UK depot charging scheme reopens with £38m – and a smaller subsidy

Fleets can now claim a share of £38 million for depot charging – but the state covers less than before. The UK Depot Charging Scheme reopened on 11 November, roughly two weeks late. It was originally scheduled to reopen on 28 October, but applications did not go live as planned. Operators have until midday on 26 February 2027 to apply for funding allocated to the 2027/28 financial year.

What does the new window offer?

The grants cover up to 60% of the costs of purchasing and installing charge points, plus associated civil engineering work. The maximum grant is £1 million per applicant across all sites. The scheme aims to help businesses overcome upfront costs of installing depot charging for commercial EVs.

That support rate is down on round one. The first application window, which closed in June 2026, offered £28 million for projects delivered during 2026/27, and covered up to 70% of eligible costs. The pot has grown by £10 million year on year, yet the subsidy per project has shrunk by ten percentage points.

The government has not publicly explained the delay in reopening, nor whether the reduced rate reflects budget pressure or a deliberate design change. Both questions matter for operators planning multi-site installations against a £1 million cap.

Why the industry backs it, with caveats

Aymeric Larcher, managing director at Renault Trucks UK & Ireland, said: "Installing the charging facilities needed to operate electric trucks represents a substantial investment, and for many operators, it's one of the main barriers to making the switch." He added: "This funding will help more businesses invest in the depot charging facilities they need, whether introducing electric trucks and vans for the first time or expanding their existing fleets."

The quotes come from a truck OEM with a direct commercial interest in fleet electrification. The scheme lowers a real barrier, but a 60% grant still leaves operators to fund the remaining 40% of hardware and civil works – a heavy lift for smaller fleets.

Where does the money sit in the wider programme?

The Depot Charging Scheme was first announced in March. It forms part of the government's broader £1 billion commitment to accelerate the transition to zero-emission commercial vehicles and supporting infrastructure.

Alongside infrastructure funding, the Zero Emission Truck and Van grants scheme provides purchase incentives covering up to 40% of the cost of an electric HGV, capped at £81,000 per vehicle. Electric vans qualify for up to £5,000. That purchase-incentive scheme has £170 million ringfenced until 2030.

What to watch next

The capacity signal to track is uptake: how quickly the £38 million is committed, and whether demand exceeds the first round's £28 million. Watch too for any government statement on the 60% rate before the 26 February 2027 deadline, and for delivery data on round-one projects during 2026/27. Infrastructure promises are easy to announce; installed charge points are the metric that counts.