Electric vehicle drivers without access to driveways can now access the Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for the first time.
Part of the Government’s Plan for Drivers commitment to make EVs a more practical option, the £350 grant is being opened up to those who own or rent an EV and have access to adequate street parking.
The grant, open until 31 March 2025, provides EV drivers with support towards the costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points at residential properties when also installing a cross-pavement charging solution.
The funding will drive down the cost of EV ownership by providing up to 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing a charge point, and applicants must also have permission from their council to install the cross-pavement charging solution.
The funding is expected to play a crucial role in helping drivers to go electric ahead of the 2035 ICE ban amid continued concerns over access to charging.
The Government and charge point operators at working to install public charging infrastructure at speed, with 56,983 charge points now installed across the UK – a 47% increase compared to this time last year.
But research published by Zenith last week warned that 69% of drivers primarily rely on charging off-street at home, with only 14% using the public charging network as their main energy source. This presents a risk of a ‘driveway divide’ between those who have off-street parking and can use home chargers and those who rely on the significantly more expensive public network.
The new charge point funding for people without driveways is part of a raft of measures announced today that also include more support for councils to install charge points and the launch of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Forum, which will ensure collaboration between government and industry. The Forum, chaired by Ministers and AA president Edmund King, will discuss how best to tackle barriers and accelerate the delivery of charging infrastructure. Wider membership will be set out in due course.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “AA surveys show that one of the main reasons why many drivers are hesitant towards switching to EVs is the perception that there are not enough charging points. To give confidence to drivers now and for the future, we need to overcome these barriers which will help unlock cleaner, greener motoring for all. Extending grants to those without off-street parking is a step in the right direction.
“I’m proud to be co-chairing the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Forum as I’m committed to helping consumers transition to zero emission vehicles and an efficient, affordable, accessible charging infrastructure is key to that. I’m also confident that the UK’s brilliant charging and automotive industry can deliver and play a key part in the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.”
EV drivers without offroad parking can apply for the Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant here.
