Home or office-based EV charge points have made owning an electric car convenient for many people. Owners with a driveway or off-street parking are enjoying all the benefits EV charging points have to offer.
These charging units really do make life simpler. Electric car owners no longer have to spend hours waiting for the vehicles to be charged up. Home wallboxes are connected to your home’s electricity supply, which allows for significantly faster recharging rates. A three-pin household socket can take up to two days to recharge a flat electric car battery, but some wall-mounted or freestanding units can reduce this time to as little as a few hours.
Most homeowners install their home EV charging units in their garage or near to their car’s designated parking spot at home. This reduces the number of extra-long cables you will be using, making it a safer option for you and your family.
In 2030 the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned. To help UK citizens prepare for this change, the government is issuing grants that can significantly reduce the cost of EV charging point installations. Homeowners and businesses are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, but some still find it challenging to make sense of the application process.
So, what is the EV charge point installation grant, and how can you get one?
What Is The OLEV Grant For EV Charger Installation?
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) grant can cover up to 75% of the costs of buying and installing home or workplace EV charge points.
As of April 2020, vehicle owners can receive a maximum of £350 from the grant. Although this is less than in previous years, the amount is still enough to cover a significant portion of your home EV charger installation costs. According to the government, the grant’s reduction will enable twice as many to benefit from it and likely increase the number of electric vehicle owners.
There are two versions of the grant – the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme and the Workplace Charging Scheme. You can learn more about the nuances between each scheme by clicking their respective links.
How Does The EV Charge Point Installation Grant Work?
The OLEV grant is paid directly to the supplier by the government. This means that you won’t have to make any up-front payments to receive your new EV charging point, but this does not mean that the unit won’t cost you anything. You will still have to make up any shortfall between the OLEV grant and the unit’s total cost.
To be eligible for the grant, you will have to meet several criteria. First, you must prove that you own the eligible electric vehicle. You either need to own, lease, or be the named primary user of the electric car. Proof of a recently ordered vehicle is acceptable too.
As of 2019, only smart EV chargers qualify for the government grant. These units hold many benefits for electric car owners. Smart EV chargers can be programmed remotely because they are connected to the internet. Owners can also control these devices, along with the charging of their electric cars, remotely using an app.
Next, you can’t install your home EV charger more than four months before your electric car is delivered. To prevent any mishaps, you should complete the necessary application forms as soon as possible. This way, the gap will be minimised between the delivery of your new electric car and when you will be able to charge it using your home wallbox.
Navigating grant eligibility can get a little technical, particularly if you’re a business. That’s why it makes sense to seek assistance from experienced EV charge point installation companies (such as Applegarth) to make your application and installation experience hassle-free.
Why Should You Get In Touch With Applegarth to Pursue your OLEV Grant?
The EV installation company you choose must be authorised by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). Unauthorised companies won’t be able to assist you through the OLEV grant process, and dealings with them can even jeopardise future applications.
Applegarth specialises in renewable energy solution installations for residential and commercial properties. We are an OLEV-approved EV charge point installation company, which allows us to provide expert OLEV application support to our clients.
Our team of fully trained EV charge point installation technicians have helped homeowners and businesses through every stage of their EV charge point installations and electrical design for almost a decade. We provide a comprehensive service, and we approved installers of all major EV charge point manufacturers.
Are you ready to get started on your OLEV grant application? Contact us today on 0151 649 8350 or email us at info@applegarth.co.uk for assistance from one of our experienced team members.
