The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme or EVHS, at present, is not available to new applicants. The EV chargepoint grant has taken its place.
If you have already opted for EVHS and your application is under evaluation, there’s no need for you to submit an application with the scheme. The EVHS is available for resubmissions until March 21, 2023.
About The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme Scheme
Electric vehicles are an important move towards the decarbonization of the transport system and the reduction of air pollution with zero tailpipe emissions. The government acknowledges that a lot of people will be charging their electric cars at home. The grant scheme was designed for this.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme is a grant that offers a 75% contribution for the purchase of a single chargepoint along with its installation. The grant cap is placed at £350 (with VAT) for each installation.
The chief requirement is that an individual owns, has ordered, or leases a qualified vehicle and has an off-street parking space within his or her property. An individual may opt for two chargepoints within their property if they possess two qualified vehicles.
The grant works with the customer selecting an EVHS installer for the chargepoint installation. The EVHS installer will verify whether they qualify and make the application for the customer. The installer bills the customer for the installation price, deducting the grant amount they’ve opted for.
Should the electric vehicle homecharge scheme application become successful, the installer can be paid with the grant’s amount once they offset it from the client’s bill. The OZEV or Office for Zero Emission Vehicles will process the claims of qualified installers in 30 working days.
The government maintains the right to close the grant at any time but aims to offer a four-week notice. Should there be any change in the grant rate, and the scheme ends, the government honours the grant claim made before any public announcement date to meet any relevant criteria. The announcement will reveal how claims are created after they are treated.
Chargepoint Manufacturer
The chargepoint manufacturer would be the group that manufactures chargepoints that are OZEV and EVHS-approved.
Authorised Installer
The authorized installer is the party authorized by OZEV to install an EV chargepoint and apply for a grant. The term “installer”, therefore, means “authorized installer”.
Authorised Installer Representative
An authorized installer representative is a group that’s been authorized by OZEV to contract installers in the chargepoint installation.
Customer
The customer is the group who wishes to install a charging point at their residence or property.
Grant Eligibility
A customer qualifies if they possess a qualifying property or vehicle as detailed:
A customer isn’t allowed to claim a grant if they’ve already made a claim for the workplace charging scheme unless they have 2 qualified electric vehicles such that they can opt for another chargepoint grant. This includes they:
- Have made previous claims for the Domestic Recharge Scheme
- Moved property
- Purchased another chargepoint, even if it’s for another vehicle that’s not compatible with the previous one
- Updated a previous chargepoint with a new one
- Wish to claim for the cost of transferring a chargepoint into a new residence or property
Should the customer move to a new residence with the new charging point and they want to replace it, they are eligible for the grant.
OZEV does not provide bespoke eligibility advice. Customers must ask a certified EVHS installer about their unique circumstances would they qualify.
If you’re residing in Scotland, additional funding can be made by the Scottish Government through the Energy Saving Trust.
Vehicle Ownership Requirements
The following customers can access the grant:
- Individuals who are registered keepers of new or second-hand electric vehicles – remember that a registered keeper isn’t necessarily the vehicle’s owner, but the individual responsible for the vehicle and pays for MOT and road tax.
- Individuals assigned with a company car for 6 months
- Individuals leasing an eligible car for 6 months
- Individuals leasing an eligible car through a salary sacrifice scheme
- Individuals labelled by their employer as the main user of eligible electric cars for 6 months
- Individuals who’ve ordered an eligible electric car
- The customer should be able to bring proof that they are eligible in one of these categories.
Vehicle Leases
With short-term leases rolling on a monthly basis, the DVLA or Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency accept a claim an individual had been leasing for 6 months and can prove it.
The chargepoint is accumulated within a vehicle lease and these requirements should be met:
- The customer should have a qualified vehicle
- The installation should occur at the customer’s residence that must have off-street parking as part of the requirements
The lease agreement should clearly:
- Mention that the customer is the chargepoint’s owner once the payment is done
- Label the cost of the chargepoint along with its installation – this will be the amount that may be covered by the grant
- Make sure the chargepoint’s warranty meets the requirements
- Make sure a connected vehicle lease is at least 6 months old
- A lease agreement copy should be submitted to the DVLA along with the application verifying the above-mentioned
Eligible Vehicles
To qualify for the grant, vehicles should be listed on the list of EVHS-eligible vehicles during the period of installation. This includes plug-in and battery-powered electric vehicles, taxis, vans and motorcycles.
If the vehicle isn’t listed, it will not qualify for the grant.
Vehicles are listed upon the manufacturer’s request. If your vehicle isn’t present, call the vehicle’s manufacturer to verify why it’s not listed.
Property Requirements
The grant is applicable to domestic properties only and does not apply to workplaces which are covered by OZEV’s Workplace Charging Scheme.
The grant only works for retrofit properties and can’t be utilized for properties or new-builds that aren’t occupied.
The customer should be a resident within the property – this will be checked through the vehicle registration information. If the connection between the customer and the property remains unclear, more supporting evidence may be needed.
