Sharing chargers funded by the Depot Charging Scheme.
You can share chargers funded by the Depot Charging Scheme with other fleet operators. If you do, the price has to be based on cost recovery for at least three years, and your own commercial vehicles must remain the main users. Window 1 grantees who share must send DfT a full pricing model before 31 March 2027, and share usage data, including the shared use.
In DfT's own words.
If the infrastructure is shared with other fleet operators, the pricing model will be based on cost recovery for at least three years after the grant is awarded.
GOV.UK Find a Grant: Depot Charging Scheme · Eligibility criteria The Grant is paid on the basis that the Charge points shall be used primarily by the Grant Recipient for their own commercial use to charge HGVs, vans or coaches. The Grant Recipient shall ensure that if the Charge Points are shared with other users, this shall be on a cost recovery basis for at least 3 years from the date of energisation.
DfT: Grant Funding Agreement (draft) · Obligations Sharing infrastructure is permitted as long as it is done on a cost-recovery basis for at least three years from the point of electrification.
DfT: Depot Charging Scheme FAQ · Additional FAQ If you do intend to share this infrastructure with other businesses, please provide details of how this arrangement will be carried out, including what fee you may be charging and due regard to necessary legal requirements. Note, if your application is successful, a full pricing model will need to be provided before 31 March 2027, designed in line with terms of the Grant Funding Agreement.
DfT: Application Form · A mandatory question If you intend on sharing the funded charging infrastructure with other businesses, your agreement here will extend to sharing that usage data with the Government.
DfT: Application Form · Declarations
Four things to ask about.
These are window 1's documents. Ask DfT (ggms_depot_cs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk), and keep their answers with your pricing model.
What counts as a cost
"Cost recovery" isn't defined. Nothing says whether you can include your share of the chargers, the grant-funded share, electricity and standing charges, maintenance, software, admin or a platform's fee.
When the three years start
The listing says after the grant is awarded, the Grant Funding Agreement from energisation, and the FAQ from electrification. Planning around the latest of the three covers all of them.
How much sharing is too much
Your own vehicles must be the main users, but the documents give no share or ratio. Occasional staff cars are an acceptable secondary use.
What usage data, and how often
You'll provide usage data for your own and shared charging, but the documents don't set the format, the measures or how often.
Setting out a price you can explain.
DfT hasn't published a method. This is one simple way to set yours out; it isn't official guidance.
- 01
List the costs
Each cost you plan to recover, with its evidence: invoices, your electricity bill, your maintenance contract.
- 02
Mark the open ones
Anything the documents don't settle, such as the grant-funded share or a platform's fee. Ask DfT before you rely on it.
- 03
Estimate the sharing
How much partner charging you expect over the period, in kWh, alongside your own fleet's.
- 04
Set the price
A price per kWh that recovers those costs over that charging. Peak and off-peak rates can follow your electricity tariff.
- 05
Keep the record
What was charged, to whom and when, and how the price was worked out. Review it when your costs change.
Run the sharing, keep the record.
Evata charges a commission on shared charging, and DfT hasn't said whether a platform's fee can count towards cost recovery. Talk to us before you set the price for a grant-funded charger.
See Evata SHAREQuestions hosts ask.
- Can I make money from sharing grant-funded chargers?
- Not for at least three years: the price for shared use has to be based on cost recovery.
- Who can I share them with?
- DfT's documents say other fleet operators and other users. Your own HGVs, vans or coaches must stay the main users; occasional staff cars are an acceptable secondary use.
- When do the three years start?
- DfT's documents give three answers: after the grant is awarded, from energisation, and from electrification. Ask DfT; planning around the latest covers all three.
- Do I have to decide at application?
- The application asks, as a mandatory question, whether you intend to share, how, and what fee you may charge. Window 1 grantees who share owe a full pricing model before 31 March 2027.
- What usage data will DfT want?
- Charging usage data for your own and secondary use, and for shared use if you share. The documents don't specify the format or how often.
- Can I use a platform such as Evata to share?
- Yes. DfT's documents don't require a booking platform and don't rule one out. The grant can't pay for it: ongoing back-office and running costs aren't eligible.
Evata wrote this summary of the Department for Transport's published documents, as they read on 2 October 2026. It isn't official guidance: DfT's current documents and your Grant Funding Agreement are what count.
- GOV.UK Find a Grant: Depot Charging Scheme
- DfT: Depot Charging Scheme FAQ, 5 June 2026 (Word)
- DfT: Overview of Application Process, Word
- DfT: Application Form, Word
- DfT: Workbook, Excel
- DfT: Grant Funding Agreement (draft), Word
Sharing a funded depot?
Talk to us before you set your price. We will go through your costs and the questions to put to DfT.