Renters, landlords and businesses in UK will be able to claim up to half the cost of installing an electric charger
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Grants for electric vehicles are being extended in the UK for another year to allow renters, landlords and businesses to claim up to half the cost of installing an electric charger – saving them up to £500.
The uplift will cover almost half the cost of a typical charge point installation until March 2027, helping thousands more drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work to power their car for as little as 2p per mile – that’s the equivalent of London to Birmingham for £3.50.
Expanded access to home charging will help more households make the switch and UK businesses gear up for the EV revolution, as latest figures show EV drivers can save up to £1,400 on running costs versus a comparable petrol car when accessing cheaper domestic rates.
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The move is the latest in a raft of action from the Government to tackle two of the biggest barriers to driving electric – upfront costs and worries about finding somewhere to charge.
Over 55,000 drivers have already saved thousands buying a new EV thanks to the Government’s £2billion Electric Car Grant (ECG), which is offering savings of up to £3,750 across some of the biggest auto brands, and backing the UK auto sector, including the Nissan Leaf made at the firm’s Sunderland plant.
‘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,’ said Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather.
‘Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.’
The updates will also simplify the current EV charge point support schemes available by reducing eight grant types down to five, streamlining the system so people can navigate and select schemes and discounts more easily.
Last year, a £25million scheme was also launched making it easier for residents without driveways to install home chargers. Accessed through local authorities, the scheme supports the installation of discreet, embedded pavement channels and is additional to the expanded charge point grant. This means those with on street parking could get help with installing the charger and the cross-pavement channel.
From April 1 2026, people living in rented accommodation, flat owners, residential landlords, households with on-street parking, and businesses will all be able to receive higher grants of up to £500 per charge point, rising from the previous discount of £350. Schools will be eligible for grants of up to £2,000 per socket, building on 3,700 sockets installed to date.
Alongside the ECG and home and workplace charging grants, the Government is expanding the national 88,500 strong public charge point network – with the fastest growth occurring outside London in places like Yorkshire, Wales, the West Midlands, and the East of England. In total, £600 million was announced last year to accelerate the charging rollout, and this funding builds on the 100,000 additional new public chargers the Government is already helping councils install in the coming years.
Councils will receive funding for the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure, alongside the continuation of a Government funded support service for local authorities which helps ensure charge point installations and locations best serve communities.
Last month, the Department for Transport launched its new ‘Get that electric feeling’ campaign to help drive uptake in EVs by highlighting the benefits of going electric, including savings of up to £1,400 on running costs.
‘Many small businesses want to switch to electric vehicles, with half of small businesses (51 per cent) saying that more charging infrastructure would incentivise them to make the switch,’ said Policy Chair of Federation of Small Businesses, Tina McKenzie.
‘Small firms want to cut their emissions and reduce their fuel bills and removing or lowering the barriers which currently tip the scales against electric vehicle adoption can only be a good thing – for small businesses, for the economy, and for the planet.’
