Extended EV grants summarised

The government has recently confirmed it is extending grants for certain plug-in vehicles and workplace charging. We summarise what's available

There was a record number of battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in 2024, which made up 19.6 per cent of the market (381,970 units), up by more than a fifth (67,283 units) from 2023, according to the SMMT.

And according to a report from Jato Dynamics, the price difference between battery electric vehicles and internal combustion engined models in the UK has fallen from 51 per cent in 2018 to 18 per cent in 2024.

This was caused by declining prices of BEVs of 11 per cent and rising prices for ICE vehicles of 14 per cent.

Although the prices of EVs are getting closer to those of petrol or diesel vehicles, the upfront cost of an electric vehicle is still seen as a barrier for many fleets.

And installing complex workplace charging can be costly, especially if you have to get a grid connection upgrade.
    
It was welcome news, therefore, that the government has recently announced that its Workplace Charging Scheme and EV Infrastructure Grant have been extended for another year, as have grants for plug-in vans, taxis, motorbikes and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The Workplace Charging Scheme

Now ending 31 March 2026, the Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is open to businesses, charities, public sector organisations and small accommodation businesses, such as hotels or campsites.

The grant covers up to 75 per cent of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints and is capped at a maximum of £350 per sockets and 40 sockets across all sites per applicant.
    
Applicants must have dedicated off-road parking that is clearly associated with the premises, or permission from the landowner if they don’t own it. Applicants should have their site surveyed by an installer before you apply for the grant.
    
Organisations must provide evidence that the parking is for their staff or fleet, not for customer use, and there must be parking spaces that are suitable for chargepoint installations. All chargepoint parking must be designated to the applicant, although the rest of the car park may be shared with other organisations.

If a public authority, charity or small accommodation business is applying, there is no restriction on who may use the parking - customers, guests, visitors, staff or others.
    
If it's a business, the chargepoints can only be used by its staff/fleets. However, they can allow local residents to use the facilities outside of office hours.
    
And it's important to note that if you may make the chargepoints available for use by the public, they must comply with the Public Chargepoint Regulations 2023 and associated guidance.

EV infrastructure grant

The EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets has also been extended until 31 March 2026.

It is for small-to-medium-sized businesses in the UK with 249 employees or less. It can help cover the cost of wider building and installation work, such as wiring and posts, that’s needed to install multiple chargepoint sockets. The work can be for sockets that are to be installed now and in the future.
    
The funding covers up to 75 per cent of the cost of the work, up to a maximum of £15,000. You can get up to £350 per chargepoint socket installed and £500 per parking space enabled with supporting infrastructure.
    
Organisations can receive up to five grants across five different sites.
    
The chargepoint can only be used by the building’s staff and vehicles and cannot be used by members of the public.
    
Each parking space that is having a chargepoint installed must be off-street, private and clearly defined, but it does not have to be part of the property. The parking space must be owned by the organisation applying for the chargepoints, or be a space that they have the legal right to use. The chargepoint must be from an OZEV approved list.

Specific funding for schools

Launched last year, education settings now have access to a dedicated grant, called the Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions.

With funding confirmed until 31 March 2026, government data shows that 1,407 electric vehicle chargepoints have been installed in schools and colleges since the grant's launch.

State-funded education settings, including schools, colleges, nurseries and academies, can apply for the grant which provides up to 75 per cent of the cost to buy and install chargepoints, up to £2,500 per socket and at a maximum of 40 sockets across all sites (this includes any applications made previously through the Workplace Charging Scheme).
    
The grant aims to boost the chargepoint facilities for staff and visitors, and has the potential to help schools generate revenue by making their chargepoints available to the public.
    
Independent schools are not eligible for this grant but can apply for funding through the Workplace Charging Scheme.

Plug-in vehicle grants

The government has announced that it is extending its grants for electric vans, taxis, motorbikes. It is also increasing the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant from £35,000 to £50,000.

The grant for small vans applies to vehicles that are less than 2,500kg gross vehicle weight, have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 60 miles with no emissions.

The grant will cover 35 per cent of the purchase price for small vans, up to a maximum of £2,500.
    
The grant for large vans meanwhile is for vehicles that are between 2,500kg and 4,250kg gross vehicle weight, have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km, and can travel at least 60 miles without any emissions at all. The grant will cover up to a maximum of £5,000.
    
The grant for taxis can be used on vehicles with CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km that can travel at least 70 miles without any emissions. The grant will pay for 20 per cent of the purchase price for these vehicles, up to a maximum of £6,000.
    
The grant for small trucks is for vehicles that are between 4,250kg and 12,000kg gross weight, with CO2 emissions of at least 50 per cent less than the equivalent conventional Euro VI vehicle (that can carry the same capacity). It must be able to travel at least 60 miles with no emissions. The grant will pay for 20 per cent of the purchase price, up to a maximum of £16,000.

The grant for large trucks is up to £25,000. To be eligible for a grant, the vehicle must be heavier than 12,000kg, have CO2 emissions of at least 50 per cent less than the equivalent conventional Euro VI vehicle (that can carry the same capacity), and be able to travel at least 60 miles without any emissions.