Grant boost covers almost half the cost of installing EV chargers

• The previous EV grant allowed for £350
• Latest figures show EV drivers can save up to £1,400 on running costs versus a comparable petrol car
• The uplift will cover almost half the cost of a typical charge point installation until March 2027

Renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses will soon be able to cut the cost of installing an electric vehicle (EV) charge point by half thanks to the government increasing the amount they can receive from grants. 

The government said people living in rented accommodation, flat owners, residential landlords, households with on-street parking, and businesses will be able to get a £500 discount per charge point, up from the current amount of £350. 

The increase will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and will help thousands access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work to power their car for as little as 2p per mile. Schools will be eligible for grants of up to £2,000 per socket. 

Keir Mather, aviation, maritime and decarbonisation, said the latest figures show EV drivers can save up to £1,400 on running costs versus a comparable petrol car when accessing cheaper domestic rates. 

He said the move is the latest in a raft of government action to tackle two of the biggest barriers to driving electric, upfront costs and worries about finding somewhere to charge. 

More than 55,000 drivers have already saved thousands buying a new EV thanks to the government’s £2bn Electric Car Grant, he continued, which is offering savings of up to £3,750 across some of the biggest auto brands. 

“Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging now costing as little as 2p a mile,” he said. 

The updates also aim to simplify the current EV charge point support schemes available by reducing eight grant types to five, streamlining the system so people can navigate, select schemes and get discounts more easily. 

Last year, a £25m scheme was also launched to make it easier for those without driveways to install home chargers, which is accessed through local authorities. The scheme supports installing discreet, embedded pavement channels and is additional to the expanded charge point grant, so those who use on-street parking, can get help. 

Alongside the expansion, the government will also expand the national 88,500 public charge point network, with a total of £600m announced last year to accelerate the charging rollout. This funding will build on the 100,000 additional new public chargers for councils to install in the coming years. 

Mather said councils will receive funding for the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure, alongside the continuation of a government funding support service for local authorities to ensure charge points best serve their communities. 

Written By

Tamara Birch Newsletters and sponsored content editor

Tamara is a journalist with more than six years experience writing about environmental topics. This includes advising small businesses on cost-effective ways tom become more sustainable, from installing to solar panels and heat pumps and reducing waste. She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs. Now, she’s using this experience to advise homeowners on the benefits of installing low-carbon technologies. She is also qualified in offering innovative initiatives to improve sustainability practices in businesses, from advertising to marketing and publishing.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

More about

Reviewed By

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger Content manager

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

More about