EV chargepoint grant – everything you need to know

After a lengthy hiatus, the Government has reintroduced an electric car grant, reducing the cost of a sub-£37,000 EV by as much as £3750. However, it’s not the only Government incentive to encourage more drivers to get behind the wheel of an electric model.

To help make the switch from petrol or diesel to electric a little easier, the Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is currently running another grant that can reduce the cost of buying and fitting a home EV charger by up to £350.

Here, we share who can benefit from this grant and how you can apply.

What’s included in the EV chargepoint grant?

With the OZEV grant, the Government covers 75% of the cost of buying and fitting a home charging point, up to a maximum of £350. 

While it’s possible to buy a home EV charger for less than £400 (excluding installation), most electric car owners spend between £1000 and £1500 on purchasing and installing theirs – particularly if it has features like over-the-air updates or vehicle-to-load capabilities (sending unused energy back to the grid at peak times). As a result, you’ll most likely get the full discount of £350.

Who’s eligible for the EV chargepoint grant?

You can only qualify for the OZEV grant if you live in a flat (whether owned or rented) or you rent any other kind of property. In either case, the property in question must already be your main residence and feature off-street parking, such as a driveway or private car park. Properties located in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man are not eligible for the grant.

You must also be able to prove that you already own an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle that features on the OZEV’s eligibility list. Almost all recent cars are included; however, some older EVs and quadricycles (such as the Citroën Ami) are not included, so it’s best to check the list before applying.

Before applying for the grant, you’ll also need to make sure that the charger you’re interested in is on the list of approved models. Nine of our 10 favourite home chargers, from companies such as Andersen, Easee and Hypervolt, are all eligible; however, models made by a number of popular brands, including Hive and Tesla, are not.

Does the EV chargepoint grant apply to landlords?

Yes. Landlords can also benefit from the grant in order to reduce the cost of buying and fitting 100 chargepoints for commercial properties, such as offices, or 200 for residential properties, including houses and flats. Residential landlords can also benefit from up to £30,000 per property from the Government to go towards wider building and installation work to prepare the building for EVs, such as preparing off-road parking spaces.

Finally, small and medium-sized businesses with less than 250 employees can also apply for the grant, which can provide up to £15,000 to go towards preparing the site for chargepoints and any associated infrastructure necessary.

How to apply for the EV chargepoint grant?

Unlike the Government’s electric car grant, the OZEV grant will not be automatically applied if you buy a charger. Instead, you’ll need to get an OZEV-approved chargepoint installer to make an application on your behalf. 

Shortly after the application is sent, you’ll receive an email which features an eligibility survey that can be filled out online. Once OZEV has approved your application, the installer will fit the chargepoint and claim the grant on your behalf – reducing the amount from the price you’ll pay.

If you have any queries about how to apply for the grant, you can contact the DVLA via the email address chargepointgrantenq@dvla.gov.uk, call 0300 0123 1343 or talk to your chargepoint installer.

Are any other charger grants available?

In addition to the OZEV grant, Transport Scotland also offers a second grant of £400 off the cost of a home chargepoint. Managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the scheme is available to those who own or lease an electric car and live in a rural or remote area of Scotland, including the islands. You can also apply if you’re the recipient of an electric van, taxi or used car as part of an EST EV loan scheme.

Like the OZEV scheme, you’ll need to make sure the charger you want to buy and the installer are approved by the EST, with the grant’s application form available on the organisation’s website.