UK EV Charging Grants 2026: The Complete Guide

What Are the UK EV Charging Grants?

The UK government offers two main grants to help businesses, charities, and public sector organisations install EV chargepoints. Both are administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and cover up to 75% of purchase and installation costs.

These grants exist because the government wants to build out the UK's charging infrastructure before the 2035 petrol and diesel sales ban. The funding directly reduces your upfront cost, making EV charging installation a financially straightforward decision for most venues.

Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)

The WCS is the most widely used grant. It provides up to £350 per chargepoint socket, with a maximum of 40 sockets per applicant. That's up to £14,000 of grant funding. It's been running since 2016 and has funded hundreds of thousands of chargepoints across the UK. It closes permanently on March 31, 2026.

SME Infrastructure Grant

This newer grant targets small and medium-sized businesses specifically. It covers the electrical infrastructure needed for chargepoints — cabling, distribution boards, groundworks — up to £15,000 per site. You can claim across up to 5 sites.

Scotland Rural Petrol Station Fund

Scotland offers additional support for rural petrol stations transitioning to EV charging. If you operate a rural forecourt, this is worth investigating alongside the UK-wide grants above.

Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) — Full Details

Who Can Apply

The WCS is available to any UK-registered business, charity, or public sector organisation with dedicated off-street parking. This includes limited companies, LLPs, partnerships, sole traders, and registered charities.

You do not need to operate a fleet of electric vehicles. The chargepoints can be used by employees, visitors, customers, or — in the case of hotels — guests.

Hotels and Guest Charging

This makes the WCS particularly valuable for hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses. You install chargepoints at a 75% discount, then offer them as an amenity (or a paid service) to attract the growing number of EV-driving guests.

What Counts as a Socket?

Each individual charging socket counts toward your 40-socket maximum. A dual-socket charger (one unit with two cables) counts as two sockets. This is important when planning your installation — dual-socket units give you the best value per charger while maximising your grant claim.

SME Infrastructure Grant — Full Details

The SME Infrastructure Grant is specifically designed for the underlying electrical work that chargepoint installation often requires. If your building needs a new distribution board, cabling runs from the mains supply, or trenching across a car park, this is the grant that helps cover it.

Who Qualifies as an SME?

Your business must have fewer than 250 employees. Most independent hotels, golf clubs, wedding venues, holiday parks, and similar hospitality businesses fall well within this threshold.

How the Funding Works

The grant covers two components:

• £350 per chargepoint socket — same rate as the WCS
• £500 per parking space enabled for future charging — this covers the infrastructure to make spaces "charge-ready" even if you don't install a charger there immediately

The total is capped at £15,000 per site and you can claim across a maximum of 5 sites.

Can You Stack Both Grants?

Yes. You can use both the WCS and the SME Infrastructure Grant at the same site. However, you cannot claim both grants on the same chargepoints.

In practice, this means a small hotel with a 20-space car park could claim up to £15,000 for infrastructure works plus up to £14,000 for chargepoints — a potential £29,000 in combined grant funding.

Who's Eligible?

The grants are broader than most people realise. If your organisation has off-street parking and is registered in the UK, there's a strong chance you qualify.

Eligible Venue Types

• Hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses
• Golf clubs and country clubs
• Wedding and event venues
• Holiday parks and caravan sites
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Gyms, leisure centres, and health clubs
• Restaurants, pubs, and cafes
• Garden centres and farm shops
• Offices, warehouses, and industrial premises
• Charities and places of worship

Core Requirements

• UK-registered organisation (company, charity, or public sector body)
• Dedicated off-street parking that you own or lease long-term
• Installation carried out by an OZEV-approved installer
• Chargepoints must meet minimum technical specifications
• For the SME grant: fewer than 250 employees

How to Apply

The application process is straightforward but does require an OZEV-approved installer. Here's how it works:

1. Check Your Eligibility Confirm your organisation type, parking situation, and which grants you qualify for. Use our free eligibility checker to get a quick answer.
2. Get Quotes from OZEV-Approved Installers You need a quote from an installer who is registered with OZEV. They handle the grant paperwork as part of the process and deduct the grant amount from your invoice. You never have to claim the money back yourself.
3. Apply Through the GOV.UK Portal Your installer submits the application through OZEV's online portal. You'll need to provide basic business details, confirm your parking arrangements, and sign off on the application.
4. Installation Once approved, installation typically takes 2 to 3 weeks depending on the complexity of the electrical work. The grant is paid directly to the installer, so you only pay your reduced share.

The entire process from initial enquiry to live chargepoints usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. Given the March deadline, starting in February or early March leaves enough time — but only just.

The March 31, 2026 Deadline

Why This Matters

The WCS has been running since 2016 and has been extended several times. This time, the government has confirmed it is the final extension. After March 31, the scheme closes and no new applications will be accepted.

What Happens After the Deadline?

No replacement has been announced. The government's position is that the chargepoint market is now mature enough to function without subsidy. That may be true eventually, but right now it means prices go up for everyone who waits.

A typical 4-socket installation costs between £4,000 and £8,000. Without the grant, you pay the full amount. With the grant, you save up to £1,400 on that same installation. For a 20-socket setup, the saving can exceed £7,000.

Why Act Now

• Installer capacity is limited. Every business in the UK with off-street parking is being told the same thing: apply before March 31. OZEV-approved installers are booking up quickly.
• Approval backlogs. OZEV processes applications sequentially. Submitting in the final week of March risks missing the deadline due to processing time.
• No second chances. Unlike previous extensions, there is no indication this scheme will return in any form.

Read more on the Virevia Grants Guide or browse our Blog for the latest EV charging news.