Any essential third-party permissions should be acquired by the customer before any installation. This will be required for leasehold or rented properties where the leaseholder or renter is applying.
Where the installation needs cabling and other installation parts to be replaced on or within another individual’s property, or public land, permissions and access rights should be discussed by all parties who use legally binding arrangements like legal covenants before the installation.
There are no requirements when informing OZEV you’re transferring a chargepoint into a new house or if you transfer residence.
Dedicated Off-street Parking
The customer’s property should have dedicated off-street parking. It can be co-located along with or separated from the property. If the parking space is separate, the customer should be capable of demonstrating that they possess a legal entitlement towards the parking space with the land registry title deeds.
The grant isn’t available to customers without their own parking or legal rights to it. This covers:
- Rented spaces
- Shared spaces
- Spaces with routes to other properties
The parking should be suited for EV charger installation. The customer should always be able to use the parking space.
If there’s no off-street parking in your space, OZEV will possess a grant scheme for on-street charging with your local authority.
Installers must determine if the parking allows a qualified vehicle to be charged safely. OZEV won’t intervene with negative assessments by the installer.
Installation Requirements
Charegepoint installations should be made according to the:
- present IET Wiring Regulations edition – presently
- BS EN 61851-1:2019
- IET Code recommendations as amended by the Practice for Vehicle Charging Equipment Installations
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations
The final installation must coincide with the present Building Regulations Part P edition.
The installed equipment should meet the minimum IP ratings set by BS EN 61851-1:2019 in proportion to the usage location.
The final installation’s electrical supply must enable the charge point to function at full capacity. While local supply restrictions prevent application at full capacity, the charging infrastructure will be identified in proportion to the output capacity.
Installer Requirements
Only EVHS-approved installers can claim the grant for their customers. The installers should be accredited during the installation. Information about the authorized installers is found in the EVHS authorized installers list.
Equipment Requirements
All charging points should be EVHS-approved upon installation. It’s crucial to make sure that the charging point model is the same as the one indicated on the EVHS-approved list. Your claim will be rejected if the model is not listed. If the model isn’t listed, it isn’t eligible for a grant.
The charging points are listed upon the request of the manufacturers. If the charging point isn’t listed, try contacting the manufacturer to verify why it isn’t listed.
A customer can provide his own charging point if it is approved and they have the manufacturer’s on-site warranty. But this equipment won’t be eligible for the grant. The installer can’t claim the labour cost and other parts for the installation.
Refer to your chargepoint manufacturer for more information about what is covered upon approval.
How To Make A Claim – The Process
The customer must ask an EVHS-approved installer to opt for the grant for them. Customers can’t apply directly. Installers are tasked to process claims since it ensures that the electric vehicle homecharge scheme uk requirements are met and reduces having incorrectly labelled forms.
Installers should verify whether a customer must fulfil the requirements and whether the property is suitable. In some cases, customers must contact their distribution network operator to improve the property’s electrical supply before commencing operation. Installers must inform the customer whether it’s the case.
Once the work is done, the installer will charge the grant amount on the installation cost and opt for the grant rebate from OZEV. The customer will then be invoiced with the installation cost with the ozev grant amount already deducted from the claim.
The customer is also expected to assist the installer in completing the grant application form and verify whether the information provided is correct and provide all the necessary documentation the installer requires.
Customer Responsibilities
The customer should make sure they qualify and fill out an EVHS installation form for verification.
By signing the EVHS installation form, the customer declares that the installation details and submitted evidence are valid upon installation day.
If the customer isn’t available during installation day, they can nominate a third party to sign part B of the form. They should notify the installer about this prior to installation. The customer will still be required to sign part A. This can be done before the installation.
It is the customer’s responsibility to notify the installer whenever circumstances have changed before installation day since this may lead to the ineligibility of the EVHS funding application. Should the customer fail to notify the installer prior to any changes, OZEV has the right to take action deemed necessary to get the funding back from the customer.
Aid In The Responsibilities Of Managers And Property Owners
The Regulatory Reform Order 2005 requires managers and property owners to evaluate potential fire risks and set adequate fire protection to reduce the risk of life from fire. This must be maintained and updated while installing the EV charging points.
The government provides guidance to help in the evaluation of electric vehicle fires. This identifies measures and mitigations that must be made while installing electric vehicle charging points within enclosed car parks.
This helps building owners fulfil their duties and responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform Order 2005.
Making A Claim
A customer’s installer of choice will make the claim for the customer.
For the customer to make the claim, he must fill out a customer declaration EVHS installation form. The customer should verify that the information being provided is correct.
The form entails that:
- Customer’s personal information
- Proof of an eligible electric vehicle
- A customer declaration that their property meets the scheme’s requirements
- The chargepoint details
- The installation cost
- Customer consent for the installer to claim for them
Rectification of Installation
Charging equipment should be provided with a 3-year warranty on-site on installation parts. If the customer encounters problems within the warranty period, the manufacturer or chargepoint installer should be requested to rectify the problem.
