UK government doubles down on EV infrastructure rollouts with the Workplace Charging Scheme

UK government doubles down on EV infrastructure rollouts with the Workplace Charging Scheme

The UK Government has announced significant expansions in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and incentives, supporting businesses, schools, and individual drivers in transitioning to cleaner transport.

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that 1,407 EV charging sockets have been installed at schools and colleges across the UK since March 2024, supported by £3m in funding from the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS).

This initiative aims to integrate EV charging into daily life while providing additional revenue for schools. Greenwood explained in a statement:

“Schools are the beating heart of our towns and communities, and rolling out chargers here shows we are building a practical and reliable charging network designed around people’s daily lives.”

Education Minister Stephen Morgan discussed the role of schools in sustainability, saying: “By making EV charging ports readily available, schools can lead by example, encouraging greener travel options and expanding the community’s charging network.”

Extended grants

On 28 February, the UK Government also extended the WCS and Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for another year to support chargepoint installations at flats, rental properties, schools, and workplaces.

Alongside charging infrastructure, the Government has committed £120m to extend the Plug-in Van Grant for another year, making EV adoption more accessible for businesses and taxi drivers.

• Businesses and van drivers can receive up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for larger vans.
• The Government is removing additional training requirements for drivers of zero-emission vans.
• Taxi drivers will continue to benefit from a £4,000 grant to purchase zero-emission black cabs
• The Plug-in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant cap is increasing from £35,000 to £50,000, improving mobility options for disabled passengers
• Bikers can also claim a £500 grant for electric motorbikes for another year.

Rapid expansion

With over 74,000 public chargepoints now available and nearly 20,000 added last year alone, the UK is rapidly expanding its EV infrastructure.

“By making the transition to zero emissions a success, we’re helping to drive growth all over the UK, putting more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain to deliver our Plan for Change,” Greenwood added.

The government has allocated £200m for further chargepoint rollouts, with £6bn in private investment in the pipeline.

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