Government changes to Workplace Charging Scheme from 2022
Last week, the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) confirmed that the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) and EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) will both change at the beginning of the 2022 financial year.
The WCS will be expanded to provide more support for SME’s, small accommodation businesses, and charities, offering up to £350 will be available per socket towards the cost of a chargepoint, with a maximum of 40 grants available.
At the same time, the EVHS will no longer be open to owners of detached, semi-detached or terraced houses and bungalows, and instead will focus on supporting those living in flats or rented accommodation.
Commenting on the significance of the news, Matthew Walters, Head Of Consultancy Services and Customer Value at Vehicle Leasing Experts, LeasePlan UK says:
“We are surprised to see that the government is changing the terms of the home charge grant as early as this in the timeline of EV adoption. It comes at a challenging time for the automotive industry, with the current semiconductor shortage pushing back lead times for EVs considerably. As a result, many homeowners may miss out on this valuable incentive during the electrification process.
“Realistically, though, paying £350 more for a charge point isn’t likely to stop the average homeowner from getting an EV, and it is promising to see the government making a positive step towards charge point installation at rental properties. Infrastructure is currently one of the biggest barriers to going electric, and these sites are some of the most in need of support. Similarly, offering more support to SMEs is a positive step, but support should extend further than offering one-off installation grants. The real and hidden problem for sites requiring multiple charge points is grid upgrade costs, so the pressure now lies with OFGEM and distribution network operators to offer better support for landlords and businesses with this in future.”
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