DRIVERS have just a few weeks to apply for a £350 grant to help with the cost of installing an electric vehicle charge point. Applications for the government’s Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which applies for households buying cars, closes next year. Drivers can apply for a 75% contribution toward the cost and installation […]
DRIVERS have just a few weeks to apply for a £350 grant to help with the cost of installing an electric vehicle charge point.
Applications for the government’s Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which applies for households buying cars, closes next year.
Drivers can apply for a 75% contribution toward the cost and installation of charge points after the government has pledged to support the roll-out of electric vehicles with £620m of funding.
But the deadline for “single-unit properties” – such as detached, semi-detached and terrace houses and bungalows – is April 2022.
Steve Tigar, the chief executive of love electric, said that many drivers will therefore need to act fast with March 31 the cut off date of installations.
He told the Guardian that you may have to wait five to six weeks before work can commence.
“Installers are currently very busy, and often they will want to do a site survey before they get to work,” he said.
“But they are vital to the process, as it is they who apply for the EVHS grant on your behalf.”
In addition, the Government also says there is a necessity to obtain the permission of potential third parties – such as the manager of a block of flats – before the installation is completed.
The full guide to requirements for both your vehicle and your property are listed on the Gov.uk website.
Currently, cars and vans are believed to contribute to around a fifth of domestic emissions, and transport in general represents over a quarter.
And phasing out the most harmful – fossil fuel powered internal combustion engines – is a priority under the UK Net Zero strategy.
Earlier this month the Government confirmed that thousands of charging points for electric vehicles were to be installed across the UK as part of a new law.
The plans will see up to 145,000 new charge points installed across England each year, with motorists being able to use them at home, supermarkets and workplaces.
Under the initiative, charging points will be installed in new-build homes, making it easier for drivers to charge their cars.
Building regulations will require developers to install electric charging points on new properties from next year.
It came just two years after it was confirmed that Britain will block the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 – five years earlier than first planned.
Johnson announced the bringing forward of the ban, while launching a UN climate summit, COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2019.
The Prime Minister said: “As we set out our plans to hit our ambitious 2050 net zero target across this year, so we shall urge others to join us in pledging net zero emissions.”
The Government wants to push the take-up of ultra low emission vehicles and have already began introducing perks for owners.
By enabling a “massive expansion of green infrastructure”, it hopes to deliver cleaner air and a better environment, according to the Department for Transport.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps hinted at the acceleration of the new petrol and diesel cars ban last year, to push drivers into buying electric models as soon as possible and help the UK “become a world leader in green technology”.
