Expanding Chargepoint Infrastructure: Thousands of New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to Arrive in England
The UK Government is powering up the electric vehicle (EV) revolution by utilising the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to roll out over 100,000 new public EV chargepoints across England. This move is aimed at addressing the needs of residents who lack access to off-street parking, such as private driveways.
Key ways the LEVI Fund is being applied include funding partnerships between local councils and chargepoint operators to deploy on-street EV chargers in towns, cities, and residential neighbourhoods. This enables drivers who park on streets to have reliable overnight charging options. The Fund also supports local authorities in planning and delivering charging infrastructure, addressing a common barrier to EV adoption.
The use of tools like the ChargePoint Navigator has significantly increased the success rate of funding applications during recent LEVI rounds. This tool integrates local electricity network data and identifies priority areas for chargepoint installation, helping local councils prepare stronger funding bids. Collaboration with local electricity network operators is also required in LEVI fund applications to ensure proper integration with the electricity grid and operational feasibility.
The LEVI Fund is part of a broader government commitment backed by billions in investment to expand England’s EV chargepoint network rapidly. This effort is designed to overcome one of the main hurdles to EV ownership and accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles across the country.
The new chargepoints are being funded by the £381m LEVI Fund, which is expected to support around 80 local authority projects across England. Around 30 of these LEVI-supported projects have reached the procurement stage. The funding and the 100,000 figure have been available since 2022.
The Government's commitment is further demonstrated by its plan to install over 100,000 local chargepoints in addition to the existing public ones. This ambitious plan is expected to be complemented by an estimated £6bn in private investment, which will be used to install tens of thousands of chargers by 2030.
Initially, local authorities were slow to apply for the funding. However, many more are expected to follow Suffolk County Council, the first local authority in England to enter into a contract with a chargepoint operator to kickstart their rollout. The Government is supporting the industry and local authorities in delivering these new chargepoints, with the rollout expected to continue at a rate of one chargepoint every 29 minutes.
This marks the first confirmation that all of the funds from the LEVI Fund have now been allocated. The Government's efforts, coupled with private investment, are aimed at installing tens of thousands of new chargepoints by 2030, making the UK a leader in the global EV revolution.
- The LEVI Fund's partnerships with local councils and chargepoint operators in the transportation industry are not only expanding England's electric-vehicle (EV) infrastructure, but also cater to the financing needs of residents who lack off-street parking, thereby influencing lifestyle changes towards EV adoption.
- The Government's ambitious plan to install over 100,000 local chargepoints, in conjunction with an estimated £6bn in private finance, will not only reduce the barriers to EV ownership, but also drive the transition of the UK's automotive industry towards electric-vehicles, playing a crucial role in the global EV revolution.
- The Government's continued support for the EV industry, as demonstrated by the LEVI Fund, is encouraging collaboration between local authorities and electricity network operators, ensuring that the implementation of electric-vehicle finance and infrastructure aligns with the needs of the finance and lifestyle sectors.
