grant is available through car manufactures and dealerships who pass the discount to customers. The vehicles have to be on the government's approved list.

Here's what discount you get on the purchase price:

Wheelchair accessible vehicles - up to 35%, capped at £2,500
Mopeds - up to 35%, capped at £150
Motorcycles - up to 35%, capped at £500
Small vans - up to 35%, capped at £2,500
Large vans - up to 20%, capped at £5,000
Small trucks - up to 20% capped at £16,000
Large trucks - up to 20% capped at £25,000

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Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) which helps plug-in vehicle owners offset up to £350 of their residential EV charger, this scheme is now limited to homeowners who live in flats and people in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties).

To claim, you'll need to:

Have a home with off-street parking
Check your electric car is eligible
Get an approved charger and installer to carry out the work

Home EV charger grant FAQs

Do all electric car drivers qualify for a home charger grant?

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme provides up to £350 for drivers who have bought, or leased, a new or second hand eligible electric vehicle on or after 1 October 2016, as long as they have not claimed against a previous Government chargepoint scheme.

This includes:

Drivers assigned an eligible company car for at least six months
Individuals who lease an eligible vehicle for at least six months
Employees who have leased an eligible electric car as part of a salary-sacrifice scheme
Individuals who are named by their employer as the primary user of an eligible electric vehicle for at least six months
Drivers who can prove that they have ordered an eligible electric car

Who can’t claim for an electric car home charger grant?

The grant isn’t available to drivers of electric cars who:

Are not on the list of eligible EVs, or whose car is registered outside of the UK;
Drivers who sometimes use an electric vehicle, but are not listed as the main driver;
Individuals who drive or lease an electric car for less than six months;
Drivers who are borrowing an electric vehicle from friends or family;
Drivers who only have access to an electric vehicle through a car club;
Drivers who want to claim for a second home charger but don’t have two eligible vehicles.

Is the EVHS grant available before or after the charger installation?

The authorised installer will claim 75% of the cost (capped at £350) on your behalf before the installation and once all the relevant paperwork is completed. You will need to agree with the installer on how you pay the remaining cost.

How many EV home chargers can I get a grant for?

EVHS can be used for a maximum of two eligible electric cars if all terms and conditions are met. Your installer will have to speak to your local Distribution Network Operator before installing two EV chargers, or a second home charge point at a single address.

Can I get a grant for a three-pin socket EV home charger?

This type of electric car charger is not eligible for a grant.

How can I find out more about funding to install home car chargers?

Your home electric car charge point supplier or installer should be able to answer any questions you have or you can contact OZEV at Chargepoint.Grants@olev.gsi.gov.uk

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Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grant

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme for businesses for electric car charger installation. It can cover up to 75% of the cost and a maximum of £350 for each socket, for up to 40 sockets.

Here are three main points to consider when applying for WCS:

Your business has to have a Companies House Reference Number
Own the business premises or have the landlord's permission to install the chargers
Use an authorised EV charger installer

Workplace EV charging grant FAQs

What sort of EV charger should I install at work?

View our business EV charging options - to suit all workplace needs.

How do I apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme grant?

It's best to apply for the WCS online. Once you’ve done that, a voucher will be generated, which is valid for four months. Your approved installer will then complete the work and submit a claim on the WCS portal. They then receive the grant of up to 75%, to a maximum of £350.

Where do I get more information about business EV charger funding?

Your workplace car charger installer should be able to answer any questions you have. You can also have a look at the government's website's section on workplace charging information.

Do my business or staff have to have EVs to get the WCS grant?

No. You will be asked to declare either a need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure or an intention to encourage uptake amongst your staff and/or fleet.

On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)

The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) provides funding for local authorities towards the cost of installing on-street residential electric car chargers. This is great for people who don't have offstreet parking.

The scheme, run by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) for OZEV, has an allocated pot of money available to local authorities on a first-come, first served, basis.