• • What is the Workplace Charging Scheme?
  • How Does the scheme work?
  • Grant eligibility
  • Site eligibility
  • Steps to take before applying
  • Installer & charge point requirements
  • Can applicants provide their own charge points?
  • Any terms & conditions?
  • Ongoing commitments?
  • How to apply for the WCS
  • Getting started

 

What is the Workplace Charging Scheme? 

The WCS is a UK government scheme to support the uptake of electric vehicles within businesses and workplaces in a bid to reduce overall emissions. The scheme is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and is available to those within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

The WCS is a voucher-based scheme that provides a financial contribution towards the upfront costs of purchasing and installing charge points, specifically for businesses and workplaces. 

 

How does the scheme work?

The WCS works by contributing 75% of the costs associated with EV charge point purchase and installation. The grant is capped at £350 per charge point and can be used for up to 40 charge point units across all sites. That means there’s the potential to save up to £14,000 on a new EV charge point solution with the help of the Workplace Charging Scheme. 

Applicants will apply for the WCS using an online application form that can be found here. If successful, the applicant will receive a unique voucher code via email that when presented to an OZEV-approved WCS installer, allows them to claim the grant on the applicant’s behalf. 

The installer will only claim the WCS grant when the installation has taken place. Only once the OZEV reimburse the installer with the amount on the voucher, will the applicant be invoiced for the installation minus the grant amount. 

It’s important that the installation is carried out and the voucher claimed within 6 months of the voucher’s issue date. If either is carried out after this, then the voucher will be void and not paid by the OZEV. 

 

 

Grant eligibility

Only eligible applicants will be able to receive the WCS voucher. They will therefore need to meet all the criteria laid out by the OZEV and agree to the terms and conditions stated within the online application form. 

 

Who can apply for the WCS grant?

There are various criteria in place for the WCS grant. Those who meet all the requirements and can provide the necessary evidence to support this are able to apply for the grant scheme. These requirements are: 

• • • Must be a registered charity, business or public sector organisation
    • Must either:
      • be a public authority – including government departments and their agencies, the armed forces, local governments, the NHS and the emergency services. 
      • or have received less than €200,000 of public support within the last 3 financial years and satisfy the state aid requirements for de minimis aid. 
    • Must be able to declare a need for EV charge points, with clear intent to encourage uptake of electric vehicles and driving among their staff and fleet. 
    • Sites must be located in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. 
    • Sites must have dedicated off-street parking strictly for fleet and employee use only. 
    • Must own the property or have written consent from the landlord for EV charge points to be installed on all sites listed on the application form.

 

What evidence is required? 

Applicants are required to supply evidence to support their application to prove their eligibility and to prevent fraudulent claims. 

Firstly, applicants will need to prove that they are a registered business, charity or public sector organisation. Accepted evidence is:

• • • Companies House reference number 
    • HMRC registration letter
    • Registration to the Charity Commission 
    • Institution ID or reference number (schools & colleges)

Secondly, applicants may be asked to supply evidence that the site is linked to the business or organisation, as well as the parking solely is for employee use. This could be in the form of a parking policy or the use of photographs.

 

 

Site Eligibility

Although the applicant’s organisation may be eligible, the site in which EV charge points are applying to be installed may not be.

Firstly, applicant sites must have off-street parking with parking bays purely dedicated for employee and fleet use. Although a car park may be shared with other organisations, all parking facilities with the intended EV charge points must be designated solely for the applicant organisation. 

The site must also have a minimum power supply of 3kW to each EV charge point and have no more than one charge point per parking bay. 

 

What happens if employees work from home?

If the primary place of work is also a residential property, such as an individual’s home, then the grant can be claimed under the Workplace Charging Scheme. However, the address listed must match the business address listed with Companies House or HMRC. If a business is registered at one address, but its employees work from their own homes, the grant cannot be claimed under the WCS. 

 

What sites are not eligible for the WCS scheme?

Unfortunately, not all sites will be eligible for the scheme. These include a site: 

• • • Located outside of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
    • Whose parking facilities are part of a domestic property and are not the primary place of work and with a registered business address. The EVHS grant is the alternative GOV grant scheme for residential properties. You can read more about the EVHS grant here. 
    • With an address that has already claimed a grant with the EVHS or other grant schemes. 
    • Whose parking facilities are for customer use. 
    • Whose parking facilities are not designated to the applicant. 
    • With parking facilities yet to be built.

It’s important applicants understand if their site is eligible or not. The OZEV will not make any exceptions.

 

 

Steps to take before applying

To make sure that the application runs smoothly and as efficiently as possible, it’s advised to carry out a few steps before making the application:

• • • Seek written permission from the landowner or landlord for EV charge point installation if the parking bays are not owned by the applicant. 
    • Get in touch with an OZEV-Approved and authorised WCS installer (like us!) to run through your EV charge point strategy and application. We’ll be able to advise on bespoke solutions for your organisation or business and will only WCS approved charge points. 
    • Undergo a site survey with a WCS installer (that’s us again!) to ensure the site’s electrical capacity can support the number of sockets being applied for. At eFaraday, our site surveys are free of charge!

