The Workplace Charging Scheme 2 (WCS 2) covers up to 40 sockets at £500 each, subject to a £315,000 minimal-assistance ceiling across 3 years, and the scheme is live until 31 March 2027. For a Leeds last-mile fleet running 20+ vans, that’s the difference between phasing electrification over five years and doing the lot in one summer. Here’s the working-document version of how to claim it.
Eligibility — who actually qualifies
WCS 2 is open to VAT-registered businesses, registered charities and public-sector bodies. The detail you need to check before applying:
- The applicant must have dedicated off-street parking at the install site.
- The site must already have, or be planning, a stated workplace EV use case (staff vehicles, fleet vans).
- The £315,000 minimal-assistance ceiling is a rolling 3-year aggregate across all subsidies, not just OZEV — check existing grant history before claiming.
- The original Workplace Charging Scheme guidance was withdrawn on 8 February 2024 — WCS 2 replaced it, so old quotes need re-running.
The application — voucher, installer, claim
WCS 2 runs on a voucher model, not a reimbursement model. The flow:
- Voucher request: The applicant (fleet operator) requests the voucher through the OZEV portal. The voucher names the site, the number of sockets and the operator.
- Installer claims: An OZEV-approved installer fits the chargers, then claims the £500/socket directly from OZEV on the voucher. The applicant doesn’t pay the grant value upfront.
- Operator pays the balance: Net of grant. The installer’s invoice should show the gross install cost, the OZEV grant value and the net payable.
Time the voucher to your install date — vouchers expire and the £315k ceiling moves once you’ve used part of the entitlement.
Pre-survey checklist — what trips the application up
Most rejected or delayed claims fail on site readiness, not the form. Run this checklist before the survey:
- Existing supply capacity: Available headroom on the incoming connection. 12+ sockets often fit a 100A supply with dynamic load balancing — but the headroom needs to be confirmed.
- Parking layout: Stacked vs side-by-side; how cables route; whether the depot needs new posts or wall-mount bases.
- Driver-rotation pattern: 24/7 depot or shift-based; this drives whether sockets are tethered (untethered for shift hand-offs).
- OCPP requirement: Any future fleet-management or pay-per-use need pushes you to OCPP-compliant hardware now, not retro-fitted.
- DNO sign-off: If the install needs a supply upgrade, the DNO lead time can outrun the voucher validity. Engage the DNO at survey, not at install.
Common reasons claims get rejected
The three patterns we see most often:
- Wrong installer: The installer must be OZEV-approved. A general electrician without the approval can’t claim the voucher.
- Off-street parking not evidenced: The voucher application asks for site evidence; vague responses kick the application back.
- Minimal-assistance ceiling already used: Companies forget that other subsidies (R&D credits, energy-efficiency grants) count toward the £315k.
What to do next
If you’re operating a Leeds-area depot with 8+ vans planned for electrification before 31 March 2027, the WCS 2 window is open and the survey is the gating step. JP Electrical & EV Solutions is OZEV-approved, NICEIC-approved and Part P compliant, with a Leeds-based team that’s installed multi-socket arrays across the LS, WF and HG postcodes. Available 24/7 for in-flight commissioning support.
Book a depot survey or request a free, no-obligation quote via our workplace EV charging for fleets page, or read more about our EV charger installation service in Leeds.
FAQ
How much can a Leeds fleet claim under WCS 2?
£500 per socket, up to 40 sockets, subject to a £315,000 minimal-assistance ceiling across 3 years. For a 20-socket install that’s a £10,000 contribution against eligible install cost.
Can we claim WCS 2 and use the older Workplace Charging Scheme rates?
No. The original scheme was withdrawn on 8 February 2024 and replaced by WCS 2. Any quote referencing pre-2024 rates needs re-running.
Do we need a new DNO connection for 12+ sockets?
Usually not. Dynamic load balancing can run 12+ sockets on an existing 100A supply in most depots. A load survey confirms it before the voucher’s claimed.