The UK government has announced a major expansion of its Depot Charging Scheme, committing £170 million in funding between April 2026 and 2030 to support the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial fleets.
The scheme is designed to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vans, HGVs, and coaches by helping organisations fund charging infrastructure at operational depots across the UK. However, with the first application window closing on 30 June 2026, organisations may need to act quickly to secure funding before the available budget is exhausted.
What Is the Depot Charging Scheme?
The Depot Charging Scheme is a government-backed funding programme aimed at supporting depot-based EV charging infrastructure for commercial vehicle operators. The initiative focuses specifically on fleets operating battery-electric vans, HGVs, and coaches. Rather than funding the vehicles themselves, the scheme helps organisations cover the cost of installing charging infrastructure at depot locations.
The government has confirmed that £66 million will be available across two application windows opening in 2026. The first application window will make £28 million available for projects delivered during the 2026/27 financial year. The second window will allocate £38 million towards projects completed during 2027/28. Funding for future years up to 2030 will be confirmed later as part of the wider multi-year programme.
Who Is Eligible for the Depot Charging Scheme?
The scheme is aimed at UK organisations operating, or planning to operate, electric commercial vehicle fleets. This could include logistics and transport companies, coach operators, local authorities, delivery businesses, fleet operators, and organisations with operational depots housing vans, HGVs, or coaches.
Some schools, colleges, universities, and other public sector organisations may also be eligible if they operate qualifying commercial vehicles from depot locations. For example, organisations running electric minibuses, maintenance fleets, or transport services could potentially benefit from the scheme.
To qualify, organisations must be registered and operating within the UK, have been operating their fleet for at least one year, and either own or lease a UK depot site where the charging infrastructure will be installed. The funding is specifically intended for commercial vehicle charging infrastructure and cannot be used alongside similar government funding for the same project.
Applications are being assessed on a first-come-first-served basis, with the current application window closing on 30 June 2026 unless funding is exhausted earlier. For full eligibility requirements and official guidance, organisations can visit the UK government website here.
Key Dates Organisations Need To Know
Organisations planning to apply may benefit from preparing documentation and project details as early as possible. The first funding window closes on 30 June 2026, although applications may close sooner if all funding has been allocated before that date.
Projects approved under this first round must be completed by 31 March 2027. A second application window will open on 28 October 2026 and close on 29 January 2027. This phase will support projects beginning from April 2027 and delivered by 31 March 2028. Grant rates for the second phase have not yet been confirmed.
How Much Funding Is Available?
Under the first application cycle, organisations can receive funding covering up to 70% of eligible chargepoint and civil engineering costs. The scheme provides a maximum funding limit of £1 million per organisation across all depot sites included within the application.
There is no limit to the number of depot locations organisations can include. However, only one application per organisation is permitted. The government has also confirmed that grant funding rates will gradually reduce over the lifetime of the programme as EV charging infrastructure becomes more commercially affordable.
Why This Matters for Commercial Fleets
Installing charging infrastructure for large commercial vehicles often involves more than simply fitting charge points. Depot electrification can require substantial civil engineering works, electrical upgrades, cabling, site redesign, and energy planning.
These costs can quickly become significant, particularly for organisations operating larger fleets or multiple depots. The Depot Charging Scheme is intended to reduce those upfront financial pressures while encouraging organisations to begin long-term electrification planning earlier.
As government targets around transport emissions continue to tighten, many organisations are already assessing how and when to transition away from diesel fleets. Schemes like this could help accelerate decision-making by making infrastructure investment more financially viable.
Infrastructure Planning Remains Essential
Although grant funding may significantly reduce installation costs, organisations still need to approach depot electrification strategically. Charging infrastructure needs to align with fleet schedules, vehicle usage patterns, energy demand, future scalability, and operational requirements. In many cases, organisations may also need to assess existing grid capacity and whether additional power upgrades are required.
As adoption of electric commercial vehicles increases, energy management is likely to become an increasingly important part of operational planning. For organisations considering applications under the scheme, understanding both short-term charging needs and long-term infrastructure requirements will be essential.
For organisations considering fleet electrification, the Depot Charging Scheme could represent a significant opportunity to reduce infrastructure investment costs while preparing for the future of commercial transport. However, because funding is limited and applications are assessed in order of submission, early preparation may prove essential.
At BP Consulting, we can help organisations understand whether they may be eligible for the scheme, assess their energy and infrastructure requirements, and support them throughout the funding application process. Get in touch today before funding deadlines close.
