While many people are keen to make the switch to electric vehicles, the availability of reliable charging points is proving to be a sticking point for some. One way to ensure your vehicle always has adequate charge is to install a home charging point so that you can leave your EV charging overnight or whenever you are at home.

If you do have a domestic property on which you can install a home charging point, there may be grants available to help you with the cost of installation.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, also known as the OLEV grant, is the main funding option available to homeowners looking to install a home charge point. This scheme provides grant funding of up to 75% (capped at £350) towards the cost of purchasing and installing an electric vehicle charge point at domestic properties with off-street parking in the UK.

The grant allows one charge point per vehicle to be claimed for, with a maximum of two per household (providing that household has two eligible vehicles).

For EV drivers living in Scotland, an additional £250 funding is available from the Energy Savings Trust Scotland.

The work must be carried out by an approved installer, who will claim the grant on your behalf before the installation is completed, and then you will agree with them on how the remaining cost will be paid.

The current EVHS grant ends on the 31st of March 2022, meaning only installations completed before this date can be claimed for. After this date, the EVHS will no longer be available to homeowners who live in single-unit properties such as bungalows, and terraced, detached, or semi-detached housing.

What vehicles and drivers are eligible?

All full-battery electric vehicles that are registered in the UK are eligible for the EVHS, but plug-in hybrid vehicles must have their emissions calculated below 50g/km to be eligible.

Drivers of an eligible vehicle can apply for the scheme if they own the vehicle, or are leasing it for at least six months, even as part of a salary sacrifice scheme.

You must also be listed as the main driver on the electric vehicle in question, whether it is your own vehicle or you have been listed by your employer as the main driver on a company car for at least six months.

You may not be eligible for the EVHS if you have already claimed against a previous government charge point scheme.

Grants for businesses and local authorities

If you are a business owner or part of a public authority, it’s also worth noting that a separate Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) may be available to you, aiding with the cost of installing up to 40 EV charging sockets at your business premises, across all sites.

For local authorities looking to install on-street residential charge points, you may be able to claim for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (OCRS).

Why is home charging important?

While home charging is not the fastest way to charge your EV, the combination of home charging and rapid charge top-ups on-route is currently considered to be the most effective way to charge an electric vehicle.

Rather than let the car run to near empty before fuelling up, as we often do with petrol and diesel cars, keeping an EV close to full charge is advised, topping up whenever you have the opportunity, such as when you go shopping or to the office and there are available charge points.

The UK is also currently behind where it needs to be in terms of EV charging infrastructure, with far more reliable rapid charge points required by the time the 2030 ICE vehicle ban hits. By having the option to charge EVs at home, drivers reduce their reliance on these public charge points. 

A home charge point is a must-have for EV owners with their own domestic property. The UK may currently be behind where they need to be in terms of publicly available rapid charge points, but this is all the more reason for EV owners to take advantage of an EV home charging grant while they are available.

If you are having an EV home charging point installed, you can view our range of cables and home charging accessories from Degson.