Renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways, and businesses will be able to save up to £500 when installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points, due to a more than 40% increase in Government funding launched today.
The uplift will cover almost half the cost of a typical charge point installation until March 2027, helping more drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work to power their car.
Expanded access to home charging aims to help UK businesses prepare for the EV transition, as figures show EV drivers can save up to £1,400 on running costs versus a comparable petrol car when accessing cheaper domestic rates.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather said: “We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways.
“Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile.
“Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.”
The updates aim to simplify the current EV charge point support schemes available by reducing eight grant types down to five, streamlining the system so people can navigate and select schemes and discounts more easily.
Last year, a £25m scheme was also launched to make it easier for residents without driveways to install home chargers.
Accessed through local authorities, the scheme supports the installation of discreet, embedded pavement channels and is additional to the expanded charge point grant.
This means those with on-street parking could get help with installing the charger and the cross-pavement channel.
People living in rented accommodation, flat owners, residential landlords, households with on-street parking, and businesses will all be able to receive higher grants of up to £500 per charge point, rising from the previous discount of £350 from 1st April 2026.
As well, schools will be eligible for grants of up to £2,000 per socket, building on 3,700 sockets installed to date.
Alongside the ECG and home and workplace charging grants, the Government is expanding the national 88,500-strong public charge point network.
In total, £600m was announced last year to accelerate the charging rollout, and this funding builds on the 100,000 additional public chargers the Government is already helping councils install in the coming years.
Councils will receive funding for the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure, alongside the continuation of a Government-funded support service for local authorities, which aims to help ensure charge point installations and locations best serve communities.
Last month, the Department for Transport launched its ‘Get that electric feeling’ campaign to help drive uptake in EVs by highlighting the benefits of going electric, including savings of up to £1,400 on running costs.
Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Many small businesses want to switch to electric vehicles, with half of small businesses (51%) saying that more charging infrastructure would incentivise them to make the switch.
“Small firms want to cut their emissions and reduce their fuel bills and removing or lowering the barriers which currently tip the scales against electric vehicle adoption can only be a good thing – for small businesses, for the economy, and for the planet.”
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Almost nine in ten landlords with a suitable property would install EV charge points if a tenant asks them to undertake this work.
“Given the extent of landlords’ willingness to provide them, we welcome the Government’s plans to encourage more widespread installation of these points across the sector.
“We urge landlords to make best use of the grants now available where it is feasible for them to do so.”
Vicky Edmonds, chief executive officer at EVA England, said: “Access to affordable charging is the make-or-break issue for a fair EV transition. Without it, millions of drivers are effectively priced out.
“As England’s only independent, driver-funded EV body, we welcome this boost for renters and flat owners, and for much needed, greater levels of workplace charging.
“Our research shows 60% of drivers without off-street parking say they would never consider an EV, a stark reminder that cost and access still define who can and cannot switch.
“But grants must be matched by action to tackle higher public charging prices and speed up acceptance of cross-pavement solutions, otherwise the charging divide will remain and the transition simply won’t feel fair to drivers.”
Matt Waller, general manager of The Charge Scheme, said: “March is already set to be a record month for EV uptake as new number plates arrive.
“This positive step forward from the Department for Transport should lead to an increase in searches for EVs in the coming weeks and months, as households and businesses take advantage of the lower costs offered by the combination of the grants and salary sacrifice for EV purchases and charging.”
