Grants for EV Chargers

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is one of the Government’s programmes to promote the use of electric vehicles via the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). It means grants are available to businesses across the UK to enable customers and staff to charge their vehicles.

We’ve created the following short guide on the scheme to help businesses understand what it is, how it works and who can apply.

What is the Workplace Charging Scheme?

The Workplace Charging Scheme was updated in December 2020, the scheme allows businesses to apply for grants towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charging points at their premises.

The scheme allows for up to £350 towards each charging point installation with a maximum of 40 charging points per business. That is the equivalent of a huge £14,000 saving that is on offer to businesses that are looking to install electric vehicle charging points.

Who Can Apply?

The workplace charging scheme is available to most businesses across all industries if they meet the criteria:

Be a registered business, charity, or public sector organisation

Declare a need for electric vehicle charging equipment

Be located in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland

Have dedicated off-street parking

Own the property or have consent for installation from the landlord

There are a few instances when businesses are not eligible for the grant:

Locations outside England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Parking facilities that are part of a domestic property

Sites that have previously claimed via the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) or Domestic Recharging Scheme (DRS)

Parking facilities that are solely for customer use

Parking facilities not designated to the applicant

The Workplace Charging Scheme Process

There are two simple steps for businesses to take to take advantage of the scheme.

Firstly, business owners apply for a voucher from OZEV via an online application.

Following a successful application, a voucher will be generated and given to the business that can be used towards the installation costs. Businesses can then instruct installation with their electric vehicle charging point installers of choice – just as long as they are an OZEV approved installer.

Further steps do apply to the application; however, these should be completed by the installation company.

Ongoing Costs & Commitments

Businesses with installed charging points under the scheme must commit to maintaining the points for a minimum period of 3 years and provide data of usage to OZEV.

Installers may provide a maintenance package that ensures an annual check of the equipment and may also offer repair packages should any faults occur.

How Do I Apply

Full details of the workplace charging scheme can be found on the UK Government website.