Commercial van rental specialist Dawsongroup vans has analysed the latest data from the Department for Transport covering two government-backed workplace EV charging schemes administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
Since 2016, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) and the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets have together distributed £33,889,873 in grant funding to businesses, charities and public sector organisations across the UK.
The WCS, which contributes towards the purchase and installation of charge point sockets, has funded 69,439 sockets at a total grant value of £25,552,841.
The EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets, which covered the enabling works required to support charge points such as cabling and electrical upgrades, funded 6,199 socket infrastructure units at a value of £8,337,032.
WCS voucher redemptions fell then recovered in 2025
Annual voucher redemptions under the WCS peaked at 13,293 in 2022 before declining for two consecutive years. By 2024, redemptions had dropped to 6,634. A recovery followed in 2025, with 7,506 vouchers redeemed, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.14%.
WCS Vouchers Redeemed by Year (last five years):
- 2022: 13,293
- 2023: 9,928 (down 25.31% year on year)
- 2024: 6,634 (down 33.18% year on year)
- 2025: 7,506 (up 13.14% year on year)
- 2026 (January to March): 1,356
Sarah Gray, head of ZEV strategy and development at Dawsongroup vans, believes the 2025 increase reflects businesses beginning to respond to the pressure of the ZEV mandate. “More fleet operators are now working backwards from their electrification commitments and realising that on-site charging needs to be part of that plan. The 2025 figures suggest that the process is accelerating, which is encouraging. But the WCS is now in its final confirmed year, and businesses that have not yet applied are running out of time to benefit.”
Infrastructure grants grew quickly before tapering
The EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets, available to businesses with fewer than 250 employees, recorded strong growth in its first full year of data. Socket infrastructure unit installations rose from 809 in 2022 to 1,909 in 2023, an increase of 135.97%, before declining over the two years that followed.
EV Infrastructure Grant – Socket Infrastructure Units Installed by Year:
- 2022: 809
- 2023: 1,909 (up 135.97% year on year)
- 2024: 1,799 (down 5.76% year on year)
- 2025: 1,547 (down 14.01% year on year)
- 2026 (January to March): 135
“The infrastructure grant asked businesses to think ahead, planning electrical capacity for charge points they might not install for another year or two,” says Gray. “The businesses that moved quickly in 2023 were largely those that already had electrification on their roadmap. As that group reduced in size, so did the annual installation figures.”
Regional breakdown: WCS sockets installed
The South East recorded the highest number of WCS sockets installed of any UK region since 2016, followed by the North West and East of England. Northern Ireland and Wales recorded the fewest.
WCS Sockets Installed by Region (2016 to March 2026):
- South East: 10,130 sockets (grant value: £3,735,768)
- North West: 8,401 sockets (grant value: £3,078,262)
- East of England: 8,124 sockets (grant value: £2,977,692)
- Yorkshire and The Humber: 7,088 sockets (grant value: £2,614,658)
- West Midlands: 6,903 sockets (grant value: £2,551,490)
- East Midlands: 6,576 sockets (grant value: £2,428,782)
- South West: 6,212 sockets (grant value: £2,299,889)
- Scotland: 4,852 sockets (grant value: £1,769,647)
- London: 4,371 sockets (grant value: £1,597,716)
- North East: 2,996 sockets (grant value: £1,097,853)
- Wales: 2,642 sockets (grant value: £970,834)
- Northern Ireland: 1,144 sockets (grant value: £430,250)
Regional Breakdown: EV socket infrastructure units installed
The East of England leads the way for EV socket infrastructure units installed, followed by the North West and South East. The North East and Northern Ireland recorded the fewest installations.
EV Infrastructure Units Installed by Region (2016 to March 2026):
- East of England: 908 units (grant value: £1,380,370)
- North West: 860 units (grant value: £972,656)
- South East: 723 units (grant value: £872,671)
- West Midlands: 563 units (grant value: £825,600)
- South West: 531 units (grant value: £700,753)
- Yorkshire and The Humber: 518 units (grant value: £637,253)
- Wales: 490 units (grant value: £757,791)
- East Midlands: 466 units (grant value: £836,495)
- Scotland: 398 units (grant value: £431,689)
- London: 338 units (grant value: £423,800)
- Northern Ireland: 205 units (grant value: £226,854)
- North East: 199 units (grant value: £271,100)
“The volume of installations in the South East and North West is partly a reflection of business density, but access to approved installers and familiarity with the application process also play a role,” says Gray. “Regions with lower figures are not necessarily less committed to electrification. For businesses in those areas, understanding what is available and how to apply remains an important first step.”
The WCS remains open until March 2027
With the WCS now confirmed as running until 31 March 2027 and no further extension expected, Dawsongroup vans is encouraging businesses yet to install workplace charging to check their eligibility. From April 2026, the grant covers up to £500 per socket across a maximum of 40 sockets per applicant, representing a potential saving of up to £20,000.
“A business installing ten charge points under the current grant rate could recover up to £5,000 towards the cost,” says Gray. “That is a sizable contribution, and it’s available now. The scheme has been extended several times, but it has a confirmed end date of March 2027 with no indication of a further extension. Businesses that delay risk missing out on financial assistance with their fleet electrification.”
