Government extends EV chargepoint grants to March 2027

The UK government has confirmed that its Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant will be extended until 31 March 2027, with financial support rising from £350 to £500 per socket from 1 April 2026.

The uplift – an increase of more than 40% – is designed to reduce upfront installation costs and make electric vehicle (EV) ownership more accessible to renters, flat owners, households without driveways, landlords, businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations.

The extension forms part of a wider push by the government to tackle two of the biggest barriers to EV adoption: high upfront costs and concerns about access to charging infrastructure.

Broader access to home charging

Originally introduced in 2023, the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant was created to help reduce the cost of installing home charging equipment. While the scheme initially focused on homeowners with private driveways, eligibility has since expanded significantly.

Under the updated framework, renters, flat owners and those reliant on on-street parking can now access up to £500 towards the cost of purchasing and installing a new chargepoint. The grant covers 75% of the total installation cost, up to the £500 cap.

Where approved by local councils, funding can also support the installation of cross-pavement gullies – discreet cable channels embedded into pavements – allowing residents without driveways to safely charge vehicles parked on the street. The grant applies to new installations only.

Schools and businesses included

From April 2026, schools will be eligible for grants of up to £2,000 per socket, building on the 3,700 sockets already installed under previous support schemes.

Businesses, residential landlords and public sector bodies will also benefit from the higher £500 per chargepoint grant, helping organisations reduce operational costs while supporting employees and tenants who drive electric.

The government says the uplift will cover almost half the typical installation cost, enabling drivers to charge at domestic electricity rates – estimated at as little as 2p per mile, equivalent to travelling from London to Birmingham for around £3.50.

Latest figures suggest EV drivers can save up to £1,400 annually on running costs compared with a comparable petrol car when accessing cheaper domestic tariffs.

“We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways. Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile.

“Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.”

The extension accompanies wider government investment, including £600 million announced last year to accelerate public chargepoint rollout and continued support for local authorities to expand infrastructure.

Industry reaction

Business groups and sector representatives have welcomed the announcement.

“Small firms want to cut their emissions and reduce their fuel bills and removing or lowering the barriers which currently tip the scales against electric vehicle adoption can only be a good thing – for small businesses, for the economy and for the planet.”

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said almost nine in ten landlords with suitable properties would install EV chargepoints if requested by tenants, describing the new grant levels as an important incentive.

“We urge landlords to make best use of the grants now available where it is feasible for them to do so.”

Yselkla Farmer, CEO of BEAMA, added that the funding would help sustain market confidence and support record levels of EV uptake, with more than half a million chargepoints already installed across the UK by its members.

“This funding will continue to bring much needed market confidence to the sector, and boost demand as record numbers of drivers make the switch to electric vehicles. We must continue to ensure drivers are supported as they make the switch.”

Call to address VAT disparity

However, some in the mobility sector argue further reform is needed.

“It’s great to see the government recognising the financial pressures that are barriers to businesses and private motorists switching to electric with the increase in the grants for flat owners, landlords, renters and businesses to £500 per charge point.

“Our recent EV Barometer highlighted that business drivers still see cost as a barrier for their employers to make the switch. Making the investment into charging at a business location could help with the total cost of ownership – as well as overcome concerns about charging infrastructure.

“However, there is still a disparity between the VAT applied at public chargers and business locations, which is still at 20%, and home charging at 5%. Tackling this issue would surely help many more motorists and businesses to see the long-term benefits of electric motoring.”

Streamlining support

In addition to increasing grant levels, the government will simplify EV charging support schemes from eight separate grants down to five, aiming to make the system easier for applicants to navigate.

The scheme has now been extended for what ministers describe as a final time, running until 31 March 2027. With higher grant levels in place from April 2026, policymakers hope the move will accelerate the shift to electric motoring across households, businesses and public institutions — bringing the UK closer to its net zero transport ambitions.