By Marcelo Soares, VP Comercial
Quick Summary
- Act now to maximise Wave 1 funding, as grants are first-come, first-served and expected to reduce in future rounds.
- The Depot Charging Scheme is a major strategic opportunity, complementing the Plug-in Truck Grant to fund both vehicles and infrastructure.
- Prioritise the most ready depot sites and take a sequenced, whole-estate approach to accelerate fleet electrification.
- VEV supports end-to-end delivery, helping operators plan, fund and execute depot electrification quickly and effectively.
Don’t wait – move now to maximise Wave 1 funding
The Depot Charging Scheme should be viewed as a strategic opportunity rather than a routine grant. Alongside the Plug-in Truck Grant, it is one of the most important opportunities available to operators looking to bring depot electrification forward and accelerate e-truck adoption in the UK, with one scheme supporting the vehicle and the other supporting the infrastructure behind it.
Because funding is being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and because grant support may reduce in future application windows, the message for fleet operators is clear: move now to maximise the funding available in Wave 1.
For businesses with multiple depots, this means taking a full view of the estate and deciding which sites are best placed to be submitted first. A sequenced approach to depot electrification can bring multiple sites into scope over time, while allowing businesses to prioritise the locations that are most ready now. That in turn can accelerate e-truck, vans and coaches adoption in both volume and timing, helping bring wider fleet transition plans forward.
The organisations that will benefit most from this scheme will not be the ones that simply understand it. They will be the ones that act on it quickly – defining which depots to electrify, understanding power requirements, costing the opportunity, aligning internal stakeholders and getting ready to submit a strong application in Wave 1.
How we can help
VEV acts as the enabler for fleet operators looking to turn funding opportunities into fully deliverable electrification programmes. We support customers end-to-end: taking a whole-estate view to identify and prioritise the right depots, building a sequenced electrification roadmap, assessing site readiness, modelling power and grid requirements, developing robust cost estimates and business cases, and supporting both grid applications and grant submissions.
Our focus is not just on supporting fleets to secure funding, but on making projects real and deliverable at pace. We have already supported customers through the previous phase of the Depot Charging Scheme, and we are working with operators now to maximise their position in the current application window.
With grant support expected to reduce in future waves, the urgency is apparent: maximise Wave 1 funding and bring forward electrification plans.
If you want to move quickly, prioritise the right sites and submit a strong, credible application, VEV can help you do exactly that.
What is the Depot Charging Scheme?
The UK government has opened a major funding opportunity for fleet operators planning the shift to zero-emission vehicles. The Depot Charging Scheme is designed to support the uptake of zero-emission HGVs, vans and coaches by part-funding the installation of charging infrastructure at fleet depots.
This is a significant programme rather than a small pilot. Following a successful 2025/26 pilot, the government has launched a £170 million multi-year funding programme running from April 2026 to 2030. Of that, £66 million will be available across two application windows this year, with £28 million for window 1 and £38 million for window 2.
How much funding is available per company?
For the current application window, the scheme will cover up to 70% of the charging infrastructure cost, with a maximum of £1 million across all sites per company. Grid connection and substation costs are not eligible. However, solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS), where they directly provide energy for charging, are covered. That level of support could make a meaningful difference for operators that have been weighing up the business case for depot electrification but have been tentative because of infrastructure costs.
The government has also made clear that grant funding rates will reduce over the lifetime of the programme as charging infrastructure becomes more affordable. For many organisations, that makes this first round especially appealing.
Who can apply?
The eligibility criteria are broad, but there are still several conditions businesses need to meet. Applicants must be registered and operating in the UK, and both the organisation and its vehicle fleet must have been operating for at least one year at the time of application. They must also own or lease one or more UK depots and use the funding only within the UK.
Applicants must have a fleet that includes, or will include, at least one battery-electric van, HGV or coach, and the application must quantify how that rollout affects EV charging needs. A senior leader in the organisation must also approve the proposal.
Key dates and deadlines
- First application window opened: 25 March 2026
- Application deadline: 30 June 2026 at midday (or earlier if funding is exhausted)
- Applications are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis
- Award decisions expected by: 30 September 2026
- Project completion deadline for successful applicants: 31 March 2027
- Second application window opens: 28 October 2026
- Second window deadline: 29 January 2027
- Projects for this phase start from: April 2027
- Grant rates for the second window: not yet confirmed
Important conditions to be aware of
- Applicants must agree to ongoing monitoring and evaluation, including potential site audits or visits
- Applicants must confirm they are not receiving overlapping government funding for the same activities
- Funded infrastructure must be used primarily by commercial vehicles
- If shared with other operators, pricing must be based on cost recovery for at least three years
- Only costs incurred after the Grant Funding Agreement is signed are eligible
The Plug in Truck Grant – a quick overview
The Plug-in Truck Grant provides direct financial support to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing zero-emission trucks. Available to businesses and fleet operators, the grant offers a discount at the point of purchase, covering up to 40% of the vehicle cost, with maximum funding levels of up to £37,000 for trucks between 12–18 tonnes, £52,000 for 18–26 tonne vehicles, and £81,000 for trucks over 26 tonnes. This support is designed to bridge the cost gap between diesel and electric HGVs, making it easier for operators to begin transitioning their fleets. The scheme applies only to fully zero-emission vehicles that meet minimum range and performance criteria, ensuring they are suitable for real-world commercial use.
Final thoughts
The Depot Charging Scheme is one of the clearest signals yet that the UK government wants to accelerate the transition to zero-emission commercial fleets. With substantial capital support available, it creates a real opportunity for depot-based operators to move faster on electrification.
But it is also a scheme that rewards readiness. With a first-come, first-served process, a hard deadline of 30 June 2026, and only one application per organisation, the businesses most likely to benefit will be the ones that move early, plan carefully and put forward a strong, joined-up case.
At VEV, we’ve helped over 40 businesses with their application for the scheme. If you would like us to help with your application, then contact us.
15 April, 2026