 

Installer & charge point requirements

In order to claim the Workplace Charging Scheme grant, your installation must be for WCS approved charge points and carried out by an approved WCS installer. This is because the WCS installer will claim the grant on your behalf. 

The charge point must be brand new and not second hand to qualify for the WCS grant. The voucher must also be received before the installation is carried out. You will not be able to claim against a part charge point. 

 

Can applicants provide their own charge point? 

Yes, applications can provide their own charge point if it is on the approved WCS charge point model list, as supplied by OZEV, and has a 3-year warranty. However, it will not be eligible for the WCS grant and therefore, only the labour and installation is eligible for the grant.  

 

Are there any terms & conditions to the WCS? 

Yes, there are terms and conditions for the WCS. Applicants will be made aware of these during the application process, but they can be also found here. 

 

 

Are there any ongoing commitments? 

There are a few ongoing commitments when installing charge points under the WCS grant. Applicants will need to:

• • • Maintain their charge point for at least 3 years.
    • Ensure the correct measures are in place with the charge point operator to provide usage data to the OZEV – which is used to guide future development. 
    • Retain all paperwork and documentation about the installation for at least 3 years. 

 

What happens if an organisation wants to move a charge point?

It is possible to move a charge point if it has been within 3 years of the installation date. The organisation must obtain permission from the DVLA and will have to be self-funded. More information can be found on the government website.  

 

 

How do you apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme?

Applicants can apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme via an online application form that can be found here. 

Application process overview

The application process of the WCS is relatively simple. The following steps must be carried out to receive and then redeem the WCS voucher:

• • 1. The application process starts with the applicant completing the online application form. 
    2. Within 5 working days, the applicant will receive an email stating whether their application has been successful or not. If successful, the email will contain the unique voucher code. If the application was unsuccessful, there is the opportunity for the applicant to appeal the decision. 
    3. Once approved, the applicant will arrange for a WCS approved installer to carry out the installation within 6 months of the voucher expiry date.  
    4. The WCS approved installer will carry out the installation and then claim the grant on the applicant’s behalf. 
    5. The applicant will then receive an email from the DVLA containing all the details of the installation and the total grant amount. 
    6. The applicant should then check that all the details are correct. If something doesn’t look right, the applicant will have 7 days to raise concerns to the DVLA. If all is correct, they needn’t do anything and the claim will be processed. 
    7. The WCS installer will then invoice the applicant the cost of the installation and charge point minus the grant amount. 
    8. The installer will receive the grant amount from the OZEV within 30 days. 

 

What information will be required during the application? 

Within the application, certain information will be required. This will include:

• • • Contact details
    • Applicant and site eligibility evidence
    • Details of all the sites in which installations are planned to take place
    • Declaration of the current need of EV charge points
    • Declaration of any state aid received under de minimis regulations
    • Agreement with the WCS terms and conditions 

 

 

What happens if the application is unsuccessful? 

If the application is unsuccessful, the applicant can appeal the decision by emailing the DVLA. The case will be received by a manager, however, the result of the appeal is final.

 

The WCS voucher code

A WCS voucher code is only issued to successful applications by email. The voucher contains a unique code, applicant contact details, the installation site(s), voucher expiry date and the number of sockets and sites in which the voucher is valid. 

Each WCS voucher is valid for 180 days (6 months).

 

What happens if the installation can’t be completed by the voucher expiry date?

If the installation is not able to be carried out within the 6 month period stated on the WCS voucher, then the applicant will need to contact the DVLA to withdraw the application. The applicant will then need to reapply for a new voucher. 

 

 

What if only half of the charge points are installed by the expiry date?

If only some of the charge points have been installed by the expiry date, with some still outstanding, then the installer will need to claim for the installations already completed and the applicant will need to reapply for a new voucher to cover the remaining installations. 

 

Can the site location for the charge point be changed?

The WCS vouchers are non-transferrable. Therefore, once the application has been made, it is not possible to change the site in which the application wishes to install the EV charge point(s). In order to change the site, the application will need to be withdrawn and a new application made. 

 

 

Is it possible to apply for more charge points?

Yes, the maximum amount of charge points that can be claimed against the Workplace Charging Scheme is 40 units. New applications can be made until the limit of 40 charge points has been reached. 

 

Statistics on Workplace Charging

• • • On average, businesses can save up to 26% on carbon emissions per vehicle charge. 
    • Currently, only 20% of workplaces offer workplace EV charging, but this is set to double within the next year.

 

 

Getting Started

Are you ready to get started applying for the Workplace Charging Scheme for your business, charity or organisation? eFaraday are WCS & OZEV approved installed and are ready to support you on your journey to greener travel. Get in touch today to receive a FREE quote and book your site survey.