The Depot Charging Scheme didn’t open as expected
The Government’s Depot Charging Scheme did not reopen for applications on Wednesday 28 October, as the published timetable had promised. Fleet operators who had prepared bids now face an uncertain wait. The Department for Transport (DfT) has not explained the delay and has not given a new date. This article explains what we know, what remains unconfirmed and how fleets can stay ready.
What happened on 28 October?
Window two was due to open on 28 October and close on 29 January 2027. It offers £38 million for projects that start from April 2027 and finish by 31 March 2028. The date passed with no announcement. The link to the application page on the Government’s website led to a missing page. We reported on the day that the scheme was reopening, based on the published timetable.
Timing matters because officials assess applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Early applicants stood the best chance of securing funds in window one, and many fleets had planned to submit on day one. A missed opening therefore disrupts real project plans, not just paperwork.
Has the Government given a reason?
No. A DfT spokesperson has said that an update would be shared “in due course”. That phrase gives neither a reason nor a timescale. We have found no statement that explains the problem, either from the DfT or from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), which manages the scheme.
The opening date also fell on Budget day. We have found no evidence that the two events are linked, so we would not draw that conclusion. Grant schemes can slip for technical, legal or financial reasons. Without an official explanation, though, any cause is guesswork. Fleets should treat the delay as unexplained rather than assume the worst.
When will the scheme open?
The DfT has not confirmed a new date. Government guidance published earlier this year gave 28 October to 29 January as the expected window. It also said ministers had not yet confirmed grant rates for this phase. The Government said further application details would follow before the scheme reopened. We have not seen them.
A long delay raises a practical question. If the 29 January closing date stands, fleets will get a shorter window to apply. The Government has not said whether it will extend the deadline. Projects must still begin from April 2027 and finish by 31 March 2028, so there is little room for slippage on delivery. We will update this article when the DfT publishes a new date.
Why does the delay matter?
The scheme is the main Government support for depot charging. It forms part of a £170 million programme that runs to 2030. Ministers have set aside £66 million for two windows this year, with £28 million in window one and £38 million in window two. The Government has reserved a further £104 million for later years.
Operators of electric vans, HGVs and coaches rely on this money to part-fund chargepoints, civil works and electrical infrastructure. Without it, some projects will stall or shrink. Fleets that have committed to electric vehicles need charging in place before the vehicles arrive, so a funding delay can push back orders and decarbonisation targets too. The scheme also covers councils, NHS trusts and charities that run commercial fleets, so the uncertainty reaches well beyond private hauliers.
What is still unconfirmed?
The biggest unknown is the grant rate. Window one covered 70% of chargepoint and civil costs, up to £1 million across all sites. The Government has said funding rates will fall over the life of the programme as charging infrastructure becomes cheaper. Some suppliers expect the 70% rate and £1 million cap to continue. AMP EV, for example, tells fleets they can claim 70% up to £1 million. Until the Government publishes official terms, treat that as a working assumption, not a promise.
Fleets should therefore build their business cases around a lower rate. If the 70% rate does survive, the extra support becomes a bonus rather than a gamble. Remember too that the grant does not cover grid upgrades or the vehicles themselves.
How can fleets prepare now?
Use the delay productively. Start with the grid, because applicants need evidence of capacity. AMP EV says “the grid is the hardest part of going electric”, and upgrade lead times can run well beyond any grant window. Contact your distribution network operator now and ask for a realistic timeline.
Next, survey each depot, map your vehicle plans and gather quotes for chargepoints and civil works. Each organisation can submit only one application, so multi-site operators should collect the full scope for every depot before they apply.
Finally, hold back on orders. Only costs that you incur after signing the Grant Funding Agreement are eligible, so starting work early could cost you funding. Jonny Berry, head of net zero transition at Novuna Vehicle Solutions, has described the scheme as a chance to “secure capacity” and build a longer-term electrification roadmap. Good preparation supports that aim, whenever the window opens.
Where to find updates
Check the Find a Grant listing for the scheme regularly, and sign up for its updates if you have not already. We will report as soon as the DfT confirms a date and the final terms.
