15th November 2021Electric Cars – how can you benefit from the OZEV Government grant scheme?

In February 2021, the UK Government announced an updated OZEV grant scheme that sees £50 million devoted to installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points at homes and workplaces across the UK.

Although the overall proportion of EVs on the UK’s roads remains low, a fifth of new car sales in September were either pure electric or plug-in hybrids that also require access to chargers. Shell has recently announced ambitious plans to install over 50,000 on-street chargers by the end of 2025, and BP expects to double the size of its public charging network by 2030.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) is a grant that provides a 75% contribution, offering up to £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a charging unit at your property, and can be claimed on the majority of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles currently available on today’s market.

Early this year, we looked at the tax benefits of EVs for businesses, now we will take a further look at the updated OZEV grant scheme and how the scheme can benefit you.

Electric Vehicle Home Scheme (EVHS)

Who is eligible to apply?

There are a number of requirements to meet the terms of the grant. Here is our checklist:

• If you have become the registered keeper of a new or second-hand electric vehicle – note that the registered keeper is not necessarily the owner of a vehicle
• The vehicle must be listed on the approved list on the government website
• If you are assigned a company car – note a minimum of 6 months is required here
• If you lease an eligible vehicle – again a 6-month minimum rental term applies
• If you lease an eligible electric vehicle through a salary sacrifice scheme
• In addition, any individuals who have ordered an eligible electric vehicle
• You must have dedicated off-street parking – the grant isn’t available if you don’t own the parking or have sole legal right to it

Flat owners must take extra care. If your lease doesn’t give you a dedicated space, then you won’t be eligible for the grant; an understanding that you always park in the same spot is not sufficient. You will also need to get permission from the freeholder or managing agent, even if you own part of the freehold via a company.

In addition to the above requirements, you must also be resident at the property you are applying for. According to Gov.UK, this will be checked via vehicle registration details.

How do I apply?

The grant works by a customer choosing an EVHS installer to install their charge point. The EVHS installer will check that you qualify and then should apply directly on your behalf.

If you have any further questions regarding the OZEV grant scheme or the tax implications of purchasing an electric vehicle, please get in touch with Tim Walford Fitzgerald.