EV grants 2023: Everything you need to know

The year 2020 seems like a distant memory but it was only three years ago that the government revealed their ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution, planning to invest over £12bn to create and support up to 250,000 green jobs and make the UK a global leader in green technologies.

 

Interestingly, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) predates the ten-point plan and was formed in 2009 as a cross-departmental team working across the government to support the transition to zero emission vehicles. To support the increased popularity and wider use of EVs, OZEV introduced grant schemes for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in 2016.

 

Workplace Charging Scheme grants

OZEV offers a Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) voucher-based service to lower the installation cost (up to 75%) of EV infrastructure in staff and fleet parking areas - capped at a maximum of:

• £350 per socket
• 40 sockets across all sites per applicant

To be site eligible, applicants must have designated off-street parking facilities suitable for charge point installations. Each site must:

• Have a minimum power supply of 3kW to each individual socket
• Have only one socket installed for each accessible parking space
• Be for staff and/or fleet use

 

Decommissioning of charge points

If the charge point needs to be removed or taken out of commission within this 3-year period, the DVLA must be informed with a brief explanation of why at workplacechargingscheme@dvla.gov.uk. This may result in the grant being reclaimed.

 

Home EV charging points grant

The OZEV grant helps plug-in vehicle owners offset up to £350 or 75% (whichever amount is lower) off the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging point. To be eligible, you'll need to:

• 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

*Additionally, your landlord or property manager could claim up to an extra £500 per bay through the EV infrastructure grant for residential car parks.

 

In the market for a convenient, hassle-free EV home charging experience?

Northgate’s brand new all-in-one electric vehicle and home charging bundle available on Northgate 12months+ and business hires is your one-stop solution complete with access to our Monta platform full of incredible features such as smart charging to auto-schedule vehicle charging during cheaper tariff hours.

 

Brief benefits of EVs

Electric vehicles were seen as an attractive option with personal and business benefits, even before the government’s 2035 plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, with EV myths and concerns increasingly dispelled by published studies and research.

 

The high initial upfront purchase price of an electric vehicle is offset by lower running costs, saving you money in the long run, due to lower servicing and maintenance costs, zero rate of vehicle excise duty and cheaper refuels than petrol or diesel vehicles.

 

Alternatively, hiring a business van can enable you to get a vehicle much faster without taking on the disadvantages of purchasing an EV, such as value depreciation. You can also often benefit from shorter lead times and less commitment, with hire vans available as you require them and the flexibility to hand back the keys when you don’t.

 

Helping you make the switch

Looking to transition towards a greener fleet? Northgate can assist you through every stage of your EV journey from strategy to implementation and beyond through our Drive to Zero platform. From helping you choose the right E-LCV through infrastructure to driver training and advice – we’re ready to help you make the switch.