The charge point grant was introduced by the government in 2020 to make it cheaper to switch to a low emission vehicle. When more people switch from petrol or diesel to an electric vehicle, this supports their target to decrease UK carbon emissions.

The charge point grant offers £350 towards the cost of installing a charger for an electric car.

Previously, you could access the grant if you were a homeowner with your own driveway, but this has changed. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV, for short) recently updated who can and cannot access the grant. We’ll go into this in more detail in just a moment.

First, it’s worth quickly running through the different names this grant has gone by. It comes from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), so it’s been called the OZEV grant or the OLEV grant. More recently it was called the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), but from April 2022, it’s been named ‘the charge point grant’.

Next, we’ll run through who can receive this grant.

A common question we hear is, am I eligible for the OZEV chargepoint grant? So let’s cover that now. The charge point grant can be accessed if you are a flat owner, live in rented accommodation, or if you’re a landlord.

Let’s take a closer look.

How to access the charge point grant if you’re a flat owner or live in rented accommodation

For flat owner-occupiers or people living in rented properties, this grant gives a 75% contribution to the cost of one electric vehicle charger and its installation. A cap is set at £350 (including VAT) per installation.

Some things have stayed the same with this grant. For example, your charge point and installer still need to be EVHS approved. However, some things have changed.

Previously you could claim up to 2 home chargers, but not any more. You can only claim for one charge point, even if you own a second electric vehicle. OZEV EVHS grants for households (not landlord properties) ended by the 31st of March this year. 

Homeowners who have their own dedicated driveway can no longer take advantage of this grant.

To qualify, you must:

        ● live in rental accommodation or own a flat.

        ● own, lease or have ordered a qualifying vehicle.

        ● have dedicated off-street parking at your property.

How it works:

        ● Choose an EVHS installer to install your charge point.

        ● This installer checks that you qualify. If you’re a flat owner, they’ll confirm you own the property.

        ● The installer applies for the grant on your behalf.

        ● You’ll receive a bill from the installer for the installation, minus the grant amount they’ve applied for.

        ● If the application is successful, the installer is paid the grant amount.

An electric vehicle chargepoint grant (also called an EV chargepoint grant) can help towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle chargepoint socket at your property. 

The EV chargepoint grant replaces the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and is open to homeowners who live in flats and people in rental accommodation(flats and single use properties.)

You can apply for this grant if:

• you own and live in a flat, or you rent any residential property
• your home has its own private off-street parking space
• you own an eligible vehicle

You cannot apply if you:

• have already claimed for the grant (or its predecessors, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and the Domestic Recharge Scheme)
• are moving house or planning on moving
• want a new chargepoint, even if a new car is not compatible with the current one
• want to move an existing chargepoint to a new property
• live in a house that you own (not a flat that’s part of a house)

Your property must be in the UK. You cannot apply for this grant if you live in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

You can only apply for an existing residential property that you live in. You cannot apply for a property that’s unoccupied or is still being built.

You may need to provide supporting evidence when you apply, such as a rental agreement if you rent the property.

You must have a parking space that:

• is off-street, private and clearly defined - it does not have to be part of the property
• is accessible to you at all times
• you own or have the legal right to - you may need to provide Land Registry title deeds as evidence

You must have proof of all legal rights and permissions, such as from the freeholder of a block of flats.

Your installer will assess if your parking space allows an electric vehicle to charge safely.

This grant is only for vehicles on the list of OZEV-approved electric vehicles.

You must provide evidence that you own or use an eligible vehicle. This can be:

• as a registered owner
• if you’ve leased one for at least 6 months
• if you’ve used one as a work vehicle for at least 6 months
• if you’ve currently got one on order

If your vehicle lease is a bundle with a chargepoint, it must:

• say that you own the chargepoint once payment is complete
• list the cost of the chargepoint and installation, including VAT

You must also:

• make sure the chargepoint warranty meets the grant requirements
• make sure the associated vehicle lease is for at least 6 months

You must show your installer proof that you lease your electric vehicle.

If you are a landlord, social housing provider or property factor you can apply for funding to install an electric vehicle charge point. The registration process to access the grant varies depending on the type of landlord you are. 

How it works:

        ● Register for the grant as a landlord

        ● Your OZEV-approved installer will make the claim on your behalf.

What can you claim as a landlord?

Your grant amount is per charge point socket installed. The charge point grant provides up to 75% of the cost towards the purchase and installation of a charge point socket, up to £350 per grant.

You can receive up to 200 grants a year for residential properties, and a further 100 for commercial properties. These may be across a number of properties and installations or just for one property.

Click here to apply

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and managed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

This voucher-based scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points (inclusive of VAT). This is capped at a maximum of £350 per socket, for 40 sockets across all sites per applicant. So, if you want to install at 40 sites, you’ll be eligible for one charge point at each site.

As with the other OZEV grants, it’s your approved installer who will claim the money on your behalf. 

Click here to apply

Any business, charity or public sector organisation that meets the government criteria can apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme.

Use this online application form. Once approved, you’ll be given a unique identification voucher code by email. You’ll need to pass this on to your OZEV-authorised WCS installer.

Workplace Charging Scheme Guide – WCS

Apply for the workplace charging scheme

In summary:

        ● OZEV introduced the charge point grant in 2020. It’s been through a few changes since then.

        ● At the time of writing, the charge point grant, offers £350 towards the cost of installing a charger for an electric car.

        ● Eligible drivers usually get the full £350.

        ● You need to meet a few criteria to qualify.

        ● Installation needs to be carried out by an OZEV approved installer..

        ● The grant is removed from the total price before you pay your installer. They then claim the grant back from OZEV.

        ● OZEV also offer up businesses and workplaces up to £350 per socket, capped at a maximum of 40 sockets across all sites through the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)