From 1 April 2026, renters, flat owners and small firms across the North can knock up to £500 off the cost of fitting an EV charger after ministers lifted the grant. The Department for Transport says the support will now cover almost half of a typical install and runs until March 2027. (gov.uk)

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said the aim is to make EV ownership “the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways”, adding that home charging can be as low as 2p per mile on cheaper domestic tariffs. (gov.uk)

For the North’s landlords and leaseholders, the rules are simpler too. OZEV is trimming eight grant types to five and lifting the per‑socket cap to £500 for flats and renters, residential landlords and households with on‑street parking. State‑funded schools move to a £2,000 cap per socket from 1 April, down from £2,500. (gov.uk)

The government is also keeping the kerbside piece moving: a £25 million programme launched last year helps councils fit discreet cross‑pavement channels so households without driveways can charge legally and safely outside their homes. That sits alongside a dedicated grant for households with on‑street parking. (gov.uk)

Councils in the North already have money on the table to plan and build local networks. Through the LEVI fund, indicative capital allocations stand at £51.0m for the North West, £36.4m for Yorkshire and the Humber and £22.4m for the North East. Greater Manchester (£16.2m), West Yorkshire (£14.3m) and the North East Combined Authority (£15.8m) are approved to deliver, with Liverpool City Region (£9.6m) and South Yorkshire (£8.9m) in final review. On top of this, capability grants to hire teams and run procurements total £7.79m for the North West, £6.24m for Yorkshire and the Humber and £2.76m for the North East across 2022–26. (gov.uk)

For small businesses, the Workplace Charging Scheme will also move to £500 per socket from 1 April 2026. A workshop adding four sockets could see up to £2,000 taken off the bill, subject to scheme caps and eligibility. Schools will have a separate £2,000 rate per socket. (gov.uk)

Ministers say the uplift complements the Electric Car Grant, worth up to £3,750 off the purchase price. More than 55,000 buyers have already benefited - including many opting for the Sunderland‑built Nissan Leaf - as the government tries to cut both upfront and charging costs. (gov.uk)

Public charging remains part of the picture. The government cites an 88,500‑strong national network and £600m committed last year to speed up rollout, with councils backed for the next three years and a support service helping town halls choose the right sites. (gov.uk)

Price fairness still matters. Public charging is taxed at 20% VAT while home electricity is 5% - a gap campaigners say hits renters and terrace‑street drivers hardest. Calls to level the rate have grown over the past year. (theguardian.com)

Further tax changes are coming into view. HM Treasury is consulting on a mileage‑based Electric Vehicle Excise Duty from April 2028, set at half the equivalent rate of fuel duty for battery‑electric cars (and half again for plug‑in hybrids). The consultation closes on 18 March 2026. (gov.uk)

If you’re planning to apply, note the admin shift. From 1 April, flats and renters and residential landlord grants move to the government’s Find a grant service; the old portal closes to new applications on 31 March. Installers must wait for eligibility confirmation before fitting. Claims under closing schemes must be lodged by 26 May, with any resubmissions due by 6 July. (gov.uk)

For Northern households and firms, the message is practical: speak to your council about on‑street options, ask installers about the £500 cap from April, and line up sites now to avoid end‑of‑year rushes. With home‑rate charging as low as 2p a mile and LEVI‑funded networks expanding, this is the window to make the switch pay. (gov.uk)