Many fleet operators will be considering making the switch to an EV fleet in line with the move away from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles powered by fossil fuels. However, the initial cost of setup for a site and the EV vehicles themselves can often pose a financial barrier that businesses find hard to overcome. To assist businesses in this regard, the government have launched the Depot Charging Scheme to make the switch much more feasible for businesses through significant funding.

In this guide below, we cover everything you need to know about the depot charging scheme, what you need to know before applying, and how it can help to save on the costs of installing electric vehicle charging hubs at your site.

What is the Depot Charging Scheme?

The Depot Charging Scheme is a government grant which helps fleet operators to cover the costs of installation for EV charging points at their sites. This scheme helps to cover the cost of 70% of eligible charge point and civil costs, including trenching, cabling, and electrical upgrades, up to £1 million across all sites per application.

Alongside the Zero Emission Van Grant (ZEVG) and Zero Emission Truck Grant (ZETG), which can save up to £81,000 off the purchase of the heaviest zero-emission trucks and up to £5,000 off new zero-emission vans, making the switch to an EV fleet is now even more viable for businesses.

Who Is Eligible for the Depot Charging Scheme

To be eligible for the Depot Charging Scheme, you must meet all of the following criteria:

You must own, lease, or order at least 1 battery electric van, HGV and/or coach as part of your vehicle fleet.
You must be a registered fleet operator, operate in the UK, and have been doing so for at least 1 year at the time of the application.
You must own your depot or have consent from your landlord for chargepoints to be installed at the site(s) listed in the application.
You must be able to complete the installation of chargepoints at your depot site(s).
You must have sufficient grid capacity at your depot site(s) – our connection services as an Independent Connection Provider can assist with this.
You must be able to provide evidence that you meet any of the requirements and criteria.
A senior leadership member in your organisation must have signed off on your infrastructure installation proposal.

What’s Covered in the Depot Charging Scheme?

The Depot Charging Scheme covers the following aspects:

Chargepoint hardware (any speed or type, battery-electric only)
Civil solutions (trenching, cabling, electrical infrastructure)
Solar PV installed solely to support charging
Battery Energy Storage Systems integrated with charging infrastructure

However, it doesn’t include the following:

Electric vehicle purchase costs
Grid reinforcement or connection upgrades
Public on-route charging infrastructure
Charging for hydrogen or hybrid vehicles

Why Make the Change Now?

Businesses and wider society moving away from ICE vehicles powered by fossil fuels and towards electric-powered, sustainable vehicles isn’t a matter of if, but when. The government aims for 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold to be zero-emission by 2030 and 100% by 2035, so the change to electric vehicles is only going to become more pressing as these milestones draw closer.

By switching to an electric fleet now, you can benefit from a lower total cost of ownership, comply with Clean Air Zones in major cities, position your brand as a sustainable business, and provide your business with plenty of time to switch for a hassle-free experience.

End-to-End EV Fleet Connection Services at Serconnect

Now that you know everything there is to know about the Depot Charging Scheme, you can use it to your full advantage to make the switch to an EV fleet much more feasible for your business.

As an NERS-accredited Independent Connection Provider, our experienced engineers can carry out all of the contestable electrical infrastructure works needed to set up your electric vehicle charging hub. Our end-to-end services cover everything from feasibility and planning to substation testing and commissioning, and handover for simple and timely installation in line with your budget requirements.

If you’re interested in this scheme, you can apply for it and find out more specific details on the GOV.UK website on its application page.

To find out more about how Serconnect can help your business to switch to an EV fleet through the Depot Charging Scheme, get in touch with our team today, and we’ll be happy to talk through your most suitable options with you.