The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides eligible applicants with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints.
It is available in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.
The scheme is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
How the scheme works
The WCS is open to businesses, charities and public sector organisations that meet the applicant and site eligibility criteria.
The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:
- £350 per socket
- 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site
After applying using the online application form, successful applicants are issued with a unique identification voucher code by email, which can then be given to any OZEV-authorised commercial chargepoint installer.
Once the chargepoint(s) have been installed, the authorised installer can claim the grant from OZEV on the applicant’s behalf. The chargepoint installation must be completed and the voucher claimed within 6 months of the voucher’s issue date. Claims against expired vouchers will not be paid.
Who can apply for the grant
- be a registered business, charity or public sector organisation
- fulfil one of the following 3 criteria:
- be a public authority, this includes government departments and their agencies, the armed forces, local governments, the NHS and emergency services – in considering eligibility, OZEV will use the public authorities referenced in the Local Government Act 2003, Section 33, the Freedom of Information Act, Schedule 1, parts 1-3) and in the Public sector classification guide
- have received – or have currently pending at the time of application – less than €200,000 of public support in the last 3 financial years (meaning the previous 2 financial years plus the current financial year) and satisfy the state aid requirements for de minimis aid
- have received – or have currently pending at the time of application – less than 325,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) limit of public support in the last 3 financial years (meaning the previous 2 financial years plus the current financial year) and satisfy the Special Drawing Rights requirements. Use this SDR currency exchange rate conversion calculator to calculate the equivalent in GBP.
- declare a need for EV charging equipment, or an intent to encourage uptake among their staff and/or fleet (you do not need to possess a plug-in EV)
- be located in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland (applicants in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are not eligible)
- have dedicated off-street parking for staff and/or fleet use only
- have parking facilities that are clearly associated with the applicant premises and be either on-site or at a reasonable distance from the workplace
- own the property or have consent from the landlord for chargepoints to be installed at all the sites listed in the application
Site eligibility
Applicants must have designated off-street parking facilities with spaces dedicated for staff and/or fleet use that are suitable for chargepoint installations. All parking must be designated to the applicant, although the rest of the car park may be shared with other organisations.
Each site must:
- have a minimum power supply of 3kW to each individual socket that is not diminished by their simultaneous use
- have no more than one socket installed for each accessible parking space
- be for staff and/or fleet use
Working from home
If your primary place of work is also a residential property (your home), you can apply for the grant under this scheme as long as your address is either:
- listed as your place of business with Companies House
- recorded on your business rate (non-domestic) rate bill issued to you by your local council or Land & Property Services (LPS)
For further information about this scheme and full guidance on eligibility, terms and conditions as well as how to apply visit the Uk Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/workplace-charging-scheme-guidance-for-applicants#about-the-scheme