How Installers Can Apply
The DVLA facilitates the EVHS for OZEV. Installers must submit grant claims to DVLA via the DfT portal.
These steps demonstrate the process of the electric car scheme for installers:
- Take a customer enquiry
- Confirm that the customer’s vehicle and property meet the EVHS requirements.
- Do a site survey to make sure that the equipment and property are befitting an installation.
- Install the infrastructure, turn it on and make sure that it works.
- Fill out the EVHS installation form along with the customer since they will be required to verify the information before signing it.
- Invoice the customer
- Collect and submit a grant claim monthly along with supporting documents – send the form to DVLA on the last business day of the month after the installation.
- Acquire an OZEV grant and respond to claim feedback from DVLA
- Retain copies of required documents and customer details
Installer Responsibilities
Only OZEV-authorized installers will be able to claim a grant for domestic customers.
Installers shouldn’t charge customers of the grant in advance upon payment made by OZEV.
Installers should make sure qualifies before installing the infrastructure.
For every domestic chargepoint installed, the installer should:
- Make sure the installed chargepoint is OZEV-approved
- Make sure that the installed infrastructure has been tested to verify that it meets the safety requirements
- Make sure the same chargepoint isn’t claimed twice
- Retrieve all the installation documentation, including installation confirmations, certificates, customer declarations, photographs, installation dates, signatures and complete address.
- Record photographic evidence demonstrating that the equipment and installation meet the requirements should be retrieved by the installer.
- Make sure that all essential fields on the application are filled out.
- Inform the DNO about the installation and provide proof of the notification
- provide a BS7671 Electrical Installation Certificate
Customer Interaction
The installer must remind the customer of the conditions that must be met to be eligible for the grant.
The customer should sign a declaration within the EVHS installation form verifying that they understand the scheme’s conditions and that the information provided is correct. Third parties nominated by customers may sign part B on installation day, verifying the unique chargepoint serial number, amount charged and installation completed.
Installers should make sure that they contain 2 signatures without any gaps, or else the claim will be denied.
Chargepoint Audits
OZEV and representatives will perform on-site audits of the installed chargepoints to make sure the grant’s requirements are met. If the chargepoint is chosen for an audit, OZEV and representatives will inquire from the relevant party for more information. The requested information may include:
- Commissioning confirmations and installation and certificates, including installation dates, customer signatures and complete address
- Photographs made during the installation that demonstrates existing distribution equipment, supply, installation and chargepoint cabling meet OZEV requirements
OZEV will aim to give feedback to installers and their audited installations.
Required Documents
The installer should make sure that all parts of the EVHS installation are completed. Incomplete installation forms won’t be accepted.
OZEV maintains the right to gather further information and documents from relevant parties to support individual claims.
Take note that OZEV is cannot provide a proofing service to confirm whether you’ve completed the form.
For every installation, the installer should submit a complete EVHS installation form, grant claim form, and these attachments:
- Photographic evidence of chargepoint installation
This should be made up of one picture that shows the property clearly, installed chargepoint and off-street parking. The photograph must be submitted with the application form.
The property and off-street parking can’t be displayed clearly in a single photograph, and you may have to submit multiple photographs or one that shows off-street parking and chargepoint along with the title deed demonstrating that the parking is connected to the property.
- Copy of BS7671 Electrical Installation Certificate. This should be provided by April 1, 2021. If not, your claim will be rejected.
- Proof that the customer has an eligible electric vehicle
Installers must make sure that at least a piece of proof is submitted to show that the customer has an eligible vehicle. Failure to show proof can lead to the invalidation of the application.
Where the customer possesses an electric vehicle, the VRN or vehicle registration number should be provided throughout the giant claims and are considered evidence. DVLA will verify this information internally.
If the installer can’t provide this proof, the grant won’t be paid.
Procedure Where A Customer Utilizes Vehicle From Employers
Where a customer has been identified by an employer as the major user of a qualified electric vehicle, the installer should pass a letter from the employer as part of the grant claim.
If the employer’s vehicle fleet managed has been outsourced, the letter can be filled out and signed by the official company of the fleet. The employer should provide written permission from an officer with fleet management and company to sign for them.
The permission should be retrieved by the companies as OZEV may require this as proof for future audits. It doesn’t have to be submitted with the application.
If the vehicle hasn’t been delivered and VRN remains unknown, the model and make of the vehicle should be inputted in the letter. If that’s unknown, OZEV won’t be able to process the claim and won’t verify if the vehicle is qualified.
For company vehicles, the installer should provide 1 evidence to support the letter. The proof needed could be one among the following:
- Employer’s registration number which is found on the company’s incorporation certificate or any documentation acquired from the Companies House
- The employer’s VAT number
- Proof of employer’s HMRC registration must be attached
Many small companies and sole traders are neither VAT-registered nor registered with Companies House. For example, show proof that the company is registered with the HMRC.
Final Words
We hope this guide was helpful to you. For more information about Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, read What You Need To Know About OZEV Grant Changes 2023.
