The UK Government has announced a £63 million investment package aimed at enhancing the country’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This funding is intended to address key barriers to EV ownership by improving access to charging, reducing overall costs for families, businesses, and public sector institutions, and supporting the transition to clean transport across the UK.
A major component of the package is a £25 million scheme targeted at households without driveways. This initiative will enable local authorities to install cross-pavement charging technology, allowing EV owners to access cheaper at-home electricity rates. By doing so, households can save up to £1,500 annually compared to operating petrol or diesel vehicles. The measure is expected to significantly widen the affordability and convenience of EV usage for urban and rental households.
The cross-pavement technology will facilitate safe cable access from homes to vehicles parked on the street, allowing EV drivers without private driveways to charge using domestic electricity, potentially reducing costs to as low as 2 pence per mile. This effort builds upon the government’s Local EV Infrastructure Fund and previous commitments, which together are projected to help install over 100,000 new public chargepoints by 2030, adding to the current network of more than 82,000.
The NHS in England is also receiving a sustainability upgrade, with £8 million allocated to electrify fleets across more than 200 sites. The investment is expected to generate long-term savings on maintenance and fuel, with over 1,200 new chargepoints supporting a more efficient and environmentally friendly health service.
To support long-distance travel and freight, a new grant scheme will assist businesses in installing EV chargepoints at depots across the UK. This includes provisions for heavy goods vehicles, vans, and coaches, aiming to support the logistics sector’s transition to zero emissions. With more than 1.2 million workers in the UK freight industry, the government is focused on maintaining competitiveness in a global market by backing infrastructure development.
The investment also includes updates to road signage policy. For the first time, larger EV charging hubs will be signposted from major A-roads, improving driver awareness and accessibility. This measure comes in response to the rapid growth in charging hubs, which have more than doubled since early 2023, and is part of a broader £400 million infrastructure funding commitment from the government.
These developments are supported by updates to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which aims to simplify and accelerate the EV transition for manufacturers and consumers alike. This aligns with the government’s broader Plan for Change, which seeks to stimulate economic growth, lower costs, and create green jobs across the country.
As electric vehicle adoption grows, ownership is becoming more affordable. Currently, two in five used EVs are priced under £20,000, and there are 34 new models available below £30,000. The UK maintained its position as Europe’s largest EV market and the third globally in 2024, with over 382,000 EVs sold—a 20% increase from the previous year. With a public chargepoint installed every 30 minutes, the UK continues to improve accessibility and readiness for a zero-emission future.
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