EV charging grants expained

Charging grants explained

Charging at home is the easiest and most convenient way of charging your electric car.

You can use a charging cable with a regular three-pin plug, which you can put in any domestic socket. However, it can take up to 36 hours for a full charge and it’s not recommended as a long-term solution, as manufacturers warn against sustained use, because of the current drain on the socket.

Your best bet is to get a wallbox charger fitted on your drive or in your garage. And the good news is that, if you hurry, you can get a government grant to reduce the cost of installing a wallbox.

What is the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme?

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) is a government-funded scheme that grants for up to 75% towards the cost of installing home chargepoints.

However, the scheme is coming to an end, so installations need to be completed by 31 March 2022, with a claim submitted to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by 30 April 2022.

How to apply for a home EV charger grant

To qualify for a grant, your property and vehicle both need to be eligible. Your property must be a domestic residence and you must live there: your vehicle will also have to be registered there. The vehicle will have to be a model on the official EVHS list, so a regular mainstream EV will be covered.

You can’t claim if you’ve claimed before, unless you now own two eligible EVs.

The process will involve you contacting an approved installer, who will apply for the grant on your behalf. Installers are required to process the claims to cut down the risk of incorrectly completed forms.

The installer will make sure that the property fits the scheme’s requirements and deal with your electricity company, if any upgrades are necessary for the supply. After the wallbox has been installed, the installer will apply for a grant rebate. The customer will be invoiced for the cost of the installation, minus the amount of grant the installer will claim.

How much is the EVHS grant worth?

The EVHS grant provides a 75% contribution to the cost of a chargepoint and its installation. There is a cap on the grant, set at £350 (including VAT) per installation. You can apply for two chargepoints at the same property if you have two qualifying vehicles.

Can I get a charger grant with a leased EV?

As long as your property qualifies for a grant to fit a wallbox, a leased car will also qualify.

You will qualify if you have a company car for at least six months; lease through a salary sacrifice scheme; are named, by your employer, as the primary user of an eligible electric vehicle for at least six months; or lease an eligible vehicle for at least six months. And if you can show proof that you’ve ordered an eligible electric vehicle, you’ll also be able to apply for a grant.

If you lease on a short-term basis, the DVLA will accept a claim once you’ve had the lease for at least six months and can prove this.

With some lease deals, a chargepoint is bundled in with a vehicle. In these instances, you have to fulfil all the usual criteria and state you will be the owner of the chargepoint, once payment is complete.

Where do I find out more?

Just go to the government website and apply. But do it soon.