The Charge Scheme Explained

Electric cars have become more popular than ever, but one cost still frustrates UK drivers: charging. With public charging prices rising sharply in recent years, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has even flagged charging costs as one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption.

Now, a new product called The Charge Scheme aims to tackle the problem head-on. Brought to you by The Electric Car Scheme, this benefit helps employees save between 20% and 47% on EV charging through a salary sacrifice model. For many drivers, that equates to between £500 and £1,000 in annual savings.

This guide breaks down how The Charge Scheme works, who it’s for, and why it could be a game-changer for UK EV adoption.

What Is The Charge Scheme?

The Charge Scheme is the UK’s first salary sacrifice benefit for EV charging. Just as salary sacrifice has made electric cars more affordable for employees through reduced Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rates, this new scheme applies the same principle to charging costs.

It covers home, workplace, and public charging, giving drivers one simple way to reduce costs and employers an easy method to manage reimbursement and compliance.

How Much Can Employees Save?

The savings depend on an employee’s tax bracket, but most UK drivers can expect:

• 20%–50% savings on charging costs.
• Average of £500–£1,000 per year per employee.
• Zero set-up cost to employers.

Because the scheme works via tax and National Insurance savings, the financial benefit comes with no risk to employers. For companies already running a salary sacrifice car scheme, this is a bolt-on product. For those without one, it can be implemented as a standalone benefit.

How The Charge Scheme Works

The process has been designed to minimise admin for both employees and employers. Here’s how it works in four simple steps:

1. Employee charges their car using the free Charge Scheme app and card at over 70,000 public charging points across the UK (or at home/workplace chargers).
2. Employee logs mileage via the online portal each month — it takes around 10 seconds.
3. The Charge Scheme calculates costs and savings, then sends a payroll instruction to the employer.
4. Employee saves 20–50%, with no extra effort and no cost to the company.

It’s effectively a plug-and-play benefit, making EV charging cheaper whether drivers are at home, on the road, or in the office.

Why Charging Costs Are a Problem

The rise in public charging tariffs has put off some potential EV buyers. While home charging remains the cheapest option, not all drivers have off-street parking. Reliance on public networks can mean paying upwards of 70p per kWh, which is significantly higher than off-peak home rates.

Employers also struggle with reimbursing staff fairly for mileage when EVs are part of the fleet. Unlike petrol and diesel cars, where HMRC’s Advisory Fuel Rates provide a standard reference, EV charging costs can vary widely depending on tariffs, time of use, and charging provider.

The Charge Scheme solves both problems by providing real, accurate cost data from drivers and streamlining reimbursement into payroll.

Benefits for Employers

Employers gain several advantages by adopting The Charge Scheme:

• Improved employee satisfaction: cheaper charging makes EV company cars more attractive.
• Compliance made easy: removes guesswork and ensures fair reimbursement.
• No extra admin: all reporting and payroll instructions are automated.
• Supports net-zero goals: easier EV adoption helps companies meet sustainability targets.

For HR and finance teams, the key selling point is that this is a low-cost, low-effort benefit that delivers clear value to staff.

Benefits for Employees

For employees, the scheme offers direct, tangible benefits:

• Immediate cost savings on home and public charging.
• Simple mileage reporting (takes seconds each month).
• No hidden risks or fees, as savings are applied through payroll.
• Access to 70,000+ public charging points via the app and card.

For drivers paying higher-rate tax, the savings can be even greater, making it a particularly attractive option for professionals using EVs as company cars.

Is The Charge Scheme Right for Every Business?

The Charge Scheme is designed to work seamlessly with existing EV salary sacrifice schemes, but it can also be introduced independently. Businesses that already provide company EVs will find it the most effective, as it strengthens the overall benefit offering.

For SMEs considering salary sacrifice for the first time, The Electric Car Scheme provides both the car scheme and The Charge Scheme together, creating a complete package for cost-effective EV adoption.

The Future of EV Charging Benefits

As the UK pushes toward its 2035 deadline for ending petrol and diesel car sales, EV adoption needs to accelerate. Making charging more affordable is critical — and schemes like this help break down one of the final barriers to adoption.

In time, we could see more tax-efficient benefits emerging for EV drivers, but for now, The Charge Scheme stands out as a practical, immediately available way to cut costs for both drivers and businesses.

John Ellmore

John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.

With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.

John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.