The Complete Guide to OLEV Grants

1. PLUG-In partner (pivg): How does it work?

Launched a decade ago in 2011, Plug-in Vehicle Grants are a consumer incentive scheme introduced by OLEV as part of the UK government’s response to the climate crisis. These grants have been made available as an attempt to encourage the supply and demand of ULEVs (ultra-low emission vehicles) in the hopes of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But how do these incentives work, and how can you take advantage of them?

As a quick note, OZEV and OLEV (Office for Low-Emission Vehicles) are used interchangeably by the government throughout documents published on this topic while the industry adapts to the new terminology. OZEV is now the official name since being altered to “align with the government’s net-zero ambitions”. The amount of the grant depends on which category your vehicle falls under. Keep in mind that it’s not just cars that can be reduced in cost thanks to this incentive - but motorcycles, mopeds, small and large vans, taxis, and trucks too, should they meet the criteria outlined by OLEV. The maximum grant amount available for electric cars is £1,500, with the value being included by the dealership or manufacturer in the vehicle price.

If you think this all sounds pretty good to you, don’t delay in starting your application for a government-funded PiVG. The government is constantly reviewing their transport strategy and making alterations to terms and conditions where they see fit. In December 2021 the maximum electric car grant was cut from £2,500 to a less impressive £1,500. Not only this, but the car now must cost less than £32,000 to be eligible for the grant - which excludes popular models of fleet vehicles (vehicles owned or leased by a business) such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Tesla Model 3.

So why is the UK government decreasing the amount available through the plug-in vehicle grant as time goes on? By decreasing the amount available per applicant, the rising demand for subsidised costs is met and a higher number of people can make the switch to electric vehicles. The Department of Transport states that they will continue to review this as the plug-in vehicle market grows. These changes occur without much-advanced warning, so it’s a good idea to act fast and apply as soon as possible.

In summary:

• No official end date for this scheme has been stated by the government just yet
• The plug-in vehicle grant has decreased in value over time, so you should act sooner rather than later
• You may be eligible for up to £1,500 off the price of new electric cars, depending on the particular criteria

Whether you’re looking for more information on commercial EV charger installation and services, or have a query about how we work, our experts are here to help. Start the process for a free site survey & EV support today!

2. SOUNDS GOOD, WHAT IS THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA? DO I QUALIFY? 

Your new electric vehicle of choice must be confirmed as eligible in order to qualify for your OLEV grant, and not every vehicle will reach the requirements. The grant amount will depend on the category of vehicle, which is based upon the 7 electric vehicle types: cars, motorcycles, mopeds, small vans, large vans, taxis, trucks. The electric vehicle must also have a maximum CO2 emission output and a particular distance able to be travelled without releasing any emissions at all - again, depending on the vehicle category. For vans and trucks, the vehicle must also be below a maximum gross vehicle weight to qualify. The table below illustrates this in a clear, comprehensible way...

CAR MODELS (MAXIMUM GRANT OF £1,500)

The following models* have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km (calculated via the ‘WLTP’ emissions test standard and are able to travel at least 112km (70 miles) without releasing any emissions, making them eligible for a PiVG:

• BMW i3 / i3s
• Citroën ë-Berlingo, ë-C4, ë-Spacetourer (Business Edition), and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense (Prestige / Performance Line) 
• Fiat 500e
• Honda e
• Hyundai IONIQ Electric (Premium / Premium SE)
• Hyundai KONA Electric 39kWh (SE Connect / Premium)
• Hyundai KONA Electric 64kWh (Premium)
• Kia e-Niro (39kWh / 64kWh)
• Kia Soul EV
• Mazda MX-30
• MG ZS EV / MG MG5 EV (52.5kWh / 61.1kWh)
• MINI Electric
• Nissan e-NV200 5 Seater / 7 Seater
• Nissan Leaf
• Peugeot e-Rifter, e-208, e-2008 (Active
• Premium / Allure / Allure Premium)
• Renault ZOE
• SEAT Mii electric
• Skoda Citigo-e iV, ENYAQ iV 60
• Smart EQ fortwo / forfour
• Vauxhall Corsa-e / Mokka-e / Vivaro-e Life (Combi)
• Volkswagen e-Golf / e-up!
• Volkswagen ID.3 Pro (58kWh 145PS), Pro Performance (58kWh 204PS) - Family / Life, Pure Performance (45kWh 150PS)
• Volkswagen ID.4 Pure (52kWh 148PS) - Life

*subject to change as Government grant rules develop

How do I apply for a pivg?

Manufacturers and dealerships can apply for the grant on behalf of customers, with the discount being taken off the upfront price of the vehicle. The grant will be applied at the point of purchase. So really, you don’t need to do anything!

3. grant schemes for ev charging infrastructure

OLEV also have other grant schemes available to further incentivise the British public to decrease carbon emissions and transition towards electric vehicles - including a home-charge scheme - but we’re focusing on the commercial side, the workplace charging scheme.

workplace charging scheme (WCS)

This grant is available for any business, public authority, or charitable organisation (with some exceptions) and can be used to reduce the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points for members of staff - with up to £14,000 able to be claimed in total.

Did you know that “an employee with access to workplace charging is six times more likely than the average worker to drive electric”, sparking real change (source).

The WCS grant is limited to £350 per charge point socket, with up to 40 sockets available per applicant. To be eligible for the WCS grant, you must:

• Meet the terms and conditions for the workplace charge point voucher scheme (as specified in the government guidance)
• Have the authority to apply for the scheme on behalf of your organisation
• Have access to suitable off-street parking
• Either currently have electric vehicles as part of your fleet, or have a need for one in the future
• Have the charging point installed by an OLEV-approved installer, such as Darcy’s Devitech!

Changes to EV infrastructure grant for SMEs 

In 2022, the UK government expanded the WCS to cover SMEs and charging infrastructure for their employees. With electric vehicle numbers rising month-on-month and small businesses looking to run more sustainably, there's never been a better time to profit from the expanded grants and support programmes offered to SMEs.

SMEs can claim up to £15,000 to deploy EV charging infrastructure for staff members, as well as, to help maintain equipment and futureproof your site.   

For more details, you can read our dedicated blog here.

How do I claim the WCS grant?

The WCS grant is a voucher-based system, meaning that once you apply online via the UK government site, you will be emailed a code that you can then present to our team at Devitech. We will then use this code to claim the grant after the installation is finished - the code is valid for
120 days from the issue date.

Here at Devitech, we also offer a FREE site survey to assess the suitability of your workplace for charge point installation and includes a test report following the installation. Mark Callaghan, our lead EV engineer, is available to support your application process and beyond. Just get in contact
with us at 01732 762338 or email us at devitech@darcy.co.uk.

4. EV charge point grant update: EVHS replaced & from 1st April 2022

So, what’s new from the Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles?

The EV infrastructure grant for residential car parks and the EV infrastructure grant for staff and business fleets are open for customer registration from the 1st of May 2022. For EV charge point installers, grant claims can be submitted from the 1st of June 2022. It’s also important to note that customers must now register prior to making a claim so that the government can confirm that they qualify for this grant. Once verified by OLEV, charge point installers can go on to commence the works.

Why is this service being introduced in place of the existing EVHS?

In replacement of the existing Electric Vehicle Home Grant, this EV charge point grant is introduced as of the 1st of May 2022. This has been decided by OLEV to ensure that grants are available at the earliest possible opportunity. As well as this, this grant will be in place until a more efficient digital service can be implemented – which is expected by at least the Summer of this year. Here at Devitech, we will ensure that we keep you updated on when this transition will take place via our blog, social media, and mailing list. 

What does this mean for me?

Existing EVHS grant claims that were submitted prior to the 30th of April that ran into delays incurred by late delivery or pending approval will be able to be resubmitted under the original EVHS grant until the 31st of March 2023. However, applications submitted after the 30th of April will need to be resubmitted through the new replacement grant.

Government advice has stated that if you’re submitting multiple grant scheme applications, they should be submitted separately through the new grant claim forms deemed appropriate for that grant. If not, your application will be at risk of being sent back to you for reapplication.

Whether you’re looking for more information on commercial EV charger installation and services, or have a query about how we work, our experts are here to help. Start the process for a free site survey & EV support today!

differences in funding across the uk

Scotland

The Scottish government aims to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, ahead of the UK Government’s 2040 target as part of the National Transport Strategy (2). To accelerate this, the Scottish government have made several grants and loans available to aid the public in moving to zero-emission vehicles.

The Low Carbon Transport Loan (also known as the EV Loan)

This loan is managed by the Energy Saving Trust and is interest-free, with a repayment period of up to 6 years. On offer is up to £28,000 to cover the cost of a new electric vehicle or up to £10,000 for a motorcycle or moped. The Energy Saving Trust also offers a second-hand electric vehicle loan which can be repaid over 5 years - up to £20,000 for a used electric car or £5,000 for a used electric motorcycle or moped.

Business Charge Point Grant:

Funding is currently available for Scottish organisations to install charge points for the use of occupiers, staff and visitors. To be eligible for funding, organisations must:

• Currently operate electric or plug-in vehicles
• Currently employ staff who operate electric or plug-in vehicles and would benefit from having
  charge points at their place of work
• Confirmation of future ownership of EVs if no vehicles are currently owned

Wales

In Wales, as part of Llwybr Newydd (Welsh transport strategy), the government have introduced Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy with their goal for net-zero being the year 2050. The Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle Transformation Fund (ULEVTF) does not offer grants or loans for EVs, but does offer funding for charge points in both residential homes and workplaces - please refer to the previous chapter: ‘Grant schemes for EV charging infrastructure’.

Northern Ireland

Out of the British Isles, Northern Ireland has the most catching up to do. With just £1,283,779 in combined grants, the country has seen the lowest uptake of EVs - around 50 per cent less than other UK regions.

5. BENEFITS OF EV CHARGING POINTS IN THE WORKPLACE

Now you’ve got the facts, why should you actually go ahead with applying for these government incentives? We specialise in EV charging point installation, especially in the workplace, and we want to stress the benefits and importance of the nationwide electric transport revolution.

Having access to EV charging points in the workplace is more than ideal for your staff. Whilst hard at work, staff members’ personal electric cars are able to be charged by high-quality infrastructure, and company fleet vehicles are able to recharge overnight - maximising productivity within your
business. But what other benefits will you reap from EV charge point installation at your business?

• Save more than £1,000 a year in fleet fuel costs per 10,000 miles
• For fleet vehicles, there is zero tax on Benefit in Kind (BIK)
• If based in London, EVs are eligible for a discount on the congestion charge (this discount is
  removed entirely in 2025)
• EVs are cheaper to maintain due to having fewer parts and less frequent repair of brake pads
  and disks
• The use of EVs help reduce CO2 emissions and reach the UK’s sustainability goals, with
  emissions between 28% and 81% less CO2 than a traditional petrol car
• Future-proof your business and back up your brand’s core values

The future of britain is electric...

The application process for an EV charging point installation may seem overwhelming, but Devitech is here to support you at every step. A UK pioneer in environmental protection since 1935, Darcy’s Devitech protects the environment and businesses alike.

To avoid any potential snags in the installation process, we offer a FREE onsite survey to assess the suitability of your workplace and provide a quote for the implementation of charge points.

If you’re interested in Devitech’s services, complete the online application via the UK government site and then simply fill out the form below - we’ll get in touch and handle the rest.