Government grants for EV chargers: what you can claim today.

Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) is a big step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for the UK. With the government's ambitious target to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, and transport making up around a quarter¹ of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions, there's never been a more important time to act. 

It's a national effort that goes beyond the cars we drive. It's about creating a modern, cleaner energy and transport system. As Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, has said:

"This is another really encouraging step from the government to help make the switch to electric vehicles simpler, smarter and fairer for everyone. Tackling upfront costs, investing in infrastructure and supporting everyday use—especially for those without driveways—is exactly the kind of action that can help accelerate the transition and help people feel the benefits of electrification much quicker.”

While the upfront cost of an EV can seem higher than a traditional car, the long-term savings from lower running costs make them a smart financial choice. The good news is that the government wants to help you get on the road to a more affordable and sustainable future. 

There are a number of EV charger grants available that can significantly reduce the cost of an EV charger installation, whether you're a driver, a landlord, or a business.

What EV charger grants are available?

The government's support for electric vehicles has evolved. While there was once a grant for the vehicles themselves, most of the current focus is on supporting the installation of charging infrastructure. This is designed to make sure that as more people buy EVs, they have a convenient, reliable, and affordable way to charge them at home, at work, or on the street.

The following grants are administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and are designed to make getting an electric vehicle charger more accessible to everyone.

Home EV charger grants (EV chargepoint grant).

This is the main government grant for private residential properties. It's designed to help those who previously faced barriers to installing a home charger. The grant offers a great opportunity to save money on your EV charger installation and get your property ready for the electric revolution.

Who is this grant for?

• Homeowners who live in a flat or a similar multi-unit property.

• Tenants who live in a rented residential property.

What can you get?

The grant covers up to 75% of the cost to buy and install a chargepoint, capped at a maximum of £350. This is a one-off grant, so you can only claim it once per vehicle or per household.

Key eligibility criteria:

• Your property must be in the UK (excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man).

• You must have private, off-street parking. This parking can be a garage, a driveway, or a dedicated bay that you have a legal right to use.

• You must be installing an OZEV-approved chargepoint and using an OZEV-approved installer.

• The best part is that you don't need to handle the paperwork. Your chosen installer will apply for the grant on your behalf and simply deduct the amount from your final bill, making the process straightforward.

EV charger grants for landlords.

If you're a landlord, investing in EV charging is a great way to future-proof your properties and attract tenants who are looking for a more sustainable lifestyle. The government has recognised this, offering two separate grants to help you make your properties more appealing and functional.

Who is this grant for?

This grant is for landlords installing a chargepoint for a tenant, including:

• Landlords of residential properties (including single-unit houses or flats and multi-unit apartment blocks).

• Landlords of commercial properties.

What can you get?

The grant covers up to 75% of the cost to buy and install a socket, capped at a maximum of £350 per socket.

Key eligibility criteria:

To claim the EV chargepoint grant, you must be a registered landlord (e.g. with a company or VAT registration number). You can claim up to 200 grants per financial year for residential properties and 100 for commercial ones. The grant is not available for new-build properties.

EV infrastructure grant for landlords.

This is for larger-scale projects and helps with the wider installation work needed to support multiple chargepoints. It's perfect for residential landlords who want to prepare a property for future EV-driving tenants.

Who is this grant for?

• Residential landlords (including companies that own the freehold of a residential property or manage a residential building).

What can you get?

You can get up to £30,000 or 75% off the cost of the work, with the amount depending on how many parking spaces the work covers. You can receive up to 30 infrastructure grants each financial year, and they must be used for a different property each time.

Key eligibility criteria:

The grant is for work on existing residential properties only. You must install infrastructure for at least five private off-street parking spaces and at least one working chargepoint.

Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS).

Encouraging employees and fleets to go electric is a smart business move. It can lower running costs, improve your company's sustainability credentials, and attract top talent. 

The WCS is a dedicated government grant for EV chargers designed to help businesses, charities, and public sector organisations install chargepoints at their workplaces.

Who is this grant for?

• Businesses.

• Charities.

• Public sector organisations.

• Small accommodation businesses.

What can you get?

The WCS covers 75% of installation costs, capped at £350 per socket. Businesses can apply for up to 40 sockets across all their sites.

Key eligibility criteria:

To be eligible, your property must have dedicated off-road parking that is clearly associated with the premises. The grant is administered through a voucher-based application, which an OZEV-approved installer can help you with.

On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS).

What if you live in a house with no driveway and only on-street parking? The government has you covered here too. The ORCS is a scheme that provides funding for local authorities to install public on-street chargers. It's designed to support millions of households across the UK without off-street parking.

Who is this grant for?

• Local authorities in the UK. This is not for individual drivers.

What can you get?

The scheme provides funding for local authorities to install on-street chargers in their areas. The amount of funding varies depending on the project.

Key eligibility criteria:

The scheme is designed to address the lack of off-street parking in residential areas. The local council applies for the funding, not the individual. If you're a driver without a driveway, it's worth checking with your local council to see what their plans are.

EVs eligible for OZEV residential chargepoint grants.

It's important to know that the electric car charger grant is for the chargepoint itself, not for the vehicle. However, to ensure that the chargers installed under the scheme are compatible with the cars on the road, the government maintains a list of vehicles that work with the chargers that are eligible for the grant.

The list of compatible vehicles is extensive and includes most popular EV models from manufacturers like Tesla, Nissan, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia, as well as many others. You should check the full list to be sure your specific car is compatible.

Where to check?

You can find the full, up-to-date list of all compatible vehicles on the government's official website. It’s the best way to confirm that your specific vehicle works with the chargepoints covered by the grant.

Save money by charging at home

While a grant for an electric car charger can help with the initial cost, the real long-term savings come from how you charge your car. Charging at home on an off-peak or smart tariff is far cheaper than using public chargers or filling up with petrol.

For example, on a smart tariff, it costs £7.88 on average to fully charge an EV with the average cost per 100 miles being £3.94². A comparable petrol car would cost well over £100 to travel the same distance. By bundling a charger with a smart energy plan, you can save a significant amount of money and contribute to a cleaner energy grid. Read more about how much it costs to charge an EV.

 EV charger grant FAQs