The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) grant provides financial support to UK citizens looking to adopt electric vehicles. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about OZEV grants and how they work.
We will review the eligibility criteria, the amount of funding available and the OZEV grant application process.
Introduction to the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant
The OZEV EV Chargepoint grant aims to help offset the upfront cost of switching to an EV. The grant provides 75% (up to £350) towards the cost of installing EV chargers for a specific group of applicants:
- Landlords
- Renters
- Flat owners
- Business owners
Eligible vehicles include all full-battery electric vehicles, but plug-in hybrid vehicles must have CO2 emissions calculated to be under 50g/km. To claim the grant, the procedure differs based on whether you live in a house or a flat, but in both cases, you must claim before the installation of your home charger. Homeowners are no longer eligible to apply for an OZEV grant.
Understanding OZEV
OZEV stands for the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. It is the government organization in the United Kingdom that promotes the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and supports the development of related EV infrastructure. OZEV offers grants to encourage the purchase of electric cars and the installation of EV chargers. OZEV is also responsible for developing policies and regulations to support the growth of the electric vehicle market.
OZEV promotes research and development efforts related to zero-emission vehicles, battery technologies, and charging technologies. They also collect data and monitor the progress of the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. They provide reports and insights to inform policymakers and industry stakeholders about the progress of electric vehicle adoption in the UK.
Grant Overview
The EV Chargepoint grant is a grant scheme introduced by OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles). It was launched in 2022 as a replacement for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS). The primary objective of the EV Chargepoint grant is to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals and businesses for the installation of electric car chargers at residential and workplace locations.
Under the EV Chargepoint grant, applicants can receive a subsidy of up to 75% of the installation costs, with a maximum grant amount of £350. This grant significantly reduces the financial burden of installing an EV charger, making it more affordable and accessible for individuals and businesses.
Unlike its predecessor (the EVHS), the EV Chargepoint grant is only available to a specific set of categories:
- Flat owners
People who own or rent flats that wish to install an EV charger in their apartment’s residential parking area can apply for the grant. - Renters
Tenants who do not own their property but want to install an EV charger can also be eligible for the grant. This provision gives renters the ability to access convenient EV charging options without having to pressure landlords to pay for the chargers. - Landlords
The EV Chargepoint grant is open to landlords who wish to install EV chargers in their rental properties. This enables them to provide EV charging infrastructure for their tenants, contributing to the wider adoption of electric vehicles. - Businesses
In addition to the residential sector, businesses can also apply for the EV Chargepoint grant. However, businesses have a separate grant option known as the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which specifically supports the installation of EV chargers at workplaces. The WCS grant offers to fund the cost of supplying staff with workplace charging points, providing an incentive for businesses to facilitate EV charging for their employees.
Application Process
Applying for an EV charge point grant is a straightforward process. To ensure a smooth application, follow the steps below:
- Confirm eligibility
Check if your vehicle is on the list of Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)-approved electric vehicles. Additionally, ensure that the charger you want to install is on the list of OZEV-approved models. This verification will ensure your eligibility for the grant. - Obtain a quote
Contact an OZEV-authorised installer and request a quote for the installation work. The installer should be fully approved by OZEV having completed the appropriate EV charger installation training. Review the quote and if you agree with the terms, inform the installer to proceed with your claim. - Installer initiates the claim
Once you accept the quote, the installer will request your contact details and provide them to OZEV. You will receive an email from OZEV containing a link to an online form. Complete this form, providing details of your property and your vehicle to proceed with your application. - Application approval and work commencement
After reviewing your application, OZEV will approve it and notify your installer that they can begin the installation work. - Installation completion
Your installer must complete the installation within 90 days of application approval unless an extension is requested. If the installation is not completed within the specified timeframe, the installer will need to submit a new application. - Grant claim by the installer
Once the installation is finished, your installer will claim the grant on your behalf. They will provide OZEV with details of your EV charger, including photographs of the installation and an invoice. You will receive an email to verify the information provided by the installer. - Deducting grant amount and invoice
Your installer should deduct the grant amount from your bill before applying for the grant. Your invoice should clearly show the total installation cost minus the deducted grant amount. - Grant payment
After approving the application and verifying the invoice, OZEV will pay the grant amount to your installer.
Grant Eligibility
To qualify for the OZEV grant you must already own or lease an EV (or have one on order). There should be off-street parking at your property that is accessible 24/7 and is signposted as belonging to your property (even if it is not part of the property).
You will need to prove that you have express permission from the landlord if you are a renter or that you are the legal owner of the property if you are looking to install an EV charger in a flat.
You will also need to prove that you either own or lease an eligible vehicle and the property will need to be already built, not planned or even already under construction.
The charging unit that you install will need to be a smart charger to qualify.
Vehicle Qualification
To check if your vehicle is eligible for the OZEV grant you can check that it is on the government’s list of vehicles eligible for OZEV grants.
The types of vehicles that have been approved as “ultra-low emission vehicles” are:
New Battery Electric Vehicles
New Battery Electric Vehicles must have zero exhaust pipe emissions and a minimum range of 70 miles.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles must have zero exhaust pipe emissions and a minimum range of 300 miles.
Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicles
Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicles must have CO2 emissions under 50 g/km and a minimum electric-only range of 10 miles.
Processing Time
OZEV aims to process grant claims within 30 working days. However, it’s important to note that this processing time begins once the installation company submits the required information on your behalf. The installation company does not have the authority to approve the grant; its role is to assist in processing the grant application.
The overall time it takes to receive the OZEV grant can vary depending on several factors, including the responsiveness of the installation company and the accuracy of the information provided. Delays may occur if there are any missing details in the application.
To ensure a smooth process, work closely with the installation company and provide all the requested information promptly. Keep checking in on the status of the application with them to address any queries or requests for additional documentation.
OZEV vs. OLEV
In 2020 OZEV replaced OLEV as the government department responsible for promoting the uptake of zero-emission vehicles. Before 2020 when referring to government grants it was common to say “OLEV grant”, and now the terminology is “OZEV grant”.
OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles)
OLEV was established in 2011 and had a focus on ‘low emission’ not zero, so its scope was wider than that of its successor OZEV. It was scrapped in 2020.
OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles)
OZEV was established in 2020 and has a more narrow focus on Zero-emission vehicles (electric cars!). It is responsible for implementing the UK’s plan to achieve close to zero emissions from all cars on the road by 2050.
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.
