On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS): A Complete Guide
Your complete guide to the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) and how it could make charging your electric taxi even easier.
Summary
- The ORCS is a government incentive providing grants to local authorities to help install residential chargepoints.
- Most EV charging is done at home in off-street areas like garages or driveways, though in many areas of the UK this is not available.
- The scheme, therefore, hopes to help increase on-street charging points in areas where off-street charging is not possible.
- These will be installed in residential streets and public car parks, ensuring all EV owners have access to charging close by.
Table of Contents
1. What is the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)?
2. Who can apply for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme?
3. How is funding allocated for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme?
4. How can I get an on-street chargepoint installed in my area?
5. Grants and incentives at The Taxi Centre
What is the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)?
The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is a grant that provides local authorities with funding to help increase on-street public charging facilities.
The ORCS scheme is run by Energy Saving Trust and supported by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), who announced £15 million in funding for the 2023-24 financial year.
Alongside this, the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund offers a £381 million fund to help improve EV charging infrastructure in both public and private sectors.
Criteria for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint scheme has been updated since the previous year to include the following amends:
- Incorporate the LEVI fund and some significant changes regarding connection costs from Ofgem
- Opening up the scheme to more local authorities to ensure they can benefit from it
- Extending charging infrastructure for car clubs
- Reducing the maximum proportion of costs covered from 60% to 50%
- Restricting the maximum grant size to £200,000. Grants are also capped at £7,500 per chargepoint.
- Ensuring ORCS-funded projects will remain subject to regulation and parliamentary passage. This requires contactless payment facilities at EV chargepoints above 8kW and above.
Who can apply for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme?
According to the government website, applicants must:
- Be from a local authority in the UK
- Be supported by the relevant highway authority or landowner who maintains the areas where chargepoints are to be installed
- Declare any other funding received for EV charging installation, for example the Go Ultra Low Cities Scheme
- Agree to make no changes to the site location once funding is accepted without obtaining permission
- Complete all installations by 31st March 2024
How is funding allocated for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint scheme?
Funding for the scheme will be allocated based on an assessment of applicants against set criteria.
Key requirements from this list include that applications must be submitted for at least one chargepoint with up to 22kW of power.
These will need to be located in residential areas only, which may involve presenting a map to demonstrate proposed locations. The scheme will not support EV chargepoints being installed in ‘destination-style’ locations like shopping centres, which will be used primarily by commuters or visitors.
The proposed locations must also have no off-street parking available, and they will need to meet both current and expected demand. They will need to be accessible to local residents and be available for use 24/7.
In some instances, a dedicated parking bay may need to be installed in streets where some residents who own plug-in hybrid vehicles would have difficulty accessing a chargepoint due to parking obstructions.
Read the full list of eligibility criteria on the government’s website.
How can I get an on-street chargepoint installed in my area?
If you are lacking on-street charging facilities in your area and would like a chargepoint installed, contact your local authority to inform them.
You may be able to register your interest online or request they apply for a chargepoint on your behalf. This helps some local authorities showcase the demand for on-street residential charging.
If you have any questions about the scheme, you can contact Energy Saving Trust at [email protected].
Grants and incentives at The Taxi Centre
At The Taxi Centre, we want to keep you informed about all of the latest grants and incentives available to you as a taxi driver.
We want you to get the best deal possible on your new taxi, and to help finance it in a way that suits your budget. All so you can enjoy the benefits of ownership - especially when it comes to electric and hybrid taxis!
Visit our grants and incentives page to keep up to date on the latest, or if you have any questions feel free to get in touch with a member of our team.
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