Craig Slater, MD at Sevadis, discusses the OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant funding available for the installation of EV charging points and why the funding will provide installers with greater opportunities.
With a goal of reaching ‘Net Zero’ by 2050, the UK government continues to invest into the nation’s EV charging infrastructure to encourage EV ownership, whilst also generating confidence in the overall charging network.
The introduction of new OZEV grant funding models comes as the government commits £1.6bn towards public/destination electric vehicle charging alone.
As the UK steers towards a cleaner and greener future, the inclusion of grant funding towards the deployment of EV charging infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the future of electrified transport.
Grants for homes
Historically, OZEV grant funding for domestic properties was only applicable to home-owners of single-unit properties (detached, semi-detached, bungalows etc.) via the EVHS (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme), which was introduced to provide EV drivers with affordable and attainable home charging solutions for convenient charging.
Since April, the grant funding stopped serving the home-owners and instead, now allows rental residents to claim £350 towards the purchase and installation of their chosen charging points.
Similarly, landlords and social housing providers are also eligible for OZEV grant funding towards the purchase and installation of charging points. With the ability to claim £350 per charging socket and a maximum of 200 applications per year, this particular grant funding scheme adds an interesting dimension to the world of residential charging.
With the lack of funding available to rental residents to alleviate the costs towards purchase and installation of charging points, there may have (naturally) been a reluctance to electrify.
Now with OZEV grant funding focusing on rental residents who reside in flats, apartments and houses, confidence is growing for the future of accessible charging infrastructure. For electrical contractors, the diversification of the grant funding provides ample opportunity for both domestic installations and installations for landlords and social housing providers.
Social housing providers particularly have held back on the deployment of charging infrastructure across their portfolio of properties due to financial constraints; the introduction of a scheme that specifically targets them can only present EV chargepoint installers with scope for sizable chargepoint installation projects this year and beyond.
Grants for businesses
Whilst registered businesses continue to remain eligible for up to £14,000 OZEV grant funding (£350 per charging socket, a maximum 40 charging points applicable) towards the purchase and installation of EV charging points, the grant funding has now expanded to include a diverse range of businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Small accommodation businesses such as B&Bs and holiday-lets are among the business types to now benefit from OZEV grant funding. Such businesses can take advantage of up to £14,000 (£350 per charging socket, a maximum of 40 charging points applicable), however they must have less than 250 employees and private parking to gain access to the grant.
The focus on small accommodation businesses has come at the ideal time as more Brits seek to experience ‘staycations’ in the UK; adding EV charging facilities to their offering, small accommodation business owners can attract footfall from EV driving customers whilst placing their destination on chargepoint locator maps.
Registered charities are also eligible for OZEV grant funding of up to £14,000 (£350 per charging socket, a maximum of 40 charging points applicable) towards the purchase and installation of their chosen EV charging points.
Benefiting from the grant will enable charities to offer EV charging to their EV driving employees, as well as their EV driving visitors. Like businesses, charities are striving towards greener and cleaner operations, therefore the implementation of OZEV grant funding within this sector is welcomed by charities and NGOs.
As organisations work towards sustainable operations, the OZEV grant funding for EV charging points also extends to landlords of commercially let properties.
Commercially let property landlords are eligible for £350 per charging socket and can apply for up to 100 grant funding applications and if/when applying, they must have dedicated parking spaces for staff and fleet drivers.
Allowing commercially let property landlords to benefit from OZEV grant funding not only provides them with cost savings, but also encourages landlords to deploy charging infrastructure to satisfy their current commercial tenants’ requirements, whilst potentially attracting future tenants, particularly those working towards a net-zero agenda.
With plans to include additional OZEV grant funding to support SMEs with the deployment of EV charging infrastructure in the near future, the prospects for EV installers are looking nothing but bright when it comes to commercial installations.
The modification of the OZEV grant funding for businesses and organisations poses significant opportunities for the UK’s electrical installer network, enabling them to capitalise on a revolution that is set to experience new heights in the immediate, near and far future.
The future is electric, the future is you
Whether your current clients are in the domestic or commercial sphere, EV charging will soon become a subject line in your inbox (if it isn’t already).
These new additions to the OZEV grant funding schemes will undoubtedly be appealing to your customers, particularly for those who have “brushed-off” EV charging due to the initial upfront costs. As the requirement and desire for electric vehicle charging infrastructures increases due to the accessibility of OZEV grant funding among different properties, sectors and businesses, so does the requirement for EV chargepoint installers.
For those of you who’ve already joined the EV revolution, the time is now to increase your profile as a specialist in the installation of charging points. For those of you who are yet to join, now is your chance to extend your offering to provide EV chargepoint installation services to your customers.
Sevadis: simplifying EV charging for all
At Sevadis, we believe in providing electric vehicle drivers and businesses with a simple, straightforward and seamless charging experience with our comprehensive range of AC fast and DC rapid charging solutions.
We also place installers at the heart of everything that we do; that’s why our MaxiCharger offers an easy installation process with its built-in PME fault detection system and its simple to operate configuration App, allowing you to complete your installations efficiently, ready for you to move on to your next EV chargepoint installation.
Alongside the MaxiCharger, our entire AC fast chargepoint range is eligible for OZEV grant funding, allowing residents and businesses to benefit from when making the decision to deploy charging infrastructure across their premises.
To browse Sevadis’ OZEV grant funded range of charging solutions, click here
