UK businesses, charities and public sector organisations have drawn down £33.9 million in government grants for workplace electric vehicle charging since 2016, new analysis shows. But the scheme responsible for most of that funding closes for good in March 2027, and firms that have yet to apply are running out of time.
The figures, compiled by commercial van rental specialist Dawsongroup vans from Department for Transport data, cover two schemes administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which contributes towards the purchase and installation of charge point sockets, has funded 69,439 sockets at a grant value of £25.6 million. The EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets, which covered enabling works such as cabling and electrical upgrades, funded a further 6,199 socket infrastructure units worth £8.3 million.
Demand is picking up again
After peaking at 13,293 in 2022, annual WCS voucher redemptions fell for two consecutive years, dropping to 6,634 by 2024. Then came a turnaround. In 2025, businesses redeemed 7,506 vouchers, a year-on-year rise of 13.14 per cent.
Sarah Gray, Head of ZEV Strategy and Development at Dawsongroup vans, believes the recovery reflects businesses responding to the pressure of the ZEV mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell a rising share of zero-emission vehicles each year and has made fleets the engine of EV demand.
“More fleet operators are now working backwards from their electrification commitments and realising that on-site charging needs to be part of that plan. The 2025 figures suggest that the process is accelerating, which is encouraging. But the WCS is now in its final confirmed year, and businesses that have not yet applied are running out of time to benefit,” she said.
The infrastructure grant, available only to businesses with fewer than 250 employees, told a different story. Installations of socket infrastructure units jumped 135.97 per cent from 809 in 2022 to 1,909 in 2023, before tapering to 1,547 by 2025.
“The infrastructure grant asked businesses to think ahead, planning electrical capacity for charge points they might not install for another year or two,” says Gray. “The businesses that moved quickly in 2023 were largely those that already had electrification on their roadmap. As that group reduced in size, so did the annual installation figures.”
A north-south charging divide
The South East leads the regional table with 10,130 WCS sockets installed since 2016, ahead of the North West on 8,401 and the East of England on 8,124. Wales, with 2,642 sockets, and Northern Ireland, with 1,144, sit at the bottom. On infrastructure units, the East of England tops the list with 908.
“The volume of installations in the South East and North West is partly a reflection of business density, but access to approved installers and familiarity with the application process also play a role,” says Gray. “Regions with lower figures are not necessarily less committed to electrification. For businesses in those areas, understanding what is available and how to apply remains an important first step.”
What owners can still claim
The WCS runs until 31 March 2027, with no further extension expected. From April 2026, the grant covers up to £500 per socket across a maximum of 40 sockets per applicant, a potential saving of up to £20,000. For SMEs weighing up the numbers, our guide to what to know about workplace EV charging covers the practical decisions, from charger type to grant eligibility.
With used electric car sales hitting record levels and fleet demand still driving the transition, the case for on-site charging is strengthening just as the subsidy window narrows.
“A business installing ten charge points under the current grant rate could recover up to £5,000 towards the cost,” says Gray. “That is a sizable contribution, and it’s available now. The scheme has been extended several times, but it has a confirmed end date of March 2027 with no indication of a further extension. Businesses that delay risk missing out on financial assistance with their fleet electrification.”
