A Guide to the Workplace Charging Scheme

With the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles brought forward to 2030, the road to electric is well and truly underway.

To make this transition a bit easier, the government has introduced the Workplace Charging Scheme, which aims to incentivise the installation of electric vehicle charging points. Launched in 2016, it could save businesses up to £14,000 on the total cost of installation.

In this post, we’ll go through everything you need to know about eligibility, savings and how to apply.

Introducing the Workplace Charging Scheme

Infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges in the transition to electric vehicles. In short, people won’t buy electric cars if they don’t have anywhere to charge them. This is what the Workplace Charging Scheme aims to tackle, by making it much cheaper for businesses to install their own charging points.

Businesses can claim up to £350 towards the cost of purchase and installation for each electric vehicle charging point – or 75%, whichever is lower. They can do so for up to 40 single socket charge-points or 20 double-sockets.

Benefits of the Workplace Charging Scheme

With the potential to get £350 each for 40 sockets, you could save a whopping £14,000 in total. But that’s not the only benefits of the scheme. By switching to electric vehicles, made that bit easier with the subsidisation of charging points, you’ll benefit from cheaper running costs in the long run.

You’ll also have an attractive perk to offer employees, with an 8-hour workday providing the perfect prolonged period for electric vehicle charging. Or you might simply want to charge your own company’s fleet overnight.

Whatever the case, it will slash your organisation’s overall emissions, moving you closer to those all-important sustainability targets.

Who is eligible?

The Workplace Charging Scheme is available to businesses, charities or public authorities which meet the following criteria:

• Sufficient levels of off-street parking to facilitate the use of the charging points
• You don’t actually need to have electric vehicles yet. However, if you don’t have any as part of your fleet, you’ll need to demonstrate a need for them now or in the future.
• Your charging point supplier and installer must be approved by OLEV – the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.
• It’s also worth noting that you can’t claim retrospectively for charging points that have already been installed.

How to apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme

Applications for the Workplace Charging Scheme must be made online via the gov.uk website. You’ll need to outline your requirements such as the number of charging points, and explain the need for them now or in the future.

If you’re successful, you’ll be sent a voucher code to use when purchasing the charging points. Your OLEV-approved installer can then use that code to claim back up to £350 per charging point from the government.

Voucher codes are valid for 180 days after your application is completed, so it’s important to have installation in the pipeline before getting the grant.

OLEV-approved charger installation

If you want to take advantage of the Workplace Charging Scheme and make the transition to electric vehicles that bit easier, Volta Compliance is on hand to help. Based in Leeds, we supply and install electric vehicle charging points across West Yorkshire, with OLEV-approval so you can save up to £350 for each charger.

If you want to find out more or would like any assistance with your application, don’t hesitate to contact us on 0113 436 0402 or email [email protected].