EV charger grants just got a boost: What the new 2026 rules mean for drivers and businesses

Big news: the UK Government has just boosted EV charger grants by over 40% and extended the scheme until April 2027. 

That means cheaper home and workplace charging for more people, including renters, flat owners, households without driveways, and businesses.

• Grants jump to £500 per socket (up from £350)
• The scheme will now last until April 2027
• Renters and flat owners get up to £500 for a home charger
• Households with on-street parking get up to £500 for charging solutions
• Businesses get up to £500 per socket, up to 40 sockets per workplace
  

Home charging is the easiest and cheapest way to power up an EV. If you use Octopus Energy's Intelligent Octopus Go, you’ll pay just 9p per mile (or 8p if you’re an Octopus Electric Vehicles customer, enter Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver). 

But installing a charger at home can be tricky and expensive, especially if you’re renting or don’t have a driveway.

This grant is helping to smash that barrier. You can apply if you:

• Live in or rent a property without a private driveway, garage, or residential car park
• Have safe on-street parking and permission from your local authority for any cross-pavement installation
• Own or are responsible for an eligible EV
• Have not already installed a chargepoint (this grant can’t be backdated)

Keep in mind: If you already have a private driveway or garage, you can’t apply. It’s for drivers who otherwise have no easy way to charge at home.

Home charger installations cost between £949 and £1,099, including standard installation.

That means renters, flat owners, and on-street parkers can cover around half the cost of a home charger with the new grant. 

Remember: If you get an EV through our salary sacrifice scheme and have a driveway, we’ll include a home charger installation for free, so you can start charging at home from day one. And if you don’t have a driveway, we’ll give you £600 worth of Electroverse credit.

The Workplace Charging Scheme helps businesses install EV chargers with up to £500 per socket, for up to 40 sockets. That’s potentially £20,000 of support.

For companies that offer EV salary sacrifice, having chargers at work makes it easier for staff to top up their cars and get the most from their EV benefits.

That said, the grant doesn’t cover every cost, so it’s worth thinking about site layout, electrical capacity, and maintenance first.

The process is slightly different depending on who you are. 

• Renters and flat owners: Apply through the Government’s home chargepoint grant portal. Once your application is approved and your charger is installed, your installer will submit the claim and deduct the grant from your invoice.
• Households with on-street parking: Use the on-street parking grant application, making sure you have permission from your local authority for any cross-pavement installation. Your installer will then submit the claim and the grant will be deducted from your invoice.
• Businesses: Apply via the Workplace Charging Scheme, submitting details of the site and proposed number of sockets. Once the chargers are in, your installer submits the claim and the grant is deducted from your invoice.

There are lots of extra eligibility requirements for each scheme, so make sure you meet all the rules before you go for it. 

With the government boosting charging, ultra-low Benefit-in-Kind rates, and salary sacrifice saving you up to 40% on a brand new car (or even more if you qualify for the Electric Car Grant), now’s a great time to join the EV revolution.

If you’re an employer, why not join our EV salary sacrifice scheme? It’s a low-admin and totally free way to give your team an extra benefit they’ll love. 

If you’re an employee, explore our EVs and see how easy it is to make the switch. And if your employer doesn’t offer our scheme yet, check out our guide to making a business case for salary sacrifice.

We’re always here to help if you’ve got questions.