Financial support for your EV home charging solution

The OLEV grant, well known as the Electric Vehicle Home charge Scheme (EVHS), is a grant of up to 75% (max £350* updated as of 13th March 2020) towards the total cost of buying and installing an EV charge point at home. The grant is available for most of the plug-in hybrid cars and electric vehicles. However, access to this grant is subject to eligibility criteria in relation to the installer, charge point, vehicle, and even homes. For example, you can claim a grant for one charge point per eligible vehicle and up to two charging points per home.

Contrary to electric car chargers available in public areas such as service stations, installing your charging point at home may save you a lot of money. Typically, it will cost up to about £1,000 to have a charging point installed in your home. This is where the Office for Low Emission Vehicles grant comes in to incentivise your purchase and installation cost. The £350 grant is sent directly to your installer once your charger has been installed.

For you to have access to the EVHS grant, you must meet the following criteria;

• An eligible plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle.*

• A charge point approved by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

• Off-street parking. If you do not have your personal off-street parking, you may get assistance through a central government grant.

• An approved charge point installer by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, such as 50five. The installer must be authorised to install a charge point by the supplying manufacturer. It is important to note that specified installers are authorised to claim the EVHS grant on your behalf.

• The duration between the installation date and the time when you become a registered EV driver must not exceed four months.

• The charge point must be installed for eligible vehicles, covering plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles.

• The EVHS is limited to one charge point per eligible vehicle and up to two charging points per home.

• You must be a licensed owner or a leaseholder of an electric vehicle for over six months.

• The car must be new or one purchased after 1st October 2016.

*Not all electric vehicles are eligible for the EVHS grant. An eligible EV vehicle must meet the required ultra-low emission level as stipulated by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The process of claiming an EVHS grant The process of claiming an EVHS grant is simple and straightforward. Once you contact us for an EV charger quote and had it installed, we will apply for the grant on your behalf. Here are some steps essential for the pursuit of a claim;

1. Basic Details - This part of the application process requires you to submit your contact details and proof of ownership or leasehold of an electric vehicle. The eligibility criteria of a grant, as stated above, are also outlined in this phase. You can only proceed with the application if you meet all the stipulated requirements.

2. Installation Cost - The second part of the forms you receive will have a breakdown of the pre-filled installation cost for your home charging point. We may be required to sign the form as an approval of the cost details.

3. Installer Declaration - The installing engineer completes and signs this part of the form as an indication that installation was completed, and that it was done within the required criteria. You should sign this form as an agreement to the engineer’s service.

4. Submissions and Payment - Once all the documents have been filled, completed, and signed, we will submit them to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles for grant processing.

Drivers of electric vehicles cannot claim the EVHS grant if;

• Their EV is not eligible.

• The EV is not registered within the UK.

• They are not listed as the owners or main drivers of the EV but occasionally drive it.

• Claimant is a leaseholder of the EV or will drive for less than six months.

• The EV is borrowed from friends or family members.

• Access to the EV is only possible via a car club.

• They want to make another claim, but they lack a second eligible EV.

Are you interested in having an electric charger installed at your home? 50five could help you spread the cost of your new charge point through one of our flexible payment plans.

Try our handy charger finder to find your charger of choice from our selection and one of our friendly advisers will get in touch. You can also contact us on 0800 612 5050. Our team of professionals are on standby to give you advice and offer you any help you need on electric vehicle charge points and installation.