Electric cars: deadline looming for claiming home charging grant
Electric cars: deadline looming for claiming home charging grant
The grant provides up to £350 towards the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging point.
Only a few weeks are remaining for drivers to apply for a UK government grant that helps with the cost of getting an electric vehicle home charging point installed if motorists own their house.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) is an official grant that contributes 75% – up to a max of £350 – towards the expense of a charging point and its installation. The essential prerequisites are that the applicant leases, owns or has ordered a qualifying vehicle and has suitable off-street parking.
The scheme will no longer be open to homeowners living in “single-unit properties” from April 2022. Single-unit properties are defined as detached, semi-detached and terrace houses and bungalows. Charging points need to be installed by 31 March, and because it can sometimes take between five to six weeks to book an installation, you won't want to leave the booking any later than February 2022.
However, the scheme will stay open to people in rented accommodation and homeowners who live in flats.
The expense of installing a home charging point differs, depending on the type you go for, although quotes typically range between £500 and £1,000.
"Many motorists who want to lease an electric car should act now, or they will miss out", says Ash Jackson, the Sales Manager of Fleet UK.
"To take advantage of the grant, drivers for whom the scheme is closing must order their charging point by the start of February", he adds.
Ash Jackson added, "Bear in mind that once you have found an installer you are happy with, you may have to wait five or six weeks for the work to be done. Installers are very busy at present, and often they will want to do a site survey before they commence any work. But they are essential to the process, as it is they who apply for the EVHS grant on your behalf.”
Suppose there's necessary third-party permission for the installation work – such as from a managing agent or a freeholder of a block of flats. In that case, the government confirms the applicant must obtain this before the installation is completed. This will be needed for leasehold or rental properties where the leaseholder or the renter is applying for the scheme.
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