EV Infrastructure Grant for Fleets and staff – How can my business benefit?

As the UK becomes home to more and more electric vehicles (EV), businesses are searching for a quick and cost-effective solution to ease the transition to electric for their employees and fleet.

To encourage the journey to net zero and alleviate the costs associated with EV infrastructure, the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) recently introduced the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets.

What is the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets?

The grant aims to help businesses meet the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles and encourage them to decarbonise their fleet by funding up to 75% of the costs associated with purchasing and installing EV charging infrastructure.

The EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets applies to small and medium businesses (less than 250 employees) that have a current or future need for EV charging stations. If eligible, your business can claim up to £850 for each private parking space supported by EV infrastructure that is designated for staff or fleet use (it is not permitted for visitor or guest use).

The grant is capped at £500 for each parking space supported by charging infrastructure and an additional £350 towards the cost of purchasing and installing each chargepoint socket provided. Each parking bay claimed must be associated with a unique charging socket and a minimum of five parking spaces must be provisioned with the supporting infrastructure. There is a maximum of £15,000 of funding available per site across a maximum of five different sites – therefore, a total of £75,000 can be claimed.

So, whether it’s a grant you need to subsidise the cost of installing EV charging stations, or a bespoke funding solution that could completely remove the barrier of investing in EV charging infrastructure (see our range of partnership options), this guide has all the information you need to get started on your EV charging journey.

How does the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets differ from the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)?

The EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets is designed to help fund the EV infrastructure that is needed for the current and future demand of EVs in businesses as they push to decarbonise their fleet. The Workplace Charging Scheme, on the other hand, supports only the costs of charge point installations and cannot be used for supporting infrastructure.

Businesses can apply for both grants for the same site, but not the same chargepoints. If you decide to claim for both, you must claim for at least one working chargepoint under the EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleet and only use the WCS for chargepoints that are added at later date. Any attempt to use the same chargepoint in a claim will be viewed as fraud and can result in legal action.

What costs does the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets cover?

The grant covers the delivery of EV fleet charging facilities from the installation of chargepoints to all the costs associated with building the connecting infrastructure – this includes costs such as grid connections, any labour costs, project management, signage, and any reinstatement work that is required. Some costs that are not eligible include maintenance and administration costs, marketing costs, and any other ongoing operating costs.

Who is eligible for the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets?

Any business that meets the criteria outlined by the OZEV can apply for the grant (given you can provide the necessary evidence to support the application). These requirements include:

• Must be a registered small-to-medium business (less than 250 employees)
• Must have a current or future need for charging electric vehicles
• Must use an OZEV-approved WCS installer (such as SMS) to install the charging stations
• Must own the business premises or have the landlord’s permission to install the chargers
• Must satisfy the state aid requirements for de minimis aid and have received – or have currently pending at the time of application – less than €200,000 of public support in the past 3 financial years

How long will the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets be available?

On the 31st of March 2024, the WCS and EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets will come to an end. As of yet, the OZEV has not confirmed if the grant will be extended or replaced with a new scheme. So, if you are interested in reducing your company fleet emissions and want to save thousands on the upfront costs of your new EV charging facilities, then we advise that you act fast to avoid disappointment and get in touch with our experts (07376 490 650) to start your journey to net zero.

How to apply for the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets?

1. Firstly, get in touch with an OZEV-approved installer (like us).
2. Receive expert advice on the right EV solutions and appropriate grant for your business.
3. Register with DVLA using the EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets registration form (following support from our experts to help you produce an excellent application).
4. Once registered, you will give the green light for work to start at a specific site.
5. Once the installation is complete, we will claim the grant on your behalf.
6. We will send you a final invoice, including the total cost of installation and the OZEV grant that is offset against the total cost.
7. Lastly, the DVLA will process the application and inform us of the result – if the grant is successful, the grant will be paid directly to us (don’t worry, the sum will have already been discounted from your bill).

Still unsure if you are eligible for the scheme or need some help with the application? We are here to help ensure a stress-free and successful application, get in touch with our experts (0330 0181 338) or email evcharging@sms-plc.com.