The government announced on 30 March 2023 that tens of thousands of new electric vehicle chargers are to be installed under the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund and the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme1. It also said it will consult on plans requiring car and van manufacturers to sell a higher percentage of zero emission vehicles from 20241.
The chargepoint plans sit within a wider package described by the government as an "energy revolution" intended to boost energy security and independence, reduce household bills and continue towards a net zero carbon emissions ambition1. The government said the plans should "bring bills down, keep them affordable, and make wholesale electricity prices among the cheapest in Europe"1. It said it will set out plans to make electricity bills cheaper and speed up electrification for homes and businesses in the next year, with detail limited to a commitment to "rebalance gas and electricity costs in household bills"; electricity is currently around three times more expensive per unit than gas1.
On the same day the government set out the Great British Insulation Scheme, which it said will provide grants for energy efficiency measures including insulation and boiler controls to more people1. Unlike the previous ECO scheme, households in council tax bands A-D will be eligible, and the government estimates up to 80% of people whose homes are in band A-D will qualify, 300,000 more than under the present scheme1. The scheme will begin in spring and run until March 2026, with two eligibility groups1:
| Group | Criteria | Measures available |
|---|---|---|
| General group | EPC rating D-G and council tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland | One energy-saving improvement |
| Low-income group | EPC rating D-G plus means-tested benefits, or the least energy-efficient social housing | Heating controls as well as insulation |
Suppliers must deliver at least 20% of their annual targets to households in the low-income group, and eligibility is more restricted for private renters and social housing residents1. The government said the improvements could save £300 to £400 per year on energy bills1. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which gives a grant of up to £5,000 towards buying a heat pump, will be extended until 2028, and £30m is being invested to boost the manufacture and supply of heat pumps in the UK1.
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up an electric vehicle, the availability of a chargepoint near home is often the deciding factor, and the announcement commits to tens of thousands of additional public chargepoints rather than to home charging equipment1. Households without off-street parking depend on that public network, so the pace of installation under the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund and the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme bears directly on whether running an EV is practical. The consultation on manufacturer sales requirements, if it leads to a mandate, would affect the supply and choice of new zero emission cars and vans from 20241. More on how charging interacts with a home's energy position is set out in EV Charging and Household Energy Independence.
On the home itself, the insulation scheme widens eligibility beyond means-tested benefits to council tax bands A-D, which brings in many owner-occupiers who were previously outside the ECO scheme1. The government's own estimate of £300 to £400 per year in bill savings is the figure attached to the measures, though it is an estimate rather than a guarantee for any individual home1. The extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028 gives a longer window for the £5,000 heat pump grant, and the £30m for heat pump manufacturing addresses supply rather than household costs1.
What happens next
The Great British Insulation Scheme will begin in spring and run until March 20261. A gov.uk portal for households to apply directly is due to launch in summer 2023, and the government will put legislation together in the summer, with energy suppliers expected to be able to start helping households before then1. The consultation on zero emission vehicle sales requirements from 2024 has been announced but not yet opened1. The government said it will set out plans to make electricity bills cheaper and speed up electrification in the next year, but no detail beyond rebalancing gas and electricity costs has been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- Are you eligible for an insulation grant? - Which?, which.co.uk