The UK Government’s Office for Low Emissions Vehicles has put a hold for the time being on the Domestic Chargepoint Grant Scheme. It will perform an investigation into the way domestic charging stations have been installed and marketed. Industry insiders confirmed that the OFT has requested all accredited domestic chargepoint installers should halt future installations whilst it investigates supposed abuse of the charge point installation program, launched in 2013.
Domestic Chargepoint Grant Scheme
Under the scheme, the UK government offered private plug-in vehicle owners up to 75 per cent of the total capital costs of purchasing and installing a domestic chargepoint for use with their electric car, up to a total value of £1,000.
In return, the recipient of the charging station agrees to provide OLEV with charge point usage data automatically via a wireless 3G modem hidden in each approved charge point. It was intended for people who have a plug-in car or are about to get one, the OLEV charging point grant requirements doesn’t require applicants have an electric car at all however, meaning many of the charging stations installed under the scheme have gone to homes with no plug-in car.
The grant programme is pending a review although many complaints have been received by OLEV from people concerned about the lack of clarity behind the system and aggressive sales tactics of a minority of installation companies keen to cash in on the UK Government’s latest green grant. As with the Solar Panel installation company boom of several years ago when unscrupulous companies tried to cash in on massive Government incentives designed to encourage homeowners to install photovoltaic solar panels on the roofs of their homes.
The new scheme has also attracted companies interested in the programme as a ‘get rich quick scheme. Although most official charging post installations are carried out by fully trained professionals, a small minority of rogue businesses are following sub-standard installation practices which are not only unsafe but illegal under UK electrical installation law. As always when it comes to any kind of electrical work it is important to use a trusted electrical contractor that is fully accredited.
