What can your business claim through the zero emission van and truck grant?

Eligible new zero emission vans receive a dealer-applied discount capped at £2,500 for small vans or £5,000 for large vans [S1]. Trucks have separate weight bands and percentage limits [S2]. Check the exact vehicle on the official list and obtain a written price with the grant itemised. Charging equipment needs a separate funding check. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 16 October 2026

How much is the government electric van grant?

The van grant is a discount applied by the seller. Eligible vehicles can receive 35% of the purchase price, subject to a cash cap. The official page separates small and large vans by gross vehicle weight, which is the vehicle’s permitted loaded weight rather than its unladen weight. [S1]

The eligible van criteria include zero tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions and at least 96 km, or 60 miles, of emission-free travel. Meeting those criteria alone is not a substitute for checking the exact model against the published eligible list. [S1]

Ask the dealer to identify the variant on the list and show the vehicle price before and after support. Keep optional equipment, delivery and other charges visible so the grant calculation can be checked against the scheme’s eligible price basis. Do not compare a discounted vehicle with another quotation that silently includes a different specification.

How much is the zero emission truck grant?

Truck discounts depend on weight and location. The current official truck page gives the following categories. Use the dealer’s written eligibility confirmation for a vehicle at a category boundary. [S2]

The discount is the lower of the cash and percentage caps. For example, assuming an eligible price of £100,000 in the lowest truck band, 20% is £20,000, so the £15,000 cap limits the illustrative discount. The assumed price is not a market quotation. [S2]

In Northern Ireland, large enterprises face a 30% cap in the heavier categories, compared with 40% for eligible small and medium enterprises. The lowest band uses 20%. Check status and the cash cap together. [S2]

How does your business apply for the grant?

The customer normally receives the discount at the point of sale. Dealers and manufacturers use the grant portal; customers do not make the vehicle approval application themselves. Ask the dealer to confirm the grant position before committing to the order. [S3]

Prepare your legal business name, registration address, exact vehicle configuration and intended order quantity. Tell the dealer about other grant-supported orders already placed elsewhere. The portal guidance requires checks against customer limits across dealers and manufacturers. [S4]

Request a written record of the grant amount, vehicle classification, who has checked availability and what happens if eligibility changes before registration. Agree the resulting price and cancellation position before paying a deposit. These are purchasing questions to resolve with the dealer and your solicitor, rather than an assurance that an order will receive support.

What should a Northern Ireland fleet check?

The portal guidance requires relevant small and medium enterprises in Northern Ireland to provide a signed status declaration for the truck grant. It explains how orders are checked and how linked enterprises are treated. Ask your dealer for the current declaration requirements instead of reusing paperwork from an unrelated grant. [S4]

Keep the vehicle grant file separate from your depot project file. A vehicle’s eligibility does not establish that a charger installation or grid upgrade qualifies. Use the Northern Ireland charging guide to organise those questions.

Does the van or truck grant pay for depot chargers?

These grants reduce the price of eligible vehicles. Workplace charging has a separate route. The Workplace Charging Scheme covers up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs, capped at £500 per socket and 40 sockets across an applicant’s sites. Its stated closing date is 31 March 2027. Check site and applicant eligibility before assuming your proposed charger qualifies. [S5]

Ordinary business sites must evidence staff or fleet parking; different access conditions apply to public authorities, charities and small accommodation businesses. Read the current grant conditions alongside any proposal for public access. [S5] The Workplace Charging Scheme guide and depot scheme guide cover the separate installation enquiry.

Ask an installer to size charging against route energy and time parked. Kilowatts (kW) measure charger power; kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy. Request a schedule showing each vehicle’s return time, required departure charge and available charging window. Review the depot sizing guide before ordering hardware.

How should you compare vehicle and charging budgets?

HMRC lists qualifying chargepoint equipment bought before April 2027 for 100% first-year allowances. That means a deduction when calculating taxable profit, subject to the rules, rather than repayment of the purchase price. Check qualifying expenditure and the applicable deadline with your accountant. [S6]

Build a combined budget with separate lines for the vehicle, charger, civils, connection work, energy, maintenance and downtime. Put each grant beside the cost it supports. Show tax relief separately and check it with your accountant; do not subtract the same benefit from both the vehicle and charger budgets.

Ask for fully funded, part funded and self funded charging options where available. The vehicle discount does not tell you which installation model fits your site. Compare access rights, parking loss, liability and exit terms alongside operating costs. The fleet ownership-cost guide gives a wider comparison framework.

What should you do next?

Get a written vehicle quotation and a separate depot survey proposal. Do not schedule vehicle delivery around an assumed charger completion date. Piggy Pineapple Ltd operates this referral service. We refer enquiries to installer partners and may be paid a fee. Our owner holds shares in at least one partner. Before sharing your details, we name the partner and disclose any shareholding our owner holds in it. Read how we work and get matched with an installer that covers your area.