The UK government has introduced a new grant scheme aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in commercial transport by funding charging infrastructure at fleet depots. The Depot Charging Scheme, which opened on 16 July 2025, will run until 28 November 2025 or until funds are exhausted.
The initiative offers financial support to public and private sector fleet operators seeking to install EV charging points at their depot sites. Applicants can receive up to £1 million per application, covering up to 75% of the costs associated with charge point installation, including necessary civil engineering work.
“The grant aims to make it easier for commercial fleets to transition to electric, by addressing one of the main barriers: the upfront cost of charging infrastructure,” said the scheme’s initiators.
To qualify, applicants must be UK-registered fleet operators with at least one year of operating history. Infrastructure funded under the programme must be installed by 31 March 2026. Operators are also required to have relevant planning permissions, ensure adequate grid capacity at the site, and commit to using the chargers primarily for commercial vehicles such as battery-electric vans, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and coaches.
The scheme is open to applicants across the UK, excluding the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. By targeting depots—where vehicles return regularly for charging—the programme seeks to support the operational needs of larger commercial fleets, considered key to decarbonising the transport sector.
Source: trans.info, find-government-grants.service.gov.uk