Depot Charging Scheme vs vehicle grants — what each pays for
Two different pots: one helps with the chargers and civils, the other with the vehicles. They stack — here's how to use both.
Last updated 15 August 2026
A common confusion is treating “the grant” as one thing. In fact the chargers and the vehicles have separate funding, and understanding the split helps you use both.
The Depot Charging Scheme: infrastructure
The Depot Charging Scheme is about the charging infrastructure — the chargepoints and the civil works to install them. It’s aimed at organisations running vehicles from a depot, and in the first window covered 70% of eligible costs up to £1m. It does not touch the cost of the vehicles themselves.
Vehicle grants: the fleet
The vehicles are funded separately, through grants toward the purchase of electric vans and trucks. These reduce the vehicle capital cost — the largest single line in many projects — and are entirely distinct from the infrastructure scheme.
They stack
Because they cover different things, the two combine rather than compete: you can use the Depot Charging Scheme for the chargers and civils and vehicle grants for the fleet on the same project. That combination is what makes the overall business case work for many operators.
What still isn’t covered
Even with both, your grid reinforcement falls outside — budget for it separately. And terms for every scheme move over time, so confirm the current position on the Funding tracker before you plan around specific figures.
The practical takeaway: map your costs into “infrastructure” and “vehicles,” point the right grant at each, and remember the grid is on you. Being application-ready for both lets you capture the full stack.