Loading

Government Reducing EV Workplace Charging Scheme Grant

Electric Charge Point

If your organisation is looking to install electric vehicle charging points in the near future, act now and save money. This week the government announced that from the 1st of April 2020 the grant for workplace charging scheme (WCS) will be set at £350 towards a chargepoint socket at work through the WCS. This is a reduction from £500 to £350. The new rate will apply to installations on or after 1st April 2020 and will apply to voucher applications submitted on or after 1st April 2020 for WCS.

However they also announced a doubling of the number of sockets allowed under the WCS from 20 to 40. To date over 120,000 domestic chargepoint installations have benefited from HMG grants as well as over 6,500 workplace installations, across the UK. The announcement also said ‘Reducing the grant rate will enable more people to benefit from both schemes and provide better value for money for the taxpayer. These are still key government incentive schemes that will continue to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the UK. The average cost of chargepoint installations has steadily reduced since the introduction of the schemes, so the decrease is in line with this’

For more information click here

WORK PLACE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINT GRANT

Funded by the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), the Workplace Charging Scheme provides a grant for businesses to reduce the cost of having an EV charge point installed at their premises.

The grant allows businesses, charities, and local authorities to claim 75% of the total cost of installation, up to a maximum of £500 per socket installed, and with a maximum of 20 sockets across all sites for each applicant. Firms based in the United Kingdom (exc. Channel Islands and Isle of Man) can claim and don’t necessarily need a plug-in vehicle on the company’s books.

The charge points are required to have a need declared for them on application, which could include: existing EV fleet vehicles, to add an incentive for the uptake of plug-in vehicles with staff, to provide a charging solution for visitors, or to charge EVs planned to be purchased by the business or organisation. Charging for customers (where applicable) is not eligible for WCS funding.

Standard three-pin sockets are not eligible for funding and the EV charge points can only be fitted by accredited OLEV installers. These must provide a minimum of 3kW, with the supply not diminished by charging multiple vehicles simultaneously. Companies cannot claim for existing EV charging points, as the grant is available only for new charge points yet to be installed. The company also has to have dedicated off-street parking for staff, visitors or fleet use.

Visit the OLEV website