Going Electric But Not Sure About Charging? Here's Your Guide To Installation...

If you’re looking to install a vehicle charging station for your electric vehicle, you could be eligible for a UK Government grant to help offset installation costs. The OZEV grant schemes are Government grants that help cover the costs associated with installing electric car at-home chargers. In this article, we’ll go over how to apply for an electric vehicle charging station.

Before we start though, if you are considering purchasing an EV vehicle, remember, they lose an average of 60% of their value in the first three years. If yours is declared a total loss, you could face a financial shortfall if your insurance settlement is less than you owe. Consider Gap Insurance for added peace of mind, helping cover costs, should the worst happen.

"Once you get the ball rolling, you’ll be able to receive the grant quite quickly and provide EV charge points for your property"

What are the OZEV grants?

There are currently two different grants that are available to help you install electric vehicle charge points at your property. Provided you own the property, you can apply for the electric vehicle chargepoint grant as well as an electric vehicle infrastructure grant.

The EV chargepoint grant provides you with money to offset the costs associated with installing an electric vehicle chargepoint socket. This will either be £350 or 75 % off the total costs associated with buying and installing the socket - whichever is cheaper. If you own multiple properties, you can apply for up to 200 grants per year if they’re residential and another 100 grants if it’s a commercial property.

The EV infrastructure grant helps offset the costs of various building and installation projects that are required to install multiple chargepoint sockets on a property. This could be for charge points you intend to use right away or for installation in the future. This means that the grant can also be used to help install wiring or posts necessary for the charge points.

At the moment, you can claim up to £30,000 or 75 % off of the costs associated with these works. With this grant, you’re eligible to claim up to 30 times per year.

What are the eligibility requirements for OZEV grants?

There are a few eligibility requirements that you’ll need to have in order to receive the OZEV grants. So if you’re looking into either the electric vehicle chargepoint or infrastructure grants, make sure that you’re eligible in the following categories:

• You’re a landlord with property for rent.

• You’re a right to manage company.

• You’re a residents management company.

• You’re a person or company who owns the freehold of the property you want to install the chargepoint.

• You’re a company that owns a building’s common area (including shareholders who are leaseholders).

• You’re a property factor (in Scotland).

• You’re a private registered provider of social housing.

• You’re a public sector organisation, such as a local council

• You’re a charity that owns or manages residential property.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you’re a business owner, then the business must also be registered with Companies House or at least be VAT registered with HMRC.

How to apply for the OZEV grants

The easiest way to apply for the OZEV grants is online through this link. Before you start your application, make sure that you:

• Finish any required upgrades to the electrical supply of the building.

• Perform maintenance checks for the charge points on a regular basis.

• Make a decision about how running costs (such as electricity) will be paid for.

• Ensure that the charge points are made accessible.

• Update your existing property risk assessment to factor in the charge points.

If you’re a landlord, then you’ll need to create a landlord account to begin the process. To do this, you’ll need to have:

• A valid email address.

• An active UK mobile phone to receive a security code.

• A Companies House registration number or a VAT registration number.

• If you’re a linked company, then you’ll have to apply using the company registration number.

With this all ready, you can begin your claim for the grant. Be sure to include the following details:

• An address.

• An approved installer.

• The installer’s OZEV installer number.

• The number of parking spaces that the work will cover (for the infrastructure grant).

Once this is finished, the approved installer can finalise your grant claim for you.

Conclusion

The process for receiving the OZEV grants is relatively straightforward, but it’s important that you know the requirements before starting. Once you get the ball rolling, you’ll be able to receive the grant quite quickly and provide EV charge points for your property or properties.