EV Infrastructure Grant for Fleets — What Replaced It in 2026
Last reviewed 2026-08-31 · independent guidance
Important update — the grant landscape changed in 2026
If a quote you're reading still talks about the "EV Infrastructure Grant for
Staff and Fleets" as if it's open for new applicants — it isn't. That scheme
closed to new applications on 31 March 2026, with the claim
deadline for existing vouchers on 26 May 2026.
The replacement for fleet sites is the Depot Charging Scheme,
launched in 2026 as part of a £170m multi-year programme to 2030. It is more
generous than the old Infrastructure Grant for the depot use case.
Depot Charging Scheme — the headline facts
- 70% funded on chargepoints and civil costs (trenching,
cabling, electrical upgrades).
- Capped at £1 million per organisation across all sites.
- First application window: 25 March – 30 June 2026 (currently open).
- Works must be completed by 31 March 2027.
- Aimed at fleets adopting zero-emission HGVs, vans and coaches. Doesn't fund
vehicles or DNO reinforcement.
Source: GOV.UK — Depot Charging Scheme.
How it stacks with the Workplace Charging Scheme
The WCS (which is still very much open — see the
WCS guide)
covers up to £500/socket (the rate in force since 1 April 2026) for workplace sites. The Depot Charging
Scheme is the fleet-depot analogue. A good installer applies whichever scheme fits
your site type — they are not generally stacked on the same sockets.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the EV Infrastructure Grant still open in 2026?
- No — the Staff & Fleets variant of the EV Infrastructure Grant closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. The claim deadline for existing vouchers was 26 May 2026.
- What replaced it?
- The Depot Charging Scheme — funded 70% of chargepoint and civil costs at fleet depots, capped at £1 million per organisation. First application window: 25 March – 30 June 2026, works to be completed by 31 March 2027.
- What does the Depot Charging Scheme actually fund?
- Chargepoints PLUS the civil works — trenching, cabling, electrical upgrades on the customer side of the meter. It does NOT fund the vehicles, nor the DNO's own network reinforcement (which since Ofgem's 2023 Access SCR reforms the DNO largely absorbs anyway).