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  "path": "/lifestyle/cars/labour-electric-car-charging-grant-april-2026",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-01T08:14:37.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Rachel Reeves unveils new car tax changes today as millions face higher rates in 'unwelcome' move",
    "Motorists to be slapped with £70 fines for poor parking under new rules",
    "Drivers could be forced to scrap cars as Rachel Reeves' tax hike makes vehicles 'worthless' overnight",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nDrivers across the UK can benefit from new electric car grants to install EV chargers at homes, workplaces and schools.\n\nLabour has confirmed that it will be increasing the maximum grant rate residents and landlords can apply for from £350 to £500 per socket.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe new rules are in operation from today (Wednesday, April 1), with funding for five grant schemes available until March 31, 2027.\n\nWhile residents are only able to apply for one socket, landlords could get funding for up to 200 charging devices across their sites.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMotorists or landlords who applied for the flats and renters grant or residential landlord chargepoint grant before April can reapply for the increasing funding.\n\nCommenting on the new rules, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised the increased rates, noting that they would help thousands of drivers gain access to charging at home, work or school.\n\nShe said: \"We're making it easier and cheaper than ever to go electric and against the backdrop of fluctuating petrol prices, switching to an EV has never made more sense.\n\n\"Bigger grants mean renters, flat‑owners, families and small businesses can install a charger for nearly half the usual cost, with home charging as low as 2p a mile.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHigher grant rates have also been introduced for state-funded education institutions, allowing organisations to apply for a discount of up to £2,000 per socket.\n\nEducation institutions submitting applications before April 1, 2026, will receive vouchers valid up to £2,500 per socket. The maximum number of sockets included in the grant is 40.\n\nChanges were made to the platform where customer applications can be submitted for the flats and renters grant and the residential landlord chargepoint grant.\n\nAny customers who applied to the previous grant management portal can reapply for the new £500 grant, rather than the previous £350.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Rachel Reeves unveils new car tax changes today as millions face higher rates in 'unwelcome' move\n  * Motorists to be slapped with £70 fines for poor parking under new rules\n  * Drivers could be forced to scrap cars as Rachel Reeves' tax hike makes vehicles 'worthless' overnight\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, if they do not want to apply for the new scheme, they can claim the previous £350 per socket discount until the old system ends on May 26.\n\nThe Office for Zero Emission Vehicles estimates that applications will take up to 10 working days to assess with the new platform.\n\nDespite the new funding for drivers with electric cars, a handful of grants have been closed to customer applications, with the deadline passing on March 31, 2026.\n\nThis included the staff and fleets grant, the commercial landlord chargepoint grant, and the residential landlord infrastructure grant.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nInstallers have until May 26, 2026, to claim a grant, while installers will be given a deadline of July 6, 2026, to resubmit claims if further information has been requested.\n\nData from Zapmap estimates that there are more than one million electric vehicle charging devices installed at homes and workplaces across the UK.\n\nThis is in addition to the 118,321 electric vehicle chargers in public, across more than 45,000 different locations.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Labour extends electric car charging grant for millions of drivers with new £500 incentive today"
}