The Government has confirmed that its charge point grant will rise to £500 from April, extending support for renters, landlords and firms.
Renters, flat owners, landlords and businesses will be able to claim up to half the cost of installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger, saving up to £500, after the Government confirmed an extension and uplift of grants for a final year.
From April 1 this year higher grants of up to £500 per charge point will be available, up from £350.
The Government said the uplift will cover almost half the cost of a typical installation until March 2027.
Automotive retailers had been hoping for more support, particularly to help used EV customers to install more home charge points.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said the increase is intended to help more drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates.
Expanded access to home charging is designed to support more households switching to electric and help businesses prepare for further EV adoption.
Latest figures cited by Government show EV drivers can save up to £1,400 in running costs compared with a comparable petrol car when charging at domestic rates.
Upfront costs and charging availability
The measures form part of a broader strategy to address two of the biggest barriers to EV uptake: upfront costs and charging availability.
More than 55,000 drivers have already received support through the £2 billion Electric Car Grant, which offers savings of up to £3,750 on selected models.
Keir Mather, aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister, said: “We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways.
“Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile.
“Combined with our Electric Car Grant and funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.”
Simplifying the EV charger grant schemes
Alongside the higher grant values, the Government will reduce the number of EV charge point support schemes from eight to five, aiming to simplify access and improve clarity for applicants.
Eligibility from April will include people living in rented accommodation, flat owners, residential landlords, households with on-street parking and businesses.
Schools will also be eligible for grants of up to £2,000 per socket, building on the 3,700 sockets installed to date.
The updated offer sits alongside a £25 million scheme launched last year to support residents without driveways.
Delivered through local authorities, it funds the installation of embedded pavement channels, enabling cross-pavement cabling for homes with on-street parking. This support is additional to the expanded charge point grant.
In January, the DfT launched its ‘Get that electric feeling’ campaign to promote EV adoption and highlight potential savings of up to £1,400 on running costs.
Industry bodies welcome changes
Sue Robinson, chief executive of the NFDA, said: “We’ve been calling for greater support to make home and workplace EV charging more accessible, and today’s increase in grants is a welcome result.
“Dealers are well placed to guide drivers, landlords, and businesses through the options, helping them access the funding and make the switch to electric vehicles with confidence.
“With early preparation, retailers can ensure customers understand the savings and practical steps, supporting wider EV adoption and a sustainable motoring sector.”
Jarrod Birch, head of policy, ChargeUK, said the uprated grant support is a welcome boost for EV drivers.
Birch said: “Most drivers use a blend of home and public charging, so the UK’s 88,500-strong public network is a vital part of the EV driving puzzle.
“But policy-driven costs mean public charging is more expensive than it needs be, with standing charges alone rising by 462% since 2021.
“The Government’s review into the cost of public charging is the opportunity to address this by levelling VAT with home and tackling the soaring charges that have increased prices.
“Making driving an EV affordable for all is the route to keeping the transition on track.”
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, added: “Almost nine in 10 landlords with a suitable property would install EV charge points if a tenant asks them to undertake this work.
“Given the extent of landlords’ willingness to provide them, we welcome the Government’s plans to encourage more widespread installation of these points across the sector.
“We urge landlords to make best use of the grants now available where it is feasible for them to do so.”
Matt Waller, general Manager of The Charge Scheme, is expecting the grant upgrade to boost what was already likely to be a positive market for the March plate-change for EVs.
Waller said: “This positive step forward from the DfT should lead to an increase in searches for EVs in the coming weeks and months, as households and businesses take advantage of the lower costs offered by the combination of the grants and salary sacrifice for EV purchases and charging.”