Small businesses are set to benefit from up to £50 million to install electric vehicle chargepoints, it has been announced.
Known as the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), the initiative currently provides up to £350 per chargepoint to encourage electrical vehicle (EV) uptake.
According to the Government, the WCS will be opened up to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the charity sector to encourage businesses and staff to go electric.
The voucher-based scheme provides financial support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle chargepoints. The contribution is limited to 75 per cent of costs, up to a maximum of £350 per socket, for up to 40 sockets across all sites for each applicant.
A voucher can only be redeemed by installers who have been authorised by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
Commenting on the new rules, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said: “Whether you’re on the school run or travelling to work, or don’t have access to a private parking space, today’s announcement will bring us one step closer to building and operating a public chargepoint network that is affordable, reliable and accessible for all drivers.”
Welcoming the announcement, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chair, Mike Cherry, added: “Small businesses want to play a critical role in helping the UK reach its green targets, and electric vehicles are the future. That’s why this is important news for the nation, particularly rural areas which are often left behind.”
For more information about the scheme, please click here.
For help and advice with related matters, please get in touch with our expert team today.