Apartment EV Charging Grant in Ireland
Apartment EV Charging Grant for Irish OMCs
Roughly one in four Irish households now lives in an apartment, duplex or multi-unit development — and getting a home charger fitted in a shared car park has, until recently, been almost impossible. The ZEVI Apartment Charging Scheme changes that. The grant helps Owner Management Companies (OMCs) cover the cost of installing shared EV charge points in apartment blocks, with up to €5,000 per charge point and a project ceiling of €200,000.
This guide explains how the grant works, who can apply, the rates for 2026, and how Resolute Engineering Group manages the entire process from board approval through to commissioning — so your residents can finally charge at home.
The Apartment Charging Scheme is part of Ireland’s EV roll-out strategy and is managed by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a unit of the Department of Transport. It offers OMCs, property managers and developers financial help to install AC charge points and the supporting electrical infrastructure in communal car parks.
The amount you receive depends on the number of charge points installed and the qualifying infrastructure works. Larger projects covering more residents qualify for higher overall funding, up to the maximum set by ZEVI for the scheme.
Example Grant Amounts 2026
| System Size | Typical Site | Solar Panel Array | 2026 Grant Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 chargers e.g. small block | Owner-occupier block, 12–20 units | 2 × 7.4 kW dual sockets | €10,000 |
| 6 chargers e.g. mid-size scheme | Apartment block, 40–60 units | 6 chargers + sub-board | €30,000 |
| 12 chargers e.g. mixed-use development | Two-block scheme, ~120 units | 12 chargers + load mgmt | €60,000 |
| 25 chargers e.g. large complex | Multi-block estate, 200+ units | 25 chargers + new ESB connection | €125,000 |
| 40+ chargers scheme maximum | Large urban estate, 300+ units | 40+ chargers, full upgrade | €200,000 |
€200,000 is the maximum grant per project. The scheme also funds eligible infrastructure works (cabling, sub-boards, ducting), not just the hardware.
If your scheme also needs shared workplace EV charging or fleet chargers, those are funded under separate ZEVI streams that can run in parallel. Resolute can apply for both on your behalf.
The grant is paid as a one-time reimbursement to the OMC (or nominated agent) once installation is complete, commissioned and signed off by ZEVI’s technical reviewer.
How Much is the Grant Worth?
The amount of grant support you receive depends on the number of charge points installed and the eligible infrastructure works. The scheme funds up to a fixed amount per charger and a percentage of the wider electrical works needed to support them.
Rates for 2026
- €5,000 per AC charge point (single or dual socket), up to a maximum of 40 chargers per project
- 80% of qualifying infrastructure costs — cabling, sub-boards, ducting, ESB upgrade — to a project ceiling
- Total grant capped at €200,000 per development, regardless of charger count
Examples for 2026 Rates
- 4 chargers in a small block would receive up to €20,000 in hardware support, plus infrastructure
- 10 chargers in a mid-size scheme would receive up to €50,000 for hardware alone
- 25 chargers in a large complex would receive up to €125,000 for hardware alone
- 40+ chargers in a major estate receive the scheme maximum of €200,000
What Cost Can Be Covered Under the EV Grant?
The Apartment Charging Scheme covers both the chargers themselves and the supporting electrical infrastructure needed to power them. It includes labour, hardware and the upgrades to your communal car park’s electrical setup. In short, the grant goes directly towards what it actually costs to get residents charging in their own car park.
Included in the grant
- AC charge points (7.4 / 11 / 22 kW)✓
- Smart load-management system✓
- Sub-board & switchgear✓
- Ducting & communal cable runs✓
- Installation labour✓
- ESB Networks connection upgrade✓
Not included
- DC rapid chargers (over 22 kW)Excluded
- Individual in-unit sub-metersExcluded
- Solar PV on the same projectApply separately
- Decorative car-park worksExcluded
- VAT on EV charging hardwareStandard rate
- Ongoing software / billing feesOut of scope
What About Smart Software, Billing & Tariffs?
The grant covers the hardware that does the charging, but residents will also want a fair way to pay for the electricity they use. ZEVI requires every grant-funded charger to support OCPP 1.6 or higher so it can connect to a back-office platform — that’s how usage is metered per resident and billed back through the OMC.
Operational fees aren’t funded — by design
Ongoing software, billing and SIM-card fees are typically passed on to charging residents at cost, not paid by the OMC. Resolute will quote both the capital install and a sample resident tariff so the board can vote with full visibility on what residents will pay per kWh.
Is Our Development Eligible For a Grant?
Almost any apartment, duplex or multi-unit development in Ireland with a communal car park can qualify. In fact, around 92% of OMC schemes surveyed by Resolute receive ZEVI approval on first submission. To check if your development meets the rules, look through the points below:
The applicant is the Owner Management Company (OMC) or developer of the building.
The OMC submits the application on behalf of all owners. Property managers can apply with a board mandate.
The development has a shared / communal car park with five or more parking spaces.
Single-driveway terraces don’t qualify — those fall under the EV Home Charger Grant administered by SEAI.
At least 50% of residents have voted in favour of the project at AGM or EGM.
OMC minutes confirming the vote must be attached to the application — Resolute provides a template motion.
Works begin only after written ZEVI approval is received.
Ordering hardware or starting installation before the letter of offer voids the application.
Installation is carried out by a Safe Electric-registered contractor with EV experience.
Resolute is Safe Electric registered, on the ZEVI installer list and TÜV-certified for OCPP commissioning.
Chargers support OCPP 1.6+ and integrate with a back-office for resident billing.
Domestic-only chargers without OCPP are not eligible. We default to OCPP 2.0.1-ready hardware on every install.
ZEVI EV Grant Calculator
Estimate your ZEVI grant value for apartments, mixed-use developments, sports clubs and workplace car parks. Choose your grant type below:
ZEVI Apartment Charging Scheme
The primary support for shared EV charging in apartment and multi-unit developments. Open to Owner Management Companies, property managers and developers. Funds AC chargers between 7.4 kW and 22 kW, plus the supporting infrastructure. Maximum grant: €200,000.
How Many Chargers Should We Install?
The right number of chargers depends on how many EVs your residents already drive, how that’s likely to change over the next five years, and how much spare capacity sits in your communal main board. A good installer will survey the existing electrical setup, sample residents for current and intended EV ownership, and design a system that can grow without ripping the car park up again later. Most Irish apartment schemes start with chargers covering 10–20% of resident parking spaces and add capacity as demand grows.
The easiest way to be sure is to have an installer on site for a survey of the main switchroom, distribution boards and car-park layout — that’s the only reliable way to know what your scheme can support.
Can we install more than 40 chargers?
You can, of course — large complexes sometimes need it. The ZEVI grant covers the first 40 chargers (up to €200,000); anything beyond that goes in as private funding by the OMC or via a separate workplace EV charging stream if the car park is shared with offices or retail. We design every install to be extensible so adding chargers later is a cable pull, not a full rebuild.
Do all chargers need to be the same size?
No. The most common Irish mix is 7.4 kW single-phase chargers on resident-facing bays, with one or two 22 kW three-phase chargers for visitors or fleet vehicles. ZEVI funds either, and a smart load-management system shares the available current dynamically so you don’t need to upgrade the ESB connection on day one.
Do We Need Planning Permission to Install Chargers?
No. For internal communal car parks within apartment blocks, no planning permission is required. ZEVI grant approval is not tied to planning — it’s tied to the OMC consent process and Safe Electric certification.
What approvals do we actually need?
For most apartment blocks you need three things: a 50%+ resident vote at an AGM or EGM, a Safe Electric-registered contractor signed up to do the work, and an NC6 (or NC7 where applicable) application to ESB Networks if the existing connection needs to be uprated. Resolute manages all three.
A handful of edge cases still need planning input — external car ports, freestanding charging canopies, or works on protected structures and in Architectural Conservation Areas. Your installer should flag any of these before quoting.
How Do We Apply for the ZEVI Grant?
Applying for the ZEVI Apartment Charging grant is straightforward once you know the steps. The OMC just needs to follow the process in order and make sure works are done by an approved installer. Resolute manages every stage end-to-end.
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Pick Your EV Installation Company Choose a Safe Electric-registered installer with apartment EV experience before submitting the application. Their registration number, design summary and projected costs all go on the ZEVI form, so they need to be appointed first.
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Pass the Resident Vote & Apply via ZEVI Hold an AGM/EGM to record 50%+ resident approval. We provide the motion template. The installer then submits the grant application via the ZEVI portal — wait for the letter of offer before any work begins.
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Get Your Chargers Installed Once approved, your installer fits the charge points, sub-board, ducting and any cabling agreed in the quote. We also handle the ESB Networks NC6 connection upgrade if required.
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We Handle the Commissioning & OCPP Onboarding After installation, we commission every charger, validate the OCPP link to the back-office platform and run a TÜV-aligned sign-off test. Residents are issued RFID cards or app access at handover.
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Receive Your Grant Payment When all documents are approved by ZEVI, the grant is paid directly to the OMC as a one-time reimbursement. It usually arrives within 4 to 6 weeks of practical completion.
What Information Do We Need to Apply?
Before starting your application for the ZEVI Apartment Charging grant, it helps to have a few details ready. Getting these together early makes the process quick and avoids back-and-forth with ZEVI’s technical reviewer.
- OMC company number (CRO) & constitution: ZEVI confirms the applicant is the registered management company, not an individual owner or unaffiliated property manager.
- AGM/EGM minutes showing 50%+ resident approval: Signed minutes of the meeting where the EV project was voted through. We provide a motion template.
- MPRN of the communal supply: The 11-digit number on the landlord/communal area electricity bill — used by ZEVI and ESB Networks for all correspondence.
- A registered installer appointed: Resolute’s Safe Electric and ZEVI installer numbers go on the form.
- Basic project information: Proposed number of chargers, charger power, infrastructure works and a high-level cost breakdown — your installer provides this.
- OMC contact email: ZEVI correspondence is sent by email to the named OMC director or secretary.
Applications must be made by the entity that owns or manages the communal car park — not by individual residents. We understand how the paperwork and AGM process can feel daunting, so our team supports the board through every step.
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Commonly Asked Questions
Most OMCs see their payment lodged within four to six weeks after the job is signed off. ZEVI typically takes a few weeks to verify the commissioning paperwork, but once everything is approved the funds land directly into the OMC’s nominated account.
No. ZEVI needs an installer’s Safe Electric number, project reference and cost breakdown to assess the application. Pick a registered EV installer first, then the application is submitted within a few days.
Most schemes split the capital cost across the resident bays that benefit, with the OMC covering the shared infrastructure. The grant funds both. Day-to-day electricity is metered per resident through the OCPP back-office and billed back at cost — no resident pays for another’s charging.
Very common — most Irish apartment blocks were never designed with EV charging in mind. The grant covers two solutions: a smart load-management system that dynamically shares your existing capacity across all chargers, or an NC6 ESB Networks upgrade if a higher connection is genuinely required. We model both options before recommending one.
Absolutely — and we design every install to make later expansion easy. Spare ducts and sub-board capacity are sized for double the day-one charger count, so adding bays is a cable pull rather than a full rebuild. The grant can be reapplied for in a future round if you stay under the lifetime cap.
Yes — we handle the entire ZEVI application on your behalf. From the AGM motion template through to the post-installation commissioning report, our grants team manages every step. If your OMC board has questions along the way, just ask and we’ll be glad to help.
You can install a larger system but only the first 40 chargers qualify for the Apartment Scheme, capped at €200,000. Mixed-use developments with offices or retail in the same car park can also tap the ZEVI Destination & Workplace stream in parallel, which uses separate funding pools.