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More support to help small businesses, renters and leaseholders charge EVs but homeowners no longer eligible
Reforms to the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) designed to accelerate chargepoint provision in apartment blocks and rental accommodation to take effect from April 2022 have been welcomed by Logistics UK.
The proposed changes follow its calls for more help for van drivers who live in rental accommodation and take their vehicles home. However, from the end of March 2022, the EVHS closes to homeowners (including people with mortgages) who reside in single unit properties such as bungalows, detached, semi-detached or terraced housing, the business group has learned.
The current manual EVHS scheme will close next year and transition to a new digital service for the reformed EVHS with new eligibility criteria that excludes homeowners. Installations completed using the manual scheme will need to be completed by 31 March 2022 and claims for these installations submitted to DVLA by 30 April 2022. Retrospective funding will not be provided by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) for installations taking place after 31 March 2022 on single unit properties.
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is being expanded to provide more support to SMEs, small accommodation businesses and charities. It will also allow owners of commercially let properties to apply for a WCS grant to install chargepoints for staff or fleet use of current or future business tenants.
“We are pleased to see the government expand the workplace charging scheme and also recognise the challenges faced by people living in rented accommodation when moving to an electric vehicle. However, it will be a disappointment to van operators who are considering switching to electric vans in the coming year if some or all of their van drivers expected to recharge vehicles at their home address,” said Denise Beedell, Public Policy Manager, Logistics UK, “For businesses whose van drivers do not return to a depot for operational reasons, whether the driver owns or rents their home should not be a consideration for their employer.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/van
Published On: 21/10/2021 16:00:17